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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting battery charging failures, reduced backup time, battery alarms, or unexpected shutdown caused by power, seating, battery condition, or charging-system problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Ensure Patient Safety First
Do not troubleshoot a suspected battery or power-backup failure while the Servo-i is actively supporting a patient.
- Notify respiratory therapy and the clinical team.
- Transfer the patient to another verified ventilator before disconnecting AC power or manipulating battery modules.
- Confirm that the replacement ventilator is operating correctly.
- Do not use the affected Servo-i for transport until dependable battery operation has been verified.
Expected outcome: The patient is safely supported without relying on a ventilator that may lose power unexpectedly.
Continue Clinical Engineering troubleshooting only after the Servo-i has been removed from patient use.
2. Confirm the Reported Battery Problem
Determine whether the reported issue is:
- Battery not charging
- Battery capacity remaining low despite extended AC connection
- Short operating time after unplugging the ventilator
- Battery missing or battery not connected message
- Battery operation unavailable
- Unexpected transition to battery power
- Shutdown immediately or shortly after AC power is removed
Record the displayed alarm or message exactly.
Expected outcome: The failure is clearly identified before components are exchanged.
3. Verify the AC Power Source
Connect the Servo-i directly to a known-good hospital-grade outlet.
- Confirm the outlet is energized using an approved outlet tester or another verified device.
- Avoid extension cords, switched receptacles, or an unverified equipment power strip.
- Confirm that the ventilator indicates operation from external AC power.
- Gently inspect the connection for intermittent operation without placing stress on the inlet.
A ventilator cannot charge its batteries properly if external power is missing or unstable.
Expected outcome: The Servo-i consistently recognizes AC power. If normal charging resumes, allow the battery to charge and complete verification before returning the device to service.
4. Inspect the Power Cord and AC Inlet
Remove the device from AC power and inspect:
- Power cord plug and connector
- Cord jacket and strain reliefs
- Equipment AC inlet
- Bent, recessed, loose, discolored, or heat-damaged contacts
- Signs of liquid entry or physical damage
- Unusual heat, odor, or arcing evidence
Test with a known-good compatible power cord when permitted by facility policy.
Expected outcome: AC power remains stable with the replacement cord. If the cord caused the problem, replace it and stop troubleshooting after completing functional and safety verification.
5. Check Battery Installation and Recognition
With the ventilator safely removed from patient use:
- Confirm that each installed battery module is fully seated and secured.
- Inspect accessible battery contacts and the battery compartment for contamination, damage, corrosion, or foreign material.
- Do not use a swollen, cracked, leaking, overheated, or physically damaged battery.
- Reinstall the battery according to approved handling procedures.
- Power the ventilator and confirm that the battery is recognized on the display.
Expected outcome: The installed battery appears normally in the power-status information. If reseating restores recognition, continue with charging and runtime verification.
6. Review Battery Status and Messages
Observe the battery and power information displayed by the Servo-i.
Look for:
- Battery missing indication
- Charging indication
- Low remaining capacity
- Battery unavailable or defective message
- Different status between installed battery modules
- Capacity that does not increase while connected to AC power
Allow time for the displayed status to update after installing a battery or connecting external power.
Expected outcome: Each installed battery is recognized and shows a normal charging state. Record any battery-specific warning before proceeding.
7. Allow an Adequate Charging Period
Leave the ventilator connected to stable AC power long enough for the installed batteries to charge.
- Keep the ventilator available for observation.
- Confirm that external AC power remains indicated.
- Recheck battery status periodically.
- Do not assume a deeply discharged battery has failed immediately after connection.
- Follow the charging interval and battery-conditioning requirements in the applicable Getinge instructions and facility procedure.
Charging time and available backup time can vary with battery condition, installed options, ventilator settings, and battery temperature.
Expected outcome: Battery capacity increases and reaches an acceptable level. If capacity does not increase, continue troubleshooting.
8. Compare Battery Modules When Available
When more than one approved battery module is available, exchange one battery at a time with a known-good compatible module.
