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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses pump and flow interruptions caused by tubing loading, kinks, clamps, disposable problems, obstruction, power issues, or pump-drive faults.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Continuity of Care
If blood collection or processing is unreliable, notify the clinical team and establish an alternate blood-management plan. Do not continue using a system with unpredictable blood flow.
Expected outcome: Patient care continues without relying on intermittent Cell Saver Elite+ flow.
2. Confirm the Exact Pump or Flow Problem
Determine whether the pump does not rotate, rotates without moving fluid, starts and stops intermittently, or produces irregular flow.
Observe the condition without allowing continued operation against a visibly obstructed line.
Expected outcome: The complaint is identified as a pump-motion, tubing-loading, or fluid-path issue.
3. Verify Power and Overall System State
Confirm stable AC power, complete startup, and absence of unrelated shutdown or cover conditions preventing normal operation.
Expected outcome: The system is powered normally and otherwise ready to operate. If restoring power or startup status restores pump operation, the issue is resolved.
4. Inspect Pump Tubing Placement
Examine the disposable tubing where it interfaces with the pump. Look for partial loading, twisting, flattening, stretching, or tubing positioned outside the intended track.
Do not operate the pump against incorrectly seated tubing.
Expected outcome: The pump segment is correctly loaded and evenly seated. If correcting it restores reliable flow, troubleshooting can stop.
5. Trace the External Fluid Path
Inspect the blood path for closed clamps, kinked tubing, compressed tubing, collapsed sections, or tubing trapped under equipment or disposables.
Verify associated connections are fully seated.
Expected outcome: The external fluid path is open and unobstructed. If correcting an obstruction restores flow, the issue is resolved.
6. Inspect the Disposable for Damage or Clotting
Look for visible clot, debris, collapsed tubing, damaged connectors, or other disposable conditions that could restrict blood movement.
Do not attempt to salvage or reuse a compromised disposable.
Expected outcome: The disposable path appears patent and intact. A compromised disposable is replaced according to clinical and facility procedures.
7. Check Accessible Pump Components
With the device safely stopped, inspect accessible pump surfaces for contamination, foreign material, or damage that could interfere with tubing contact.
Do not dismantle the pump assembly.
Expected outcome: The accessible pump area is clean and unobstructed.
8. Perform a Known-Good Disposable Test
When clinically appropriate and permitted, test the system with a new compatible processing set to distinguish a disposable problem from an equipment problem.
Expected outcome: Reliable pump operation with a known-good set indicates the original disposable or tubing configuration was the likely cause.
9. Perform Functional Verification
Under nonpatient conditions, verify consistent pump rotation and fluid movement through an appropriate test configuration. Observe for slipping, irregular motion, noise, or stopping.
Expected outcome: Pump operation and flow remain stable. If testing is normal, troubleshooting can stop and the device may proceed through required return-to-service checks.
10. Remove From Service if Pump Operation Is Unreliable
If the pump remains intermittent or fails to rotate after external causes are ruled out, remove the system from service.
Label it Out of Service and refer it for bench evaluation.
Expected outcome: A system incapable of reliable blood movement is not returned to patient care.
If the Problem Persists
Tubing loading, clamps, disposable condition, fluid-path obstruction, power, and accessible pump contamination have been ruled out. The remaining cause may involve the pump drive, mechanical coupling, sensing, control circuitry, or another internal fault.
The device should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation
- Evaluated using appropriate manufacturer documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel
Complete appropriate operational verification after service. Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Treat intermittent blood flow as a reliability failure even if the pump resumes on its own; predictable flow is required before clinical use.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Surgical staff reported intermittent blood flow even though the pump appeared to start normally."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the pump tubing segment twisted and only partially seated in the pump track."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The tubing was correctly reseated, and repeated functional testing confirmed stable pump rotation and continuous fluid movement."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether pump rotated
- Tubing placement
- Clamp positions
- Kinks or collapsed tubing
- Visible clot or debris
- Pump-area contamination
- Known-good disposable result
- Power condition
- Functional flow result
- Final device status
- Whether pump rotated
- Tubing placement
- Clamp positions
- Kinks or collapsed tubing
- Visible clot or debris
- Pump-area contamination
- Known-good disposable result
- Power condition
- Functional flow result
- Final device status
Final Thought
Pump problems should be approached from the outside in: secure patient care, inspect tubing and the blood path, verify the disposable and pump interface, then escalate if reliable operation cannot be demonstrated.
That is successful troubleshooting.