Drager Fabius

Asset Type

Anesthesia Machine

Manufacturer

Drager

Model

Fabius

What This Guide Helps With

This guide addresses situations where a Drager Fabius anesthesia machine has touchscreen or display issues such as:

• Screen not responding to touch
• Delayed or inaccurate touch response
• Frozen display
• Dim or blank screen
• Display artifacts or flickering

The focus is on simple, external, and easily verifiable causes first—such as power quality, peripheral connections, environmental factors, and user interaction—before assuming internal display or control board failure.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Ensure Patient Safety First

• Confirm the machine is not actively ventilating a patient before troubleshooting.
• If in use, transition the patient to another anesthesia machine or alternate ventilation source first.
• Display troubleshooting should never compromise patient ventilation.

2. Verify AC Power and Battery Status

Confirm the unit is plugged directly into a known-good outlet.

Check for tripped breakers or recently used red emergency outlets that may have unstable supply.

Review battery status on the screen (if visible).

Why this matters: Low voltage or unstable power can cause screen freezes, flickering, or boot issues.

• Outlet tested
• Power cord secure at both ends
• No extension cords
• No power strips

3. Perform a Controlled Reboot

• If safe and the machine is not in use, power down the machine using proper shutdown procedure.
• Wait 30–60 seconds.
• Restart the system and observe boot behavior.

Observe:

• Does the screen initialize normally?
• Are startup tones normal?
• Does the display fail before or after full boot?

If the screen restores after reboot, the issue may have been a software hang.

4. Inspect for External Physical Causes

• Check for visible screen cracks or fluid intrusion.
• Look for condensation or OR cleaning residue near bezel edges.
• Confirm no adhesive covers or protective films are interfering with touch response.

Touchscreens can become unresponsive due to fluid intrusion or contamination.

5. Check for Peripheral Lockups

• If the screen appears frozen but the machine is powered, observe whether alarms are functioning.
• Check if knobs or physical buttons respond.
• Disconnect any non-essential external connections (network, USB if applicable).

If physical controls work but touchscreen does not, the issue may be isolated to the display module.

6. Evaluate Environmental Factors

• Has the OR experienced temperature extremes?
• Has the machine recently been moved from cold storage?
• Is there visible heat buildup or fan obstruction?

Overheating or condensation can cause temporary display malfunction.

7. Observe for Backlight vs. Display Failure

• If screen appears blank, shine a flashlight at the screen.
• If faint images are visible → possible backlight issue.
• If completely dark with no image → possible display power or control issue.

This helps differentiate between backlight failure and total display loss.

If the Problem Persists

If power has been verified, reboot performed, external causes ruled out, and the touchscreen or display remains unresponsive or unstable:

• Remove the device from service
• Label it Out of Service
• Send for repair or schedule bench evaluation

Likely causes at this point include:

• Failed touchscreen digitizer
• Display module failure
• Internal ribbon cable issue
• Graphics/control board fault

Do not attempt internal disassembly beyond standard Clinical Engineering access panels.

Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting.

Clinical Use Tip

Never troubleshoot a touchscreen issue on an actively anesthetized patient.

If the display is unreliable:

• Transition the patient to another anesthesia machine immediately.
• Maintain ventilation using manual bagging if necessary during transfer.

An unreliable display means unreliable monitoring and ventilator control feedback.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
“Touchscreen not responding to touch in OR 3. Screen frozen during case setup.”

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
“Unit powered but touchscreen unresponsive. Reboot temporarily restored function. Issue recurred after 15 minutes. No external contamination noted.”

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
“Removed anesthesia machine from service. Labeled Out of Service. Scheduled vendor repair for suspected display module failure.”

Helpful Details to Include

• Outlet tested
• Reboot performed
• Physical controls responsive or not
• Backlight functioning
• Visible screen damage
• Environmental conditions
• Final device status

Final Thought

Display issues on an anesthesia machine are not minor inconveniences—they directly impact safe ventilation and monitoring. Always approach troubleshooting logically: verify power, rule out external factors, reboot safely, and escalate appropriately. Strong documentation protects both the patient and the department.

That is successful troubleshooting.