GE Healthcare Avance

Asset Type

Anesthesia Machine

Manufacturer

GE Healthcare

Model

Avance

What This Guide Helps With

Troubleshooting an unresponsive display interface or ComWheel control caused by contamination, obstruction, software lockup, power instability, or display-unit failure.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Ensure Patient Safety First

Do not perform extended control-panel troubleshooting while the Avance is supporting an active patient.

If the display controls or ComWheel become unresponsive during a procedure:

• Notify the anesthesia provider immediately.
• Confirm whether ventilation, gas delivery, alarms, and monitoring remain functional.
• Prepare another verified anesthesia machine or approved backup ventilation method.
• Transfer the patient when directed by the anesthesia provider.
• Follow the facility’s anesthesia-machine failure procedure.

Expected: Patient care is no longer dependent on equipment with unreliable controls.

Once the patient is safely supported by alternate equipment, continue troubleshooting in a controlled Clinical Engineering environment.

2. Confirm the Exact Failure Mode

Determine precisely what is unresponsive:

• The display is active, but selections cannot be made.
• The ComWheel rotates but does not move through menu options.
• The ComWheel moves through options but does not confirm when pressed.
• Only certain buttons or menu functions are affected.
• The entire display is frozen.
• The screen is blank or repeatedly restarting.
• The problem occurs continuously or only intermittently.

The Avance interface primarily uses the ComWheel to navigate, change values, and confirm selections. Separating rotation, push-to-select, and complete display failures helps identify whether the complaint involves the control, software, or display assembly.

Expected: The failure can be reproduced and documented without connecting the machine to a patient.

3. Check for Physical Obstruction or Contamination

Inspect the display and control area for:

• Cleaning residue
• Dried fluids
• Adhesive contamination
• Damaged protective film
• Foreign material around the ComWheel
• A control knob that is rubbing against the front panel
• Cracks, looseness, or impact damage

Clean the exterior only according to facility and manufacturer-approved procedures. Do not allow liquid to enter around the display, buttons, or ComWheel.

Expected: The control moves freely, presses normally, and responds after exterior contamination is removed.

If normal operation returns, complete functional testing and stop.

4. Verify ComWheel Movement and Push Function

With the machine removed from patient use:

• Rotate the ComWheel slowly in both directions.
• Observe whether the highlighted menu item moves consistently.
• Press the ComWheel once to confirm a selection.
• Repeat the test in several accessible menus.

Expected: Each rotational step produces predictable menu movement, and pressing the ComWheel confirms the highlighted selection.

If rotation works but pressing does not, or pressing works but rotation skips or fails, document the specific behavior. This may indicate a worn encoder or switch rather than a complete display failure.

5. Check External Buttons and Controls

Test accessible front-panel controls individually, including:

• Alarm silence
• Menu or function keys
• Ventilation-related control keys
• ComWheel rotation and push selection

Determine whether the issue affects one control or the entire user interface.

Expected: Unaffected controls respond normally.

If only one physical control fails, the problem is likely localized to that control or its interface. If all controls are unresponsive, continue checking power and system operation.

6. Confirm Stable AC Power

Verify that:

• The power cord is fully seated.
• The cord and plug are not damaged.
• The machine is connected directly to a known-good hospital-grade outlet.
• The outlet has been tested with approved equipment.
• The system does not repeatedly switch between AC and battery operation.
• No loose power-strip connection or switched receptacle is involved.

Expected: The machine recognizes AC power and remains continuously powered without flickering, restarting, or changing power-source indicators.

If restoring stable power resolves the issue, perform the complete checkout procedure before returning the machine to service.

7. Remove Nonessential External Connections

Disconnect nonessential external accessories while the machine is powered down, as permitted by facility procedures. These may include:

• Network cables
• Serial or data cables
• USB devices
• External display connections
• Unsupported accessories connected to communication ports

Do not disconnect required gas supplies or safety-critical components while the machine is operating.

Restart the machine with only the connections required for basic testing.

