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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting an unresponsive display, repeated restarting, incomplete startup, blank screen, or failure to reach the programming screen after external causes are checked.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Ensure Patient Safety First
Do not troubleshoot a frozen, restarting, or failed Novum IQ pump while a patient depends on it for therapy.
- Notify nursing, pharmacy, and the appropriate clinical team.
- Transfer the infusion to another verified pump when therapy must continue.
- Use extra caution with high-risk medications, critical infusions, neonatal patients, and medications with a short half-life.
- Clamp the administration set as appropriate before removing it from a large-volume pump.
- Prevent uncontrolled flow and confirm that the replacement pump is programmed correctly.
Expected outcome: The patient’s prescribed therapy continues safely without relying on the affected pump.
Baxter’s current safety communication advises considering an alternate pump for high-risk medications or critically ill patients when Novum IQ software-related display problems occur.
2. Identify the Exact Failure
Observe and document the device behavior:
- No response when the power button is pressed
- Baxter logo appears, but startup does not complete
- Pump repeatedly powers off and restarts
- Display freezes at a specific screen
- Screen remains blank while indicator lights are present
- Controls respond slowly or not at all
- A technical error code or system message appears
- Problem began during programming, alarm acknowledgment, docking, charging, or network activity
Photograph or record any displayed error code before restarting the pump.
Expected outcome: The failure pattern is clearly documented and can be reproduced or associated with a particular event.
3. Check for Signs of Active Infusion
A blank or frozen display does not always confirm that pumping has stopped.
- Observe the pumping mechanism, infusion indicators, status lights, and audible alarms.
- Check the fluid container, syringe position, tubing, and downstream infusion status.
- Do not assume therapy is adjustable merely because pumping appears to continue.
- Transfer the infusion when the pump’s status or programming cannot be verified.
Baxter has reported software anomalies in which a Novum IQ pump may show a blank Run screen while therapy continues, but the ongoing infusion cannot be adjusted normally.
Expected outcome: Clinical staff know whether therapy may still be running and move it safely to a functional pump.
4. Inspect the Pump Externally
Remove the pump from clinical use and inspect for:
- Impact damage or cracked housing
- Liquid intrusion, medication residue, or cleaning-fluid accumulation
- Damaged display or keypad
- Stuck or continuously pressed controls
- Bent, loose, or contaminated power and docking contacts
- Unusual heat, odor, discoloration, or sound
Do not power the unit again if liquid intrusion, overheating, burning odor, or significant physical damage is present.
Expected outcome: No external condition is found that makes continued testing unsafe.
5. Verify the Power Source
Connect the pump directly to a known-good hospital-grade outlet using the approved power equipment.
- Confirm the outlet works with an electrical tester or another verified device.
- Inspect the power cord, AC adapter, and connector for damage.
- Bypass a questionable power strip, docking station, or auxiliary power connection.
- Confirm that the external-power or charging indicator appears.
- Allow a pump with a depleted battery to charge before repeating startup.
Do not assume a software failure when unstable input power or a fully depleted battery could be preventing startup.
Expected outcome: The pump receives stable external power and either starts normally or demonstrates the same failure.
If stable power resolves the problem, inspect or replace the defective external power component, complete operational testing, and stop.
6. Remove Nonessential External Connections
With the pump removed from patient use and powered off, disconnect nonessential external accessories when permitted by facility procedure:
- Network cable or communication interface
- Docking or charging station
- Auxiliary communication cable
- Barcode scanner or supported peripheral
- Damaged or questionable accessory connections
Retain only the approved power connection needed for testing.
Expected outcome: The pump starts independently without interference from an external accessory, dock, or communication connection.
If the pump starts normally, reconnect accessories individually to identify the source of the problem. Remove the failed accessory from service and stop.
7. Perform One Controlled Power Cycle
After the infusion has been transferred and the pump is safely removed from use:
- Power the pump off using the normal power control when possible.
- Wait until the display and indicators are fully off.
- Keep the pump connected to stable external power.
- Power it on once.
- Allow the complete startup sequence to finish without repeatedly pressing controls.
Do not perform repeated rapid power cycles. Repeated restarting may erase useful observations and does not correct a persistent software or internal hardware fault.
Expected outcome: The pump reaches its normal startup or programming screen without freezing or restarting.
Baxter’s correction instructions include power-cycling and reprogramming when specified blank-screen recovery actions do not restore the display. This should occur only after the patient’s therapy is made safe.
If the pump starts normally, continue with functional verification before returning it to service.
8. Check for Stuck Controls or Loading Interference
Inspect the user controls and pumping area without opening the housing.
