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What This Guide Helps With
This guide helps troubleshoot the Air in line detected alarm on the ICU Medical CADD-Solis infusion pump. This alarm indicates that the pump detected air in the fluid path and may interrupt medication delivery until the condition is corrected.
The technical manual lists this as a high-priority alarm. Air detector sensitivity may vary by configuration. Low sensitivity detects a single bubble greater than 400 μL, high sensitivity detects a single bubble greater than 150 μL, and accumulated air is greater than 1 mL over 15 minutes nominal.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
- Stop use of the pump if continued medication delivery may be unsafe.
- Notify clinical staff immediately if the alarm occurs during active therapy.
- Move the patient to a backup pump or approved alternate delivery method before troubleshooting.
- Do not clear the alarm and restart therapy until the fluid path has been checked for air.
Verify the Reported Alarm
- Confirm the displayed alarm is Air in line detected.
- Ask staff when the alarm occurred, such as during setup, after priming, during transport, after a cassette change, or during active infusion.
- Check whether the alarm repeats immediately after clearing or only occurs intermittently.
Check the Reservoir, Cassette, and Tubing for Air
- Inspect the reservoir or medication container for visible air.
- Check the cassette and administration set for bubbles in the fluid path.
- Look for loose connections, improperly seated cassette components, kinked tubing, or tubing that was not fully primed.
- Prime or replace the disposable set according to facility procedure and medication safety requirements.
Confirm the Cassette and Administration Set Are Installed Correctly
- Make sure the cassette is fully seated and latched properly.
- Verify that the tubing is routed correctly through the pump and sensor area.
- Confirm the correct administration set is being used for the therapy and pump configuration.
- Replace the cassette or disposable set if there is any doubt about setup, priming, or tubing condition.
Inspect the Air Detector Sensor Area
- Check the air detector sensor slot for fluid, residue, debris, tape, or foreign material.
- Clean the sensor area only according to facility-approved cleaning procedure and manufacturer guidance.
- Allow the area to dry fully before retesting the pump.
- Do not scrape, force tools into, or damage the air detector sensor slot.
Retest With a Properly Primed Set
- Install a properly primed cassette and administration set.
- Confirm no visible air remains in the fluid path.
- Run the pump only in a safe test condition or according to facility procedure.
- If the alarm clears and does not return, document the disposable set, priming, or setup issue.
If the Problem Persists
If the alarm continues after visible air has been removed, the cassette and tubing have been checked, the disposable set has been primed or replaced, and the air detector sensor slot is clean, remove the pump from service.
Label the pump Out of Service and send it for repair or bench evaluation. Persistent air-in-line alarms may require further inspection of the air detector system, pump configuration, or internal components by qualified service personnel.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot an infusion pump on an active patient when medication delivery may be interrupted or unsafe. Move the patient to a backup pump or approved alternate delivery method first, then troubleshoot the removed pump.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"ICU Medical CADD-Solis pump alarming Air in line detected during infusion."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Found air visible in administration set near cassette. Air detector sensor slot inspected and found clean with no debris."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Pump removed from patient use. Disposable set was re-primed/replaced per facility procedure. Pump retested with properly primed set and alarm did not return."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior
- Accessories swapped
- Power behavior
- Environmental factors
- Indicator lights
- Final device status
Final Thought
An air-in-line alarm should be treated as a patient safety issue first and a device troubleshooting issue second. Rule out visible air, priming problems, cassette seating, tubing setup, and sensor slot contamination before escalating the pump for repair.
That is successful troubleshooting.