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Asset Type
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
This guide helps troubleshoot the Baxter PrismaFlex Memory Error alarm. This alarm may indicate a treatment interruption, flow-setting mismatch, CRC failure, protective/control system disagreement, or memory-related system fault.
Because CRRT depends on accurate stored values, verified flow settings, and reliable protective-system monitoring, a Memory Error alarm should be treated as a patient-safety issue until the condition is confirmed and resolved.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
- If the PrismaFlex displays a Memory Error alarm during treatment, treat it as a patient-safety issue.
- Notify clinical staff immediately and confirm whether therapy must be stopped or transferred to another CRRT device.
- If blood is in the extracorporeal circuit, follow facility procedure and clinical direction for blood return when applicable.
- Do not continue therapy on a device with an unresolved memory, CRC, or protective/control system integrity alarm.
Verify the Reported Alarm and Error Code
- Confirm the exact alarm displayed is Alarm: Memory Error.
- Document the associated error code if shown.
- Possible reported codes may include Error Code 1, Error Code 3, Error Code 4, Error Code 5, Error Code 6, or Error Code 7.
- Ask staff when the alarm occurred, such as during startup, treatment setup, flow-setting entry, syringe installation, active therapy, or after restart.
- Record whether the alarm appears immediately, intermittently, or only during a specific setup action.
Stop Therapy Safely if Treatment Is Active
- If treatment is active, coordinate with clinical staff before touching the circuit.
- Turn off the machine only when it is clinically appropriate and safe to do so.
- If applicable, remove the return line from the return-line clamp and return blood according to the device procedure and facility policy.
- Do not attempt repeated troubleshooting while the patient remains dependent on the affected device.
Restart the PrismaFlex Control Unit
- After the patient and circuit have been made safe, power the PrismaFlex off.
- Wait briefly, then restart the control unit.
- Observe whether the Memory Error alarm returns.
- If the alarm clears and the device completes startup normally, continue with off-patient functional verification before returning the unit to use.
Check for Flow-Rate Discrepancy if Error Code 6 Is Present
- If the Memory Error is associated with Error Code 6, ask whether staff saw a difference between flow rates shown on the Status screen and flow rates shown on the Enter Flow Settings screen.
- Restart the control unit.
- If syringe-related settings are involved, reinstall the syringe as needed.
- Re-enter the prescribed fluid flows carefully.
- Confirm that displayed flow values match before any return to clinical use.
Check Setup and External Factors Before Assuming Internal Failure
- Check for incorrect or incomplete syringe installation.
- Ask whether the setup sequence was interrupted.
- Confirm whether flow settings were recently changed.
- Ask whether there was a power interruption during setup or therapy.
- Document any user-reported mismatch between screens.
- Inspect for physical damage to the control unit.
- Check for unusual sounds, heat, smell, display behavior, or repeated alarm behavior after restart.
Determine Whether the Alarm Is Code-Specific
- For Error Codes 1, 3, 4, 5, or 7, treat the alarm as a likely software memory integrity or system verification issue.
- These codes may involve protective memory failure, incorrect CRC of a set value, protective/control system value incongruence, alarm-structure incongruence, or backup-memory failure.
- If these codes remain active or recur after restart, do not return the PrismaFlex to patient use.
Verify Whether the Alarm Recurs Off-Patient
- After restart and any appropriate setup correction, attempt to reproduce the issue off-patient.
- Do not connect the device to a patient for troubleshooting.
- Confirm whether the alarm clears and remains cleared.
- Confirm whether the alarm returns on startup, during flow-setting entry, during syringe setup, or during simulated setup or priming.
- A recurring Memory Error strongly suggests a device-level failure requiring service action.
Stop When Resolved
- If the Memory Error clears after restart, the flow settings match correctly, syringe setup is accepted, and the device passes normal setup checks, document the finding.
- Return the PrismaFlex to service only if no Memory Error recurs, the correct error code was documented, flow settings display correctly, no other alarms are active, and clinical staff confirm setup values before use.
- If there is any doubt about stored values, flow settings, or protective-system integrity, remove the unit from service.
If the Problem Persists
If the Memory Error alarm returns after restart, or if Error Codes 1, 3, 4, 5, or 7 remain active, remove the PrismaFlex from service.
External and setup-related causes such as interrupted setup, syringe installation concerns, flow-setting mismatch, screen discrepancy, recent power interruption, and obvious control-unit damage should be ruled out before escalation.
Label the unit Out of Service.
Send the device for repair or bench evaluation.
Persistent Memory Error alarms may indicate protective memory failure, stored-value corruption, protective/control system incongruence, alarm-structure mismatch, backup-memory failure, or a software CRC verification issue requiring authorized service evaluation.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot a Memory Error alarm on an active patient. Move the patient to a backup CRRT device or make therapy safe first according to clinical procedure.
A PrismaFlex with unresolved memory, CRC, or protective/control system mismatch alarms should not be relied on for patient treatment.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"PrismaFlex reported Memory Error alarm with Error Code 6 during treatment setup. Staff reported flow values did not match between the Status screen and Enter Flow Settings screen."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Flow-rate display discrepancy suspected. External setup issue checked first; syringe installation and entered fluid flows required re-verification. Memory Error did not recur after restart and flow re-entry."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed unit from patient use for evaluation. Restarted control unit, reinstalled syringe as needed, re-entered fluid flows, and confirmed displayed flow settings matched. No Memory Error alarm returned during verification. Device returned to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior
- Accessories swapped
- Power behavior
- Environmental factors
- Indicator lights
- Final device status
Final Thought
A PrismaFlex Memory Error alarm should be handled as more than a nuisance alarm. It may reflect a mismatch between stored values, protective memory, control software, backup memory, or displayed flow settings.
Start with patient safety, confirm the exact code, rule out simple setup-related causes, and escalate when the alarm persists. Clear documentation of the code and behavior helps repair teams isolate the failure faster.
That is successful troubleshooting.