You Breathed In Toxic Foam Every Night. Philips Knew. $1.1 Billion in Settlements Are Here.
Philips recalled 15+ million CPAP and BiPAP devices in 2021 because sound-dampening foam was degrading — releasing carcinogenic chemicals into users' airways while they slept. Two separate settlements are now open. Many users qualify for both.
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Worldwide
($1.1B PI + $445M EL)
Reports Filed
to FDA
There Are TWO Separate Settlements. You May Qualify for Both.
How the Free Eligibility Check Works
Answer a Few Questions
Tell us about your Philips CPAP device and any health problems you've experienced. Takes 2 minutes. Completely confidential.
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A mass tort attorney evaluates which tracks you qualify for — economic loss, personal injury, or both. No cost to you.
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What Happened With the Philips CPAP Recall?
On June 14, 2021, Philips Respironics — a subsidiary of Royal Philips N.V. — announced a voluntary recall of more than 15 million CPAP, BiPAP, and mechanical ventilator devices sold primarily between 2009 and 2021. The recall was classified by the FDA as a Class I recall — the most serious category, reserved for situations where use of the product can cause serious injury or death.
The problem: the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam inside the devices was degrading. As this foam broke down, it released:
- Black particles — physically visible degraded foam fragments inhaled directly into users' airways
- Toxic chemical gases — including formaldehyde, diethylene glycol, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Carcinogenic compounds — chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer with repeated exposure
CPAP users breathed these particles and gases directly into their lungs — nightly, for months or years. And Philips had known about the foam degradation issue internally since at least 2015.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Recall: June 14, 2021 — Philips Respironics voluntary recall
- Devices affected: 15+ million CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator devices
- FDA classification: Class I (most serious) recall
- Adverse event reports: 116,000+ filed with FDA
- Deaths reported: 561 reported to FDA
- MDL: MDL 3014 — Western District of Pennsylvania
- Economic Loss settlement: $445 million (September 2023)
- Personal Injury settlement: $1.1 billion (April 2024)
- FDA consent decree: Philips banned from manufacturing CPAP/BiPAP in U.S. facilities
What Philips Knew — And When
Internal documents and litigation have revealed that Philips was aware of PE-PUR foam degradation concerns as early as 2015 — six years before the public recall. Despite receiving complaints from users about black particles in their CPAP masks and airways, Philips continued to sell devices without warning consumers or the medical community.
Testing of the foam confirmed what users were inhaling contained chemicals classified as possible and probable human carcinogens. The FDA's subsequent consent decree against Philips reflects the severity of the regulatory response — Philips has been prohibited from manufacturing certain CPAP and BiPAP devices at its U.S. facilities until compliance with quality standards is verified.
Who Can File a Claim?
You may be eligible to participate in one or both settlement tracks if:
Economic Loss Track — You May Qualify If:
- You owned or purchased a recalled Philips CPAP, BiPAP, or ventilator device
- You purchased or received the device for personal use (not for resale)
- You did not receive a working replacement or full refund
- You can document device ownership (prescription, receipt, registration)
Personal Injury Track — You May Qualify If:
- You used a recalled Philips device for an extended period
- You developed health problems including: lung cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, respiratory damage, COPD exacerbation, sinus infections, pneumonia, or other conditions
- There is a temporal connection between your device use and health problems
- You are within your state's statute of limitations (discovery rule may extend your deadline)
Don't Know Which Track You Qualify For?
That's exactly what an attorney can determine for you — at no cost. Many people qualify for both tracks and don't realize it. The claims processes are different and the deadlines are real.
Check My Eligibility Free →Frequently Asked Questions
CPAP Recall Settlement Information by State
Filing deadlines vary by state. The discovery rule is critical — many users' clocks started when they learned about the recall in 2021, not when health problems first appeared.
You Trusted Your Device to Help You Breathe. It Made Things Worse.
Millions of people used recalled Philips CPAP devices in good faith — following their doctors' orders, relying on a device they believed was safe. Philips knew about the foam problem and didn't tell you. Two settlements exist precisely because of this. Find out if you qualify.
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