Expected: The system starts normally and the controls respond without interference from an attached accessory or external device.

If the issue disappears, reconnect accessories individually to identify the source.

8. Perform a Controlled Power Cycle

Only after the machine has been removed from patient use:

• Place the system in Standby.
• Turn the system off using the normal shutdown procedure.
• Allow the display and system electronics to shut down completely.
• Confirm stable AC power.
• Restart the machine.
• Observe the startup sequence for warnings, communication faults, freezes, or abnormal delays.

Expected: The system completes startup, displays the normal operating screen, and accepts ComWheel and control-panel inputs.

If normal control returns, continue with a full system checkout. A temporary recovery does not prove the underlying issue is permanently resolved if the complaint has occurred repeatedly.

9. Review Displayed Errors and Event Information

Record any messages related to:

• Display communication
• System startup
• Control-panel communication
• Software failure
• Power interruption
• Internal communication loss
• System malfunction

Photograph or transcribe the complete message when permitted by facility policy.

Expected: Any associated error information is preserved for repair evaluation instead of being documented only as “controls not working.”

10. Test the System Off Patient

Operate the controls through multiple menus and settings for several minutes.

Verify:

• Smooth ComWheel rotation
• Reliable push-to-select operation
• Proper menu navigation
• Normal alarm-silence response
• No frozen menus
• No unexpected restarts
• No intermittent loss of control
• No unusual heat, odor, or sound from the display assembly

Expected: All controls remain responsive throughout repeated testing.

If the problem returns, stop testing and escalate the machine for repair.

11. Complete the Manufacturer Checkout

If the interface remains functional after troubleshooting, complete the applicable preoperative checkout or system checkout required by the manufacturer and facility.

The Avance technical documentation directs service personnel to complete the checkout procedure after service-related work.

Expected: The machine passes all required operational, alarm, ventilation, and safety checks before being returned to clinical use.

If any test fails, remove the machine from service.

If the Problem Persists

If the display, ComWheel, or front-panel controls remain unresponsive after external contamination, obstruction, power, accessory, and restart checks have been completed, common external causes have been ruled out.

The issue may involve the:

• ComWheel encoder or push switch
• Front-panel control assembly
• Display unit
• Display communication connection
• Internal power distribution
• System software
• Internal control electronics

The device should be:

• Removed from service
• Labeled Out of Service
• Sent for qualified bench evaluation or manufacturer-authorized repair

Do not open the display assembly or perform board-level repair unless trained, authorized, and equipped with the correct service documentation and test equipment. GE’s technical documentation states that service procedures should be performed by appropriately trained and authorized personnel.

Knowing when to stop and escalate is proper troubleshooting.

Clinical Use Tip

Do not test an unreliable display or control knob while the Avance is supporting a patient. Move the patient to verified equipment before restarting, disconnecting accessories, or attempting extended testing.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
"Anesthesia staff reported that the GE Healthcare Avance display remained active, but the ComWheel would not move through or confirm menu selections."

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
"ComWheel rotation and push functions remained intermittent after cleaning the control area, verifying AC power, removing nonessential connections, and performing a controlled restart."

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
"Removed the Avance from service, labeled it Out of Service, and forwarded it for display-control assembly and encoder evaluation."

Helpful Details to Include (If Known)

• Patient transferred to alternate equipment
• Exact controls affected
• ComWheel rotation tested
• ComWheel push function tested
• Front-panel buttons tested
• Display frozen, blank, or restarting
• Contamination or physical damage found
• Outlet tested
• Power cord inspected
• External accessories disconnected
• Error messages recorded
• Controlled restart performed
• Manufacturer checkout completed
• Intermittent failure reproduced
• Unusual heat, smell, or sound noted
• Final device status documented

Final Thought

Patient safety comes before restoring the control interface. Begin with observable external causes, isolate the exact failure, verify stable power, and escalate recurring or unresolved control problems appropriately. Detailed CCR documentation gives repair personnel the information needed to evaluate an intermittent display or ComWheel failure efficiently.

That is successful troubleshooting.