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What This Guide Helps With
This guide assists Clinical Engineering in troubleshooting situations where the Fujifilm Sonosite Edge II produces images with artifacts or degraded quality. Common symptoms include:
- Grainy or noisy images
- Loss of resolution or detail
- Streaking, dropouts, or shadow artifacts
- Reduced penetration depth
- Intermittent or distorted imaging
The focus is on external, verifiable causes before assuming internal failure.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Verify Probe Connection
- Ensure the probe is fully seated in the connector. Loose or partially connected probes can cause artifacts.
- Inspect the connector for bent pins or debris.
Swap or Inspect the Probe
- Test with a known-good probe to see if the artifact persists.
- If the image improves, the original probe may be damaged.
Check the Cable and Strain Relief
- Examine the probe cable for kinks, cuts, or frayed areas. Damaged cables can cause intermittent signal loss.
Review System Settings
- Confirm presets and imaging modes are correct for the intended study.
- Reset the image settings to default to rule out incorrect gain, depth, or frequency settings.
Check the Display and Monitor Connections
- Inspect video output cables and monitor connections for loose connections or damage.
- Confirm the display itself is functioning correctly by swapping monitors if available.
Power Cycle the System
- Turn the system off, wait 30–60 seconds, then restart.
- This can resolve temporary software glitches affecting image processing.
Run Built-in Self-Test / Diagnostic Tools
- Utilize the Edge II’s internal diagnostics to check for probe or system errors.
- Document any error codes for escalation.
If the Problem Persists
- External checks (probe, cable, settings, display) verified but artifact persists.
- Remove the device from service.
- Label it Out of Service.
- Send for repair or bench evaluation by a qualified technician or manufacturer service.
Knowing when to stop is a critical part of proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
- Patient Safety First: Do not perform troubleshooting on a patient.
- Move the patient to another device if possible before continuing diagnostics.
- Always ensure images are clinically reliable before any procedure.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
“Ultrasound images appear grainy and show streaking artifacts during exams.”
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
“Probe was properly seated but the same artifact persisted on multiple probes; system presets verified; cables and display connections intact.”
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
“System removed from service, labeled Out of Service, and sent for bench evaluation.”
Helpful Details to Include
- Outlet tested
- Probe swapped
- Cable inspected
- Preset and imaging mode reset
- Any error codes from self-test
- Final device status: Out of Service
Final Thought
Clinical troubleshooting prioritizes patient safety, logical stepwise evaluation, and knowing when to escalate. Documenting findings using CCR ensures continuity of care and accurate service records. External verification often resolves image issues without internal repair.
That is successful troubleshooting.