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Manufacturer
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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses control, indicator, startup, and shutdown problems caused by power, connections, contamination, environmental conditions, or internal service-level faults.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Continuity of Care
If the Cell Saver Elite+ becomes unresponsive, shuts down unexpectedly, or cannot reliably display or indicate operating status, stop depending on it for blood processing.
Notify the clinical team and establish an alternate blood-management plan.
Expected outcome: Patient care continues safely without dependence on unreliable equipment.
2. Confirm the Exact Failure
Determine whether the touchscreen is unresponsive, the beacon does not indicate normally, the unit will not complete startup, or the system unexpectedly powers off or restarts.
Document what was displayed immediately before the problem occurred.
Expected outcome: The complaint is clearly characterized and, when possible, reproduced under safe nonpatient conditions.
3. Inspect the AC Power Connection
Verify the power cord is fully seated at the equipment and receptacle. Inspect the cord and plug for cuts, bent contacts, looseness, discoloration, or other damage.
Expected outcome: The AC connection is secure and undamaged. If restoring a loose connection resolves the issue, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
4. Test the Power Source
Use appropriate test equipment or a known-good receptacle to rule out a defective outlet, switched receptacle, loose power strip, or facility power problem.
Avoid using unapproved extension cords or power adapters.
Expected outcome: The Cell Saver Elite+ receives stable facility power.
5. Inspect the Touchscreen and Controls
Check the touchscreen and accessible control surfaces for fluid, residue, protective coverings, labels, or other material that could interfere with touch response.
Clean only with approved methods.
Expected outcome: The touchscreen surface is clean and unobstructed. If cleaning restores normal response, the issue is resolved after functional verification.
6. Check for Physical Damage
Inspect the display, touchscreen, housing, beacon, switches, connectors, and power cord for cracks, impact damage, liquid intrusion, or loose components.
If liquid intrusion, burning odor, excessive heat, or electrical damage is suspected, stop testing immediately.
Expected outcome: No unsafe physical condition is present. Any significant damage requires immediate removal from service.
7. Evaluate Environmental Conditions
Determine whether the shutdown or control problem occurred after transport, impact, fluid exposure, unusual heat, blocked ventilation, or connection to questionable power.
Inspect accessible ventilation openings for external blockage.
Expected outcome: The equipment is operating in a suitable environment with unobstructed ventilation and stable power.
8. Perform a Controlled Restart
When appropriate and no patient depends on the system, shut the unit down normally, allow the shutdown to complete, and restart it.
Do not repeatedly power-cycle a unit that continuously fails startup or produces abnormal symptoms.
Expected outcome: The system completes startup and all normal controls and indicators become available.
9. Verify Touchscreen and Beacon Operation
Under nonpatient conditions, confirm the touchscreen responds consistently across the functions needed for normal operation and that the beacon or external status indication behaves consistently with system state.
Do not enter restricted service modes.
Expected outcome: Controls and indicators operate reliably without intermittent loss of response.
10. Observe for Unexpected Shutdown
Allow the device to remain powered and perform an appropriate functional sequence while monitoring for rebooting, power loss, overheating, unusual odor, or display failure.
Expected outcome: The system remains powered and stable through the verification period. If operation remains normal, troubleshooting can stop after completing required return-to-service testing.
11. Remove From Service if the Problem Recurs
Any recurring unexpected shutdown, unreliable touchscreen, failed startup, or inconsistent critical indication is sufficient reason to remove the system from service.
Expected outcome: The device is labeled Out of Service and referred for qualified bench evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
External power, outlet condition, control-surface contamination, environmental factors, visible damage, and basic restart conditions have been ruled out. The remaining cause may involve internal power distribution, display or touch hardware, indicator control, software, thermal management, or another service-level 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 electrical safety, startup, control, indication, and operational verification before return to service. Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
An unexplained shutdown during blood processing is a reliability failure even if the system restarts normally afterward.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"OR staff reported that the Cell Saver Elite+ unexpectedly shut down during setup and would restart when the power cord was moved."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found visible damage and intermittent continuity at the external power cord near the equipment connector."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The damaged cord was replaced with an approved replacement, and extended functional testing confirmed stable startup, touchscreen operation, indicators, and continuous power."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact symptom reported
- Whether shutdown was spontaneous or movement-related
- AC versus other operating state
- Outlet tested
- Power-cord condition
- Touchscreen response
- Beacon behavior
- Visible physical or liquid damage
- Ventilation condition
- Restart results
- Final operational verification
- Final device status
- Exact symptom reported
- Whether shutdown was spontaneous or movement-related
- AC versus other operating state
- Outlet tested
- Power-cord condition
- Touchscreen response
- Beacon behavior
- Visible physical or liquid damage
- Ventilation condition
- Restart results
- Final operational verification
- Final device status
Final Thought
Control and startup failures should be evaluated first as safety and power problems, followed by external controls, environment, and physical condition. Repeated shutdown or unreliable indication requires appropriate escalation and clear CCR documentation.
That is successful troubleshooting.