Philips issued a field safety notice regarding the touchscreens on its V60 Ventilator devices, which may freeze up and become unresponsive to touch commands, posing a risk to patients.

The noninvasive ventilators used in hospitals have touchscreens fore modifying therapy settings. Affected units could see their touchscreens freeze up without any advanced warning, although the issue would be immediately apparent, the company said.

The issue could lead to excessive CO₂ or low levels of oxygen in the blood, as therapy adjustment is delayed by the inability to change settings. Philips said it will install new touchscreens on affected products at no charge.