On this page
Asset Type
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting recorder, display, or control panel problems that affect visibility, documentation, or operator input on the IABP.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm whether the Datascope System 98 / 98XT is connected to an active patient.
If the IABP is supporting a patient and the display or controls are unreliable, do not continue troubleshooting at bedside unless clinical leadership confirms it is safe.
Have perfusion, anesthesia, ICU, or cath lab staff prepare another verified IABP if therapy visibility or control is compromised.
Expected outcome: Patient support is maintained without relying on a pump with questionable display or control function.
Identify the Exact Failure
Determine whether the issue involves:
- Recorder not printing
- Recorder paper feed failure
- Blank or dim display
- Intermittent display
- Frozen screen
- Control panel buttons not responding
- Knob or keypad input failure
- Incorrect or delayed screen response
Expected outcome: The failure is narrowed to recorder, display, control input, or a combined user-interface issue.
Check AC Power and Battery Status
Verify the pump is connected to a known-good hospital-grade outlet.
Confirm the power cord is fully seated and not damaged.
Observe whether the device is running on AC power or battery.
If the display dims, flickers, or resets when power is moved or when switching between AC and battery, document that behavior.
Expected outcome: Power instability is ruled out as the cause of display or panel failure.
Inspect the Display Area Externally
Check the screen for cracks, fluid intrusion, impact damage, loose bezel areas, heavy residue, or signs of cleaning chemical damage.
Do not remove covers or disassemble the front panel during basic troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Obvious physical or liquid damage is identified before further testing.
Check Brightness, Contrast, and Viewing Conditions
If the screen appears dim or hard to read, confirm the issue is not due to ambient lighting, glare, or an adjusted display setting.
Adjust only normal user-accessible brightness or contrast controls if available.
Expected outcome: The display becomes readable if the issue was setting-related.
If this resolves the issue, return the device to service only after confirming normal operation.
Perform a Controlled Power Cycle if Safe
If the pump is not connected to an active patient, power the unit down using the normal power-off process.
Wait briefly, then restart the pump and observe the startup sequence.
Confirm whether the display initializes normally and whether controls respond during startup.
Expected outcome: Temporary software or startup lockup clears, or the failure repeats and is documented.
Verify Control Panel Response
With the device off patient use, press several normal front-panel buttons and observe whether each input is recognized.
Check for buttons that are stuck, physically damaged, unusually loose, or require excessive force.
Do not continue pressing a stuck control repeatedly, especially if it could affect therapy settings during use.
Expected outcome: The control panel either responds normally or a specific input failure is confirmed.
Check for Contamination Around Controls
Inspect the control panel for adhesive residue, dried fluid, cracked overlay, cleaning residue, or debris around buttons and knobs.
Clean only according to approved facility cleaning practices and allow the surface to dry fully before retesting.
Expected outcome: External contamination is ruled out as the cause of poor button response.
Evaluate Recorder Paper and Door
If the recorder does not print or feed paper, check that compatible recorder paper is installed correctly.
Confirm the paper door is fully closed and latched.
Look for jammed paper, torn paper, or paper loaded in the wrong direction.
Expected outcome: The recorder feeds and prints normally if the issue was paper loading or door position.
If this resolves the issue, document the correction and return the unit to service after verifying print quality.
Inspect the Recorder Output
Print a test strip or available waveform record only when the pump is not actively supporting a patient or when clinical workflow allows.
Check whether the recorder output is blank, faint, distorted, incomplete, or not advancing.
Expected outcome: Recorder failure is narrowed to no print, poor print quality, or paper transport issue.
Check for External Accessories or Cables Affecting Operation
Inspect external cables connected to the pump, including ECG, pressure, power, and any output/interface connections.
A damaged or partially connected external cable may create confusing behavior or interrupt normal monitoring display.
Disconnect nonessential external accessories only if the pump is not in active patient use and it is safe to do so.
Expected outcome: External connection issues are ruled out before suspecting internal display or control failure.
Look for Startup Errors, Alarms, or Self-Test Behavior
Observe whether the pump displays any startup error, failed self-test, warning message, abnormal beep pattern, or incomplete boot sequence.
Document the exact message or behavior.
Expected outcome: Any visible failure pattern is captured for repair evaluation.
Compare With a Known-Good Unit if Available
If another Datascope System 98 / 98XT is available, compare normal startup, display brightness, button response, and recorder function.
Do not swap internal parts.
Expected outcome: The suspect unit’s behavior is confirmed as abnormal compared with a working pump.
Determine Whether the Device Is Safe to Return to Service
The device should not be returned to service if:
- Display is blank, unreadable, or intermittent
- Controls are delayed, stuck, or nonresponsive
- Therapy settings cannot be clearly viewed or adjusted
- Recorder failure affects required documentation during patient care
- Any error repeats after basic checks
- Physical damage, fluid intrusion, heat, odor, or abnormal startup behavior is present
Expected outcome: Device status is based on patient safety and reliable operation, not partial functionality.
If the Problem Persists
If power, settings, paper loading, external connections, cleaning residue, and basic restart checks do not resolve the issue, the likely cause is internal recorder, display, keypad, front-panel, power, or control electronics failure.
The Datascope System 98 / 98XT should be removed from service, labeled Out of Service, and sent for repair or bench evaluation.
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. An IABP with unreliable display or controls should not remain in patient care areas as an available device.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot display or control issues while the device is actively supporting a patient unless clinical staff have confirmed therapy is stable and another support plan is available. If therapy visibility or control input is unreliable, move to another verified IABP first.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported that the Datascope System 98 / 98XT recorder would not print and the front display intermittently dimmed during setup."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Recorder paper was loaded correctly and AC power was verified, but the display remained intermittent and the control panel response was delayed after restart."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Device was removed from service, labeled Out of Service, and sent for bench evaluation due to suspected internal display/control panel failure."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether the pump was in patient use
- Outlet tested and AC indicator status
- Battery status during the failure
- Display behavior: blank, dim, flickering, frozen, or intermittent
- Control panel behavior: stuck, delayed, or nonresponsive buttons
- Recorder behavior: no feed, no print, faint print, jam, or paper error
- Recorder paper condition and loading direction
- Any startup errors or abnormal tones
- Signs of impact, fluid intrusion, unusual heat, smell, or residue
- Whether the issue changed after restart
- Final device status
Final Thought
For an intra-aortic balloon pump, display and control reliability directly affect safe therapy management. Clinical Engineering troubleshooting should start with safe patient support, simple external checks, and clear observation. If the issue cannot be corrected externally, escalation is the safest and most appropriate action. Good CCR documentation protects the patient, the technician, and the repair process.
That is successful troubleshooting.