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What This Guide Helps With
This guide helps troubleshoot a Key stuck alarm on the ICU Medical CADD-Solis infusion pump. The manual lists this as a high-priority alarm. A stuck, pressed, damaged, or contaminated keypad button may prevent normal pump operation and should be treated as a patient safety concern.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
- Do not continue using the pump on an active patient if the keypad does not respond normally.
- Notify clinical staff and move the infusion to a backup pump if therapy must continue.
- Follow facility policy for medication, IV line, and pump changeover safety.
- Do not attempt to force keys, bypass the alarm, or continue therapy with unreliable controls.
Verify the Alarm
- Confirm the pump displays Key stuck.
- Ask staff when the alarm appeared, such as during startup, programming, cleaning, transport, or normal use.
- Check whether the alarm clears temporarily or returns immediately.
- Confirm whether any keypad buttons feel physically stuck, slow to return, loose, cracked, or damaged.
Inspect the Keypad Externally
- Look for a key that is visibly pressed down or not sitting level with the surrounding keys.
- Check for dried fluid, medication residue, adhesive residue, dust, debris, or contamination around the keypad.
- Inspect the pump face for cracks, impact damage, worn key surfaces, or signs of fluid intrusion.
- Do not open the pump or perform internal disassembly during clinical troubleshooting.
Clean the Keypad Area
- Clean the keypad according to the manufacturer instructions and facility policy.
- Use only approved cleaning materials and avoid excess liquid around the keypad.
- Allow the keypad area to dry completely before retesting.
- Do not scrape, pry, or aggressively press around the keypad.
Retest Keypad Operation
- Power the pump on after cleaning and drying.
- Check whether the Key stuck alarm returns.
- Press each external key normally and confirm each key responds and releases correctly.
- If any key sticks, fails to respond, double-registers, or feels abnormal, remove the pump from use.
If the Problem Persists
If the keypad has been checked for stuck, pressed, damaged, or contaminated keys and the alarm still returns, external causes have been ruled out as much as possible. Remove the pump from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation. Do not return the pump to patient use unless the keypad operates normally and the high-priority alarm is resolved.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot this alarm on an active patient while the pump is responsible for medication or fluid delivery. Move the patient infusion to a backup pump first, then inspect and clean the CADD-Solis pump when it is safe to do so.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"ICU Medical CADD-Solis infusion pump reported Key stuck high-priority alarm and keypad would not operate normally."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Inspected keypad for stuck, pressed, damaged, or contaminated keys. Keypad showed abnormal key response after cleaning and retest."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed pump from service, labeled Out of Service, and sent for repair or bench evaluation due to unresolved Key stuck alarm."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior
- Accessories swapped
- Power behavior
- Environmental factors
- Indicator lights
- Final device status
Final Thought
A Key stuck alarm should not be ignored because the keypad is part of the pump control interface. Start with patient safety, verify the alarm, inspect and clean the keypad externally, and remove the pump from service if normal keypad operation cannot be confirmed. Clear documentation helps show what was checked and why the pump was escalated.
That is successful troubleshooting.