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2nd (Latest) Safety notice: Philips Respironics CPAP and masks with magnetic clips 

Last updated 19 October 2022 by the St George’s Respiratory Physiology Team

We have received a field safety notice from Philips Respironics citing concerns in using masks with magnetic clips in patients/bed partners with metallic medical implants. These masks may affect the functioning of the medical implant.

The medical implants of concern include but not limited to:

  • Pacemakers
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD)
  • Neurostimulators
  • Magnetic metallic implants/electrodes/valves placed in upper limbs, torso, or higher (i.e. neck and head)
  • CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) shunts (e.g., VP (ventriculo peritoneal) shunt)
  • Aneurysm clips
  • Embolic coils
  • Intracranial aneurysm intravascular flow disruption devices
  • Metallic cranial plates, screws, burr hole covers, and bone substitute devices
  • Metallic splinters in the eye
  • Ocular implants (e.g., glaucoma implants, retinal implants)
  • Certain contact lenses with metal
  • Implants to restore hearing or balance that have an implanted magnet (such as cochlear implants, implanted bone conduction hearing devices, and auditory brainstem implants)
  • Magnetic denture attachments
  • Metallic gastrointestinal clips
  • Metallic stents (e.g., aneurysm, coronary, tracheobronchial, biliary)
  • Implantable ports and pumps (e.g., insulin pumps)
  • Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulators
  • Devices labelled as MR (magnetic resonance) unsafe
  • Magnetic metallic implants not labelled for MR or not evaluated for safety in a magnetic field

If you are using a mask with magnetic clips AND you/bed partner have a metallic medical implant, please contact the department on 0208 725 4479. We will arrange for you to transfer to an alternative interface or clips (depending on mask style).

What to do until your appointment:

  • If possible, please keep the magnets at least 6 inches away from the metallic implant including other bed partners
  • If you have an older mask with non-magnetic clips, please use this mask

1st Safety notice: Philips Respironics CPAP and BiPAP machines

We have been made aware of an issue with Philips Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (Bi-Level PAP), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and mechanical ventilator devices.

Philips, which makes the machines, has issued a Field Safety Notice. There have been a small number of reports outside the UK of the issue causing minor, short-term effects.

We are publishing this information for patients who use one of these devices.

For most patients the risk of stopping using these devices is far greater than the risk from the issue that Philips has reported. The Medicines & Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which advises on the safe use of medical equipment, has recommended that patients should not stop using the devices unless a risk assessment, conducted by a suitably qualified clinician, has concluded that the risks outweigh the benefits.

If you are not contacted by your clinician, you do not need to change devices and you can continue to use your device as normal.

We apologise for not contacting you sooner with this information. We have been working with Philips to understand how the process of replacing the devices will be undertaken. Alongside this, we have clinically assessed our patients performing a risk assessment for the use of the devices. There is less risk continuing to use the device compared to stopping treatment.

We’re now waiting for a delivery of devices from Philips, although we do not have a timeframe on the deliveries, but we aim to replace devices over the next year to 18 months. We will be in contact with you to attend a session for a replacement device. You will need to bring your current device with you to receive a replacement.