Philips CPAP Lawsuit: The $1.1 Billion Settlement

The Recall

In June 2021, Philips Respironics recalled about 10.8 million CPAP and BiPAP sleep-apnea machines and mechanical ventilators. The problem was the polyester-based polyurethane foam used to dampen the devices’ sound: it could degrade into particles and release certain chemicals that a user could swallow or inhale. Because these machines run for hours every night, directly into a sleeper’s airway, patients feared exposure to the foam debris.

Philips warned of possible risks ranging from irritation to more serious effects, and users were left choosing between stopping a therapy they depend on and continuing to use a recalled device.

The Settlements

The litigation produced two main resolutions. In April 2024, Philips agreed to a personal-injury settlement of roughly $1.1 billion — about $1.075 billion for injury claims plus $25 million for medical monitoring — to compensate people in the US who said the devices harmed them. Philips did not admit fault or that the machines caused any injury. Separately, Philips had earlier agreed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve economic-loss claims — refunds and payments for people who simply bought the affected machines.

Together the deals resolved the multidistrict litigation that had consolidated thousands of cases after the recall.

What Patients Should Know

If you used a recalled Philips device, register it with Philips to get a replacement or repair, and never stop prescribed therapy without talking to your doctor first — untreated sleep apnea carries its own serious risks. Keep records of the device model, serial number and your medical history. Any settlement claim is handled through the official court-appointed administrator, not a third-party site.