GE Healthcare Avance

Asset Type

Anesthesia Machine

Manufacturer

GE Healthcare

Model

Avance

What This Guide Helps With

Troubleshooting missing network connectivity, failed data export, or communication loss between the Avance, patient monitor, documentation system, or connected interface.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Ensure Patient Safety First

Do not perform extended communication troubleshooting while the Avance is supporting an active patient.

If patient data is not transferring during a procedure:

• Confirm ventilation, gas delivery, local monitoring, and alarms remain functional.
• Notify the anesthesia provider that automatic data transfer is unavailable.
• Use approved independent monitoring and downtime-documentation procedures.
• Move the patient to another verified anesthesia machine if local monitoring or therapy performance is also questionable.

Expected: Patient care continues safely without depending on the failed communication pathway.

If patient safety has been established, continue troubleshooting off patient or without disrupting active therapy.

2. Confirm the Exact Failure

Determine which function is affected:

• Avance data is missing from the patient monitor.
• Patient information is not reaching the anesthesia machine.
• Data is not transferring to the electronic medical record.
• Network connection is unavailable.
• Exported case data is incomplete or missing.
• Communication fails only in one operating room.
• Communication fails with every connected system.

Record any displayed communication message, network symbol, warning, or downstream interface error.

Expected: The failed communication path is clearly identified before connections or settings are changed.

3. Verify the Avance Is Otherwise Operating Normally

Confirm that the anesthesia machine:

• Completes startup without unrelated system errors.
• Displays ventilation and gas-monitoring information locally.
• Responds normally to controls.
• Has a stable date and time.
• Does not repeatedly restart or freeze.

Expected: The problem is isolated to communication or data transfer rather than a broader system malfunction.

If the machine is unstable or local clinical functions are affected, remove it from service and escalate for repair.

4. Inspect External Communication Cables

Check all accessible network, serial, USB, video, and interface cables associated with the failed connection.

Look for:

• Loose connectors
• Damaged locking tabs
• Bent connector pins
• Crushed or sharply bent cables
• Strained connections
• Contamination or fluid exposure
• Cables connected to the wrong port

Disconnect and securely reconnect cables only when doing so will not interrupt active patient care or another clinical system.

Expected: All communication cables are correctly routed, fully seated, and undamaged.

If reseating the cable restores communication, verify stable operation and stop troubleshooting.

5. Confirm the Correct Connection Path

Trace the complete communication path from the Avance to its destination. This may include:

• Patient monitor
• Interface adapter
• Device concentrator
• Network switch
• Wall data outlet
• Integration server
• Anesthesia documentation system

Confirm that each cable is connected to the intended port and that no adapter has been bypassed, exchanged, or disconnected.

Expected: The physical connection matches the facility’s approved integration design.

6. Check External Device Power and Status

Verify that connected components are powered and operating normally, including:

• Patient monitor
• Interface converter
• Device adapter
• Network switch
• Integration gateway
• Documentation workstation

Check for normal power indicators and absence of fault lights.

Expected: Every component in the communication chain is powered and available.

If an external adapter or monitor is powered off or faulted, restore or replace that component and retest communication.

7. Test the Cable or Wall Connection

When approved by facility policy:

• Substitute a known-good communication cable.
• Test the Avance on a known-good network outlet.
• Connect the original cable to a known-working compatible device.
• Check the wall outlet or switch port with the network or integration team.

Do not connect the machine to an unapproved clinical network or change network infrastructure without authorization.

Expected: The test identifies whether the failure follows the cable, wall outlet, switch port, or Avance.

If the replacement cable or alternate approved outlet resolves the problem, replace or report the failed external component and stop troubleshooting.

8. Compare With Another Working Location

Determine whether the problem occurs:

• Only in one operating room
• Only with one patient monitor
• Only with one documentation workstation
• On multiple Avance machines
• Across an entire department

Compare cable routing, interface equipment, network status, and approved configuration with a working room.

Expected: The failure is narrowed to the Avance, room infrastructure, downstream system, or facility-wide interface.

A room-specific failure commonly points toward the outlet, cable, adapter, switch port, or local configuration rather than the anesthesia machine.

9. Verify Patient Monitor Communication

If communication with a patient monitor has failed:

• Confirm the monitor is powered and functioning.
• Verify the correct interface cable is installed.
• Confirm the monitor recognizes its acquisition modules and connected devices.
• Check whether other parameters from the monitor reach the destination system.
• Review the monitor for interface or network messages.
• Restart the monitor only when clinically safe and permitted.

Expected: The monitor and its communication interface are available and capable of transferring data.