For a Novum IQ Large Volume Pump:
- Confirm the door opens and closes normally.
- Remove the administration set before bench startup testing.
- Check that tubing or the slide clamp is not obstructing the door or loading mechanism.
- Verify that no control is held down by a mount or accessory.
For a Novum IQ Syringe Pump:
- Remove the syringe before bench startup testing.
- Confirm the syringe holder, plunger mechanism, and clamps are not physically obstructed.
- Check that no accessory is pressing against the touchscreen or controls.
Expected outcome: The device starts without an installed disposable or mechanically obstructed control.
If removal of a damaged or incorrectly loaded disposable resolves the problem, replace the disposable, perform the required setup checks, and stop.
9. Allow Startup to Complete in a Stable Environment
Test the pump under normal indoor environmental conditions.
- Move it away from moisture, excessive heat, condensation, or direct cold airflow.
- Keep it separated from suspected electromagnetic interference sources.
- Do not test beside high-powered radio-frequency equipment when interference is suspected.
- Observe whether the failure occurs at the same point during every startup.
Expected outcome: Environmental or interference-related conditions are ruled out.
10. Review Error History and Device Status
When the pump reaches an accessible service or information screen authorized for Clinical Engineering:
- Record the software version.
- Record the serial number and asset number.
- Review available technical-event or error-history information.
- Note repeated watchdog, startup, memory, communication, display, motor, or power-related errors.
- Determine whether the device is included in any active Baxter correction, software update, or facility implementation action.
Do not alter software, configuration files, drug libraries, or security settings without the approved Baxter procedure and facility authorization.
Expected outcome: Available evidence identifies whether the failure is recurrent, software-related, accessory-related, or likely internal.
11. Perform an Off-Patient Functional Check
If the pump starts normally after a single controlled restart:
- Confirm the display remains responsive.
- Verify buttons or touchscreen controls respond correctly.
- Confirm audible and visual indicators operate.
- Verify date, time, configuration, and drug-library availability as applicable.
- Program a representative test infusion using the approved test setup.
- Confirm the pump starts, runs, stops, and alarms appropriately.
- Observe the unit for another freeze, reboot, or unexpected blank screen.
- Complete any facility-required incoming, post-repair, or operational testing.
Do not return the pump to service solely because it powered on once.
Expected outcome: The pump completes startup and functional testing without recurrence.
If the problem recurs or the device cannot complete testing reliably, stop troubleshooting and escalate.
If the Problem Persists
Stable power, external accessories, disposables, loading conditions, environmental factors, and a controlled restart have been checked. A persistent startup failure, reboot loop, frozen interface, technical error, or recurring blank screen is likely related to internal power circuitry, storage, memory, display hardware, system software, or another internal component.
The device should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Retained with any relevant power adapter, dock, or accessory when those components may be involved
- Sent for authorized repair or Clinical Engineering bench evaluation
- Reported to Baxter Technical Assistance when required
- Evaluated against current Baxter field corrections and software-update requirements
Do not repeatedly restart the pump, install unapproved software, open the housing, or return an intermittently operating unit to patient care.
Baxter lists dedicated technical assistance for infusion pumps and directs users to the applicable Instructions for Use or Operator Manual for safe operation.
Knowing when to stop and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Never attempt to diagnose a frozen or rebooting pump while it is delivering patient therapy. Move the infusion to a verified pump first, especially when the medication is time-critical or high risk. Confirm the replacement pump’s concentration, rate, dose, volume, and patient association before restarting therapy.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Nursing reported that the Baxter Novum IQ infusion pump repeatedly restarted and would not remain at the programming screen."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"The failure continued on a known-good outlet with the disposable and external communication connections removed, indicating a probable internal software or hardware fault."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the pump from service, labeled it Out of Service, documented the startup behavior and software information, and sent it for authorized bench evaluation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Outlet tested
- External-power and charging indicators
- Battery condition
- Power adapter or dock tested
- LVP or syringe-pump configuration
- Disposable installed when failure occurred
- Exact screen where startup stopped
- Technical error codes
- Number and timing of automatic restarts
- Whether pumping continued during a blank screen
- Software version
- Network or docking status
- Evidence of impact or liquid intrusion
- Unusual heat, odor, or sounds
- Functional-test results
- Current Baxter correction or update status
- Final device status
Final Thought
Software symptoms must be approached as patient-safety concerns, not merely display inconveniences. Secure the infusion first, rule out power and external causes logically, document the exact failure, and escalate any recurring or unexplained behavior. Thorough CCR documentation supports safe repair decisions and future failure trending.
That is successful troubleshooting.