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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots no-power, failed boot, startup interruption, and standby-resume problems caused by external power, docking, battery, accessories, or environmental conditions.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Patient Care and Confirm the Reported Condition
If the Venue Go is being used for an active examination or procedure, move clinical use to another verified ultrasound system before troubleshooting. Determine whether the system is completely dead, begins booting but stops, repeatedly restarts, or specifically fails to resume from standby.
Note whether the problem occurs on battery power, external AC power, or both.
Expected outcome: The exact failure mode and power condition are identified without interrupting patient care. If the system starts normally and remains stable after the reported condition is reproduced and corrected, troubleshooting can stop after final verification.
2. Inspect for Damage or Unsafe Conditions
Inspect the system, power supply, AC cord, connectors, and cart or docking hardware for cracked housings, bent contacts, exposed conductors, liquid contamination, unusual heat, or odor.
Do not continue operating equipment showing evidence of electrical damage, overheating, or liquid intrusion.
Expected outcome: No condition is found that requires immediate removal from service. If damage or contamination could affect electrical safety or reliable operation, remove the system from service and escalate.
3. Verify the AC Power Source
Confirm that the receptacle being used provides power with an appropriate test method. Check that the power cord and external power supply are fully seated and not being pulled loose by cart movement or cable strain.
When practical, test from another known-good approved receptacle.
Expected outcome: A stable AC source is confirmed. If restoring reliable outlet or cord connection allows normal startup, continue to final verification and stop troubleshooting.
4. Verify External Power Connections
Inspect the external power adapter and all accessible power connections between the wall source, cart or dock, and Venue Go. Look for loose plugs, damaged strain relief, contamination, or a connector that does not seat securely.
Reseat accessible connections with power removed when appropriate.
Expected outcome: External power connections are secure and mechanically sound. If the system boots normally after correcting a loose connection, the issue is resolved.
5. Compare Battery and AC Operation
Attempt startup using verified external power. If the system operates on AC, observe whether the battery is detected and whether charging indication is present.
If appropriate and sufficient charge is available, compare operation on battery to operation on AC. Do not rely on a suspect battery for clinical use.
Expected outcome: The failure is isolated to AC power, battery operation, or the system itself. If the Venue Go operates reliably after correcting the external power condition, troubleshooting can stop.
6. Disconnect Nonessential External Accessories
Remove nonessential externally connected devices such as removable media, network adapters, peripherals, or other accessories that are not required for startup.
Restart the system using only the normal basic configuration.
Expected outcome: The system boots and remains responsive without unnecessary accessories. If removing one external accessory restores normal operation, inspect or replace that accessory before reconnecting it.
7. Allow a Normal Restart
If the unit appears stuck in standby or is unresponsive, perform a normal shutdown and restart using approved user-accessible controls when possible. Avoid repeated forced power cycling.
Observe the startup sequence for abnormal delays, freezes, or recurring resets.
Expected outcome: The system completes startup and reaches its normal operating application. If it remains stable through repeated normal startup and shutdown checks, troubleshooting can stop after functional verification.
8. Check the Operating Environment
Verify that ventilation openings are unobstructed and the system has not been exposed to excessive heat, direct sunlight, restricted airflow, or other environmental conditions that could affect startup or recovery.
Allow an overheated unit to return to a suitable operating environment before retesting.
Expected outcome: The Venue Go operates in an appropriate environment with unrestricted airflow. If cooling and correcting the environment restores stable startup, the issue is resolved after verification.
9. Perform Final Functional Verification
After the system boots successfully, confirm that the display, controls, probe recognition, image acquisition, battery indication, network status when required, and normal shutdown or standby behavior function as expected.
Use a suitable probe and phantom or other approved test setup rather than a patient for troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The system completes startup and basic imaging functions reliably without unexpected shutdowns or freezes. The unit may be returned to service only after satisfactory verification.
10. Escalate Repeated or Unresolved Startup Failures
If the system will not boot on known-good power, repeatedly freezes during startup, restarts unexpectedly, or cannot reliably resume from standby after external causes are eliminated, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: An unreliable system is removed from clinical use rather than repeatedly power-cycled or returned to service without a stable repair.
If the Problem Persists
Common external power, connection, accessory, and environmental causes have been ruled out. The remaining problem may involve the battery subsystem, internal power management, storage, operating software, thermal protection, or other service-level components.
The device should be:
- Removed from service and labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or controlled bench evaluation.
- Evaluated using appropriate GE Healthcare service documentation and approved test equipment.
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel.
- Fully function-tested before being returned to clinical service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting rather than repeatedly restarting an unreliable ultrasound system is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not continue an examination with a system that intermittently shuts down or freezes; move the patient to another verified ultrasound system first.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported the Venue Go would not start and appeared completely unresponsive."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the external power connection at the cart was not fully seated and the battery was discharged."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering reseated the power connection, verified charging, completed multiple successful startups, and confirmed normal imaging operation before return to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether the system was dead, frozen, restarting, or stuck in standby
- AC versus battery operation
- Receptacle verification results
- External power supply and connector condition
- Battery detection and charging indication
- Accessories disconnected during testing
- Ventilation and environmental condition
- Startup behavior before and after correction
- Final imaging and shutdown verification
- Final device status
Final Thought
Protect patient care first, verify power and external connections before assuming an internal failure, confirm stable operation after any correction, escalate unreliable startup behavior appropriately, and document the complaint, cause, and resolution clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.