Royal Philips (NYSE:PHG) says only a small portion of returned respiratory devices displayed the sound abatement foam degradation that sparked a massive recall. Repeated ozone cleaning may have made the problem worse.
Those were some of the major takeaways from an update Philips provided today on a comprehensive test and research program it implemented after its major ventilator recall.
In June 2021, Philips Respironics recalled millions of certain ventilators, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines due to potential health risks caused by polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam breaking down. Foam particles could enter a device’s air pathway, causing a range of potential health problems and toxic, carcinogenic effects for the user.