If the monitor also fails with other devices, direct troubleshooting toward the monitor or integration system.

10. Review Accessible Communication Settings

Using approved access levels, verify that:

• The intended communication interface is enabled.
• The correct connection type is selected.
• Network settings match the facility’s documented configuration.
• Device identification and location information are correct.
• Date and time are accurate.
• No recent software, network, or interface change preceded the failure.

Do not guess network values, copy settings from an unrelated device, or alter protected service configuration without authorization.

Expected: User-accessible settings match the approved integration record.

If a configuration discrepancy is found, coordinate correction with the appropriate Clinical Engineering, IT, or integration support team.

11. Check for Duplicate or Incorrect Device Identification

Confirm that the Avance is associated with the correct:

• Device name
• Room or bed location
• Network identity
• Interface assignment
• Documentation-system mapping

A moved or replaced machine may remain assigned to its previous room or interface record.

Expected: The physical device and its electronic-system assignment match.

If correcting the approved assignment restores communication, confirm data reaches the correct patient record and stop troubleshooting.

12. Evaluate the Downstream System

Contact the appropriate integration or IT support team to verify:

• The interface server is online.
• The Avance connection is visible.
• The network port is active.
• Data messages are being received.
• The device is not blocked or disabled.
• The documentation application is functioning.
• No facility-wide outage or maintenance event is active.

Provide the device serial number, room, asset number, time of failure, and destination system.

Expected: The support team determines whether data leaves the room and where communication stops.

If the server receives data but the clinical application does not display it, the failure is likely downstream of the Avance.

13. Perform a Controlled Restart

After patient care is protected and configuration information has been recorded:

• Place the Avance in the appropriate standby or shutdown condition.
• Shut down the system using the normal procedure.
• Shut down associated external interface equipment when permitted.
• Wait for shutdown to complete.
• Restore power to external interface components.
• Restart the Avance.
• Allow all systems to initialize fully.
• Retest communication using a controlled test case.

Do not repeatedly cycle power if the machine does not start normally.

Expected: Communication initializes correctly and remains stable after restart.

If communication is restored, complete a functional verification before returning the device to service.

14. Verify the Repair With a Test Transmission

After any corrective action:

• Confirm the connection remains stable.
• Verify current data reaches the intended monitor or documentation system.
• Confirm the correct device and room are displayed.
• Check that values are current rather than cached.
• Verify the data is associated with a test record, not an active patient.
• Observe the connection long enough to detect intermittent dropouts.

Expected: Accurate, current information transfers consistently to the correct destination.

Do not return the machine to service based only on a normal network indicator.

If the Problem Persists

If cables, connections, external equipment, room infrastructure, approved settings, and downstream systems have been checked, the failure may involve an internal communication interface, network assembly, software configuration, or system hardware fault.

The device should be:

• Removed from service
• Labeled Out of Service
• Sent for repair or controlled bench evaluation
• Evaluated using authorized GE Healthcare service documentation and test equipment

Do not access internal boards, alter protected service settings, or replace communication assemblies without appropriate training and authorization.

Knowing when to stop and escalate is proper troubleshooting.

Clinical Use Tip

A loss of automatic data transfer does not always stop ventilation or gas delivery, but it can create missing documentation or unavailable remote information. Confirm local monitoring and alarms, notify the anesthesia provider, and follow downtime procedures. Never troubleshoot communication by disconnecting equipment required for an active patient.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
"Clinical staff reported that ventilation and gas-monitoring data from the GE Healthcare Avance were not appearing in the anesthesia documentation system."

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
"Inspection found a damaged network cable between the Avance interface connection and the operating-room wall outlet."

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
"Replaced the damaged cable, verified current test data transferred to the correct documentation record, completed functional testing, and returned the Avance to service."

Helpful Details to Include (If Known)

• Exact communication function affected
• Displayed network or interface message
• Patient monitor model
• Destination documentation system
• Room and wall-outlet identification
• Cable type and condition
• Interface-adapter indicator lights
• Network port tested
• Known-good cable substituted
• Failure limited to one room or multiple rooms
• Device or room recently moved
• Recent network or software changes
• Restart results
• Test transmission completed
• Correct device and room assignment verified
• Final device status

Final Thought

Communication failures require a methodical review of the entire data path, not an immediate assumption that the anesthesia machine has failed. Protect the patient, verify local clinical operation, inspect external connections, isolate the failed segment, and escalate appropriately. Clear CCR documentation helps prevent repeat failures and supports collaboration between Clinical Engineering, IT, and integration teams.

That is successful troubleshooting.