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Asset Type
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
This guide helps troubleshoot the Voltage Out of Range alarm on a Baxter PrismaFlex CRRT system. This alarm indicates a power-supply or internal power-cabling malfunction that may affect pump operation, monitoring, alarms, and safe therapy delivery.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
- Do not continue CRRT therapy on a PrismaFlex displaying Voltage Out of Range.
- Notify clinical staff immediately and follow facility procedure for therapy interruption, blood return, and transition to another CRRT machine if therapy must continue.
- If clinically appropriate and directed by trained staff, ensure the return line is removed from the return-line clamp and blood is returned according to clinical procedure before the machine is taken out of service.
- Expected outcome: The patient is not dependent on a CRRT machine with an unresolved internal power fault.
Verify the Reported Alarm and Behavior
- Confirm the exact alarm displayed is Alarm: Voltage Out of Range.
- Document whether the alarm occurs at startup, during treatment setup, during active therapy, after moving the machine, or intermittently during operation.
- Check whether the alarm is associated with therapy interruption, pump stop, abnormal pump behavior, display instability, repeated restart alarms, unusual noise, heat, odor, or visible damage.
- Expected outcome: The alarm is confirmed and the behavior is clearly documented.
Remove the Device From Active Use
- Once the alarm is confirmed, remove the PrismaFlex from clinical use.
- Do not clear the alarm and return the unit to service without evaluation.
- Label the device Out of Service if the alarm returns, occurs during therapy, or cannot be explained by an external power issue.
- Expected outcome: The device is controlled for Clinical Engineering evaluation.
Check External Power First
- Verify the AC power source before assuming internal failure.
- Confirm the power cord is fully seated at the wall outlet and at the machine connection.
- Inspect the power cord for cuts, crushed insulation, bent pins, looseness, or signs of overheating.
- Plug the unit into a known-good hospital-grade outlet.
- Avoid power strips or questionable temporary power sources.
- Expected outcome: The unit receives stable facility power and the alarm does not return.
Check for Movement-Related or Connection-Related Failure
- Ask staff whether the alarm occurred after the PrismaFlex was moved, bumped, unplugged, repositioned, or transferred between rooms.
- With the unit removed from patient use, inspect accessible external connections and the power cord strain relief area for looseness or damage.
- Do not operate the device if there is evidence of overheating, burning smell, melted plastic, or fluid intrusion.
- Expected outcome: No external damage or movement-related connection issue is found.
Power Cycle Only for Verification
- With the device removed from patient use, power the machine off and restart it only as part of controlled troubleshooting.
- Confirm whether the Voltage Out of Range alarm returns at startup or during self-test.
- If the alarm clears and does not return, continue with careful functional verification before considering return to service.
- If the alarm returns, treat it as a persistent internal power fault.
Check for Other Related Symptoms
- Observe whether the machine shows unexpected shutdown, display flicker, pump interruption, repeated startup failure, alarm recurrence under load, abnormal fan or pump noise, abnormal power-supply noise, unusual heat, or odor.
- Expected outcome: No secondary signs of power instability are present.
- Additional symptoms strengthen the case for internal power-supply, cabling, or control-unit failure.
Isolate From Accessory or Environmental Causes
- Confirm the issue is not related to the treatment set, scale interference, room outlet, or external accessories.
- Use a known-good outlet and remove nonessential external accessories during bench evaluation.
- Confirm the alarm occurs independent of patient connection or treatment setup.
- Expected outcome: The alarm is isolated to the PrismaFlex control unit rather than the environment or setup.
Perform Service-Level Power Supply Evaluation
- If the alarm persists after external power checks, perform the PrismaFlex power supply check according to service procedure.
- Verify that power supply output values are within specification.
- Inspect power-supply cabling and accessible connectors for loose seating, damage, overheating, or poor contact.
- If values deviate, the power supply is suspect and should be replaced according to service procedure.
Check Blood Pump Function if Directed by Service Procedure
- Use Diagnose Screen – Pumps Diagnose when directed by service procedure.
- Verify the blood pump operates correctly during diagnostic testing.
- Look for abnormal pump behavior, failure to run, irregular motion, or diagnostic failure.
- If the blood pump fails diagnostic testing, replace or repair it according to service procedure.
Stop When Resolved
- If the issue is corrected by an external power source, damaged cord replacement, reseated accessible connection, confirmed power-supply repair, or blood pump repair, perform full functional verification before return to service.
- Confirm the Voltage Out of Range alarm does not return.
- Confirm startup and self-test complete normally.
- Confirm pumps operate properly.
- Confirm no abnormal noise, heat, smell, or display instability is present.
- Document the final device status.
If the Problem Persists
If external power, cord condition, outlet condition, accessory or setup factors, and basic connection checks have been ruled out, a persistent Voltage Out of Range alarm strongly indicates an internal control-unit power fault, power-supply cabling issue, power supply failure, or related pump/control malfunction.
Remove the device from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation.
Do not continue repeated resets or return the device to clinical use with this alarm unresolved.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot this alarm on an active patient beyond immediate safety actions. CRRT therapy depends on reliable pump, alarm, and control-system operation. Move the patient to a backup device first and use another verified PrismaFlex if therapy must continue.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"PrismaFlex removed from CRRT use due to Voltage Out of Range alarm. Staff reported alarm during treatment/setup with therapy interruption and concern for internal power malfunction."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"External power source and power cord checked. Alarm persisted on known-good outlet. Condition indicates likely internal power-supply, power-supply cabling, control-unit, or related blood pump malfunction."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed unit from service and labeled Out of Service. Performed/initiated power supply check and pump diagnostic evaluation. Unit referred for repair with power supply and blood pump replacement to be performed if diagnostic values or pump operation are out of specification."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior
- Accessories swapped
- Power behavior
- Environmental factors
- Indicator lights
- Final device status
Final Thought
The Voltage Out of Range alarm should be treated as a serious internal power-related condition. Clinical Engineering should protect the patient first, rule out external power problems, verify the reported alarm, and escalate appropriately when the condition persists. Clear CCR documentation supports safe service decisions and repeat failure tracking.
That is successful troubleshooting.