Respiratory device manufacturers Dräger and ResMed have informed theNational Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) risks of interference between their masks with magnets for their respiratory devices and implanted metal medical devices, she announced Monday, December 4. In November 2022, the Dutch company Philips had already reported such risks.
These interferences “may occur when patients or members of their household have metallic implanted devices” (e.g. pacemakers) “and are likely to be near these masks containing magnets (at a distance of less than 15 centimeters)”, explains the ANSM in a press release. They risk causing malfunction of the implanted devices.
Last year, fourteen cases were reported worldwide, mostly in the United States. Last September, a case was reported in France by Philips, without consequences for the patient.
Patients will be informed soon
Since then, respiratory device manufacturers Dräger (German) and Resmed (American) “informed us of this same risk of interference with their masks with magnets”writes the ANSM.
Patients using these masks with magnets have been or will soon be informed by home health providers (PSAD) about the implanted medical devices concerned and the course of action to follow, the agency adds.
Since June 2021, the Dutch group Philips has been forced to initiate a massive global campaign to recall several defective models of respirators used in particular by patients suffering from sleep apnea.
Users risked inhaling or swallowing pieces of toxic sound-absorbing foam that could cause irritation and headaches. Philips is the subject of numerous lawsuits linked to this affair in several countries.