- Keep battery identification clear.
- Do not mix test results between modules.
- Observe whether the charging or recognition problem follows a specific battery.
- Confirm that the known-good battery charges in the same Servo-i.
Expected outcome:
- Problem follows the battery: The battery is likely degraded or defective.
- Multiple known-good batteries fail in the same ventilator: Suspect the ventilator’s charging circuit, battery interface, or power system.
If a defective battery is identified, remove it from use and process it according to facility battery-replacement and recycling procedures.
9. Perform a Controlled Runtime Test
After charging, connect the Servo-i to an approved test lung and configure it according to the facility’s battery-performance test procedure.
- Confirm normal ventilation and alarm operation.
- Record the initial battery status.
- Disconnect AC power while observing the transition to battery operation.
- Monitor battery status, alarms, and operating time.
- Remain with the ventilator throughout the test.
- Reconnect AC power before the battery reaches an unsafe discharge level.
Do not use an active patient to test battery capacity.
Expected outcome: The ventilator transfers to battery power without interruption and provides runtime that meets the applicable service requirement.
If runtime is short with one battery only, replace that battery. If runtime remains short with known-good batteries, escalate for bench evaluation.
10. Check Battery Age and Service History
Review the battery label, installation date, maintenance history, and previous runtime-test results.
Look for:
- Battery beyond the facility’s replacement interval
- Repeated deep discharge
- Extended storage without charging
- Previous short-runtime complaints
- Increasingly poor capacity-test results
- Exposure to excessive heat
- Battery replaced without documented performance verification
Rechargeable batteries lose capacity with age and use even when they remain recognizable and appear to charge.
Expected outcome: Batteries with poor capacity, excessive age, damage, or failed testing are replaced according to approved service procedures.
11. Complete Operational and Safety Verification
After correcting the problem:
- Confirm stable AC operation.
- Confirm normal battery recognition and charging.
- Verify uninterrupted transfer from AC to battery and back to AC.
- Confirm battery-related alarms and indicators operate appropriately.
- Run the approved pre-use check or functional verification.
- Complete electrical safety testing when required by facility policy or after power-system repair.
- Confirm the ventilator is clean, complete, and ready for clinical use.
Expected outcome: The Servo-i operates reliably on AC and battery power without unexplained alarms or interruptions.
If the Problem Persists
If the Servo-i will not recognize or charge known-good batteries, repeatedly changes power sources, or fails the controlled runtime test, common external causes have been ruled out. The failure may involve the battery interface, charging circuit, AC power supply, internal wiring, or power-management electronics.
The ventilator should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for authorized repair or bench evaluation
- Prevented from being used for patient transport or clinical ventilation
Do not continue repeated discharge testing or begin unapproved internal disassembly. Knowing when to stop and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Never depend on a Servo-i with uncertain battery capacity for patient transport. Move the patient to another verified ventilator before testing batteries, disconnecting AC power, or exchanging power components.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Respiratory therapy reported that the Getinge Servo-i displayed low battery capacity and operated for only several minutes after AC power was disconnected."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Battery runtime testing found that one installed battery module failed to retain adequate capacity, while a known-good battery charged and operated normally."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the degraded battery from service, installed an approved replacement, verified charging and AC-to-battery transfer, completed the pre-use check, and returned the ventilator to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Outlet tested and confirmed operational
- External AC indication verified
- Power cord inspected or exchanged
- Battery modules reseated
- Battery identification and age recorded
- Charging status documented
- Exact battery alarm or message recorded
- Known-good battery tested
- Runtime test result documented
- Unusual heat, odor, swelling, or damage noted
- AC-to-battery transfer verified
- Pre-use check completed
- Final device status documented
Final Thought
Battery troubleshooting must protect the patient first and then proceed logically through the outlet, power cord, battery seating, charging status, battery condition, and controlled runtime testing. Escalating a Servo-i that cannot reliably maintain backup power prevents an avoidable loss of ventilation, while complete CCR documentation establishes exactly what was reported, found, and corrected.
That is successful troubleshooting.