7 Dec 2023, 6:02 p.m.

Recent field safety notices provided by both ResMed and Phillips Healthcare concern the use of magnets on their CPAP therapy masks

ResMed and Philips have now updated guidance on Contraindications and Warning relating to magnetic interference of using their masks with magnetic headgear attachments for any patient, bed partner or household member who has an implanted device in its user guides for all masks with magnets.

Masks with magnetic components are now contraindicated for use by patients where they, or anyone in close physical contact while using the mask, have the following:

Active medical implants that interact with magnets:

  • Pacemakers
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD)
  • Neurostimulators
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts
  • Insulin/infusion pumps

Metallic implants/objects containing ferromagnetic material such as:

Aneurysm clips/flow disruption devices, embolic coils, stents, valves, electrodes, implants to restore hearing or balance with implanted magnets, ocular implants, metallic splinters in the eye.

Masks affected by this warning notice currently in use at Gloucestershire Hospitals

Resmed

  • F20 (all varieties)
  • F30 (all varieties)
  • N10
  • N20

Philips

  • Dreamwear Full Face mask
  • Dreamwisp
  • Wisp
  • Amara View

No action required if

  • If you, your household members, caregivers, and bed partners who may be in close vicinity to you do not have implanted medical devices, or metallic implants/objects.

Do take action if

  • For the very small number of patients where household members, caregivers, and bed partners with a medical implant/device is in situ you must:

  • Ensure the mask is kept at least 6 inches (approx. 15.24 cm) away from the medical implant(s)/device(s) for continued immediate use

  • Please contact the department to request a replacement mask without magnetic headgear clips

You can contact your equipment provider at Gloucestershire Hospitals via email so we can effectively manage this as soon as possible: ghn-tr.lung.function@nhs.net.

Please include your MRN or NHS number on correspondence, or some other identifiable data in addition please be clear that you need a mask WITHOUT magnets not a like for like standard replacement.

Detailed information from both providers FSN can be noted below