We have had a ton of customers asking us about the new DreamStation 2 CPAP Foam. As distributors of Philps Respironics products, we do our best to provide information to our customers as we receive it. This means that we are passing along the information from Philps Respironics and the FDA. We understand that many have reservations trusting these sources. That is certainly understandable. However, we must move forward with the information that we have at hand. So here we go.
Did the Dreamstation 2 Foam fail an FDA inspection?
According to Philips, the FDA did inspect their manufacturing plant and tested some of the devices there to ensure that they passed required metrics. During that inspection there was a device that failed the VOC (volatile organic compounds) limits. Many people read that FDA inspection and assumed that the device that failed was a DreamStation 2 CPAP. Using that assumption, many theorized that the DreamStation 2 CPAP would be recalled next. Fortunately, that was not the case. Philips Respironics announced that the device that failed inspection was not a DreamStation 2 CPAP. The device was an unreleased version of an A-Series Bipap. They also reiterated that the DreamStation 2 Foam as well as the foam used in the repair kits have passed all necessary inspections and are safe.
What kind of foam is in the Dreamstation 2 CPAP?
Obviously, you would not want to use the same foam in the DreamStation 2 CPAP as the DreamStation original version. Luckily, Philips went with a completely different version. The original foam found in the DreamStation 1 was a PE-PUR (Polyester based polyurethane) Foam. This original foam produced VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) that could be harmful to people breathing them in. The Foam found in the new DreamStation 2 CPAP is a Silicone based foam. This new silicone-based foam has been inspected by the FDA and has been approved for use in the DreamStation 2 CPAP.
Can ozone hurt my DreamStation 2 CPAP?
One of the largest contributors to the foam breakdown (according to Philips) was use of Ozone on the CPAP. The long-term use of Ozone can be harmful over time. Ozone is Ionized Oxygen, and that is certainly a corrosive element. This means that over time it can break down metals and plastics. That will obviously cause early breakdowns of your CPAP. That is obviously something that you should consider. For many CPAP users a cleaner like the SoClean has been a great option for them and has been really beneficial. So, you would need to weigh out the consequences of using Ozone on your CPAP verses the benefit of the integrated Cleaners. Additionally, both ResMed and Philips have issued statements that they do not recommend using Ozone to clean their CPAPs. They have even stated that it may void your warranty.
What other options do I have for Cleaning my DreamStation 2 CPAP?
Philips recommends that you use a soap and water mix for cleaning the washable portions of your CPAP. They do not recommend any cleaning of the CPAP device itself, outside of wiping it down. Check out our DreamStation 2 Maintenance video here. With that being said, there are ozone options that do not intrude into your DreamStation 2 foam. Those cleaners use a separate bag and clean the cleanable parts separately from the CPAP machine. This keeps the ozone outside of your CPAP. One great option for this is the Sleep8 CPAP Cleaner. You can also use UV Cleaners such as the Liviliti CPAP Cleaner.
