Coronavirus has sparked a new conversation about the difference between ventilators, CPAP and BiPAP machines.

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a Class I recall Friday, the most serious type of recall, for certain Philips Respironics DreamStation1 CPAP machines.

But Onufrak says using these machines to treat COVID-19 patients is a last resort. While ventilators are closed-circuit systems, CPAP and BiPAP devices are not.

Read more: CPAP vs BiPAP Machine Final Thoughts Millions of people with sleep apena have used different machines to treat their sleeping problem.

A BiPAP machine, along with CPAP machines, are typically used by patients who suffer from sleep apnea, McLaughlin explained.

A CPAP machine helps people with trouble breathing and is commonly used to treat sleep apnea. CPAP machines can't directly replace ventilators, as they have key differences in how they work.

BiPAP machines are similar to CPAP machines but have two pressure settings instead of just one. They cost around $800, according to Alphaville, while ICU-grade ventilators useful for severe cases ...

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the most commonly prescribed aide for someone suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

As Philips still scrambles to wrap up its 2021 recall of more than 5.5 million ventilators and CPAP and BiPAP machines, a new issue has cropped up among another swath of its CPAP machines. The FDA ...