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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots blank, frozen, inaccurate, or unresponsive display and control behavior caused by startup, contamination, accessories, settings, or external conditions.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Stop Using Unreliable Controls
If the display or touchscreen becomes unreliable during surgery, stop depending on the affected console. Use a verified replacement system or approved alternate method.
Do not continue clinical use when settings, status, alarms, or control selections cannot be reliably viewed or entered.
Expected outcome: The patient is no longer dependent on a console with uncertain controls or display information.
2. Confirm the Exact Control Failure
Determine whether the display is blank, frozen, intermittently responsive, inaccurate to touch, showing incomplete information, or responding slowly.
Note whether physical controls still function and whether the console otherwise remains powered.
Expected outcome: The display or control symptom is accurately defined.
3. Verify Normal Console Startup
Restart the console in a controlled nonclinical environment and observe whether the display initializes normally.
If the console itself fails startup, troubleshoot the power or startup problem rather than treating it solely as a touchscreen issue.
Expected outcome: The console reaches its normal operating screen, or the broader startup failure is identified.
4. Inspect the Screen and Accessible Controls
Check for fluid, cleaning residue, adhesive film, debris, damage, cracks, or objects contacting the touchscreen.
Clean and dry the display only according to approved practices.
Expected outcome: The control surface is clean, dry, and unobstructed. If responsiveness returns, proceed to final verification.
5. Check for Glove, Draping, or External Contact Issues
Ensure drapes, covers, cables, or stored items are not pressing against the screen or controls. During bench testing, use the touchscreen under normal intended conditions.
Expected outcome: No external object is generating unintended or blocked inputs.
6. Disconnect Nonessential Accessories
Power down as appropriate and disconnect nonessential external accessories. Restart and reassess the display and controls.
Expected outcome: The display functions normally with accessories removed, identifying an external interaction, or the control problem persists.
7. Review User-Level Settings Only
Confirm the operating mode and visible user-level settings are appropriate and have not been inadvertently changed.
Do not access restricted calibration, service, or hidden configuration menus.
Expected outcome: Normal settings are available and respond correctly to user input.
8. Check for Intermittency
Operate the console through normal nonclinical control selections and observe for freezing, delayed response, spontaneous activation, or failure after warming.
An intermittent control fault is not considered resolved after one successful input.
Expected outcome: The display and controls remain stable through repeated operation.
9. Perform Final Functional Verification
Verify touchscreen response across the controls needed for normal operation, confirm displayed status corresponds to selected functions, and check alarms, handpiece recognition, and other relevant system responses.
Expected outcome: Displayed information and control inputs are consistent and dependable. Troubleshooting can stop.
10. Escalate Persistent Display or Control Failure
If the screen remains blank, frozen, inaccurate, or intermittently unresponsive after external checks and normal restart, remove the console from service.
Expected outcome: The console is referred for service-level evaluation rather than used with unreliable controls.
If the Problem Persists
Common external causes have been ruled out. The remaining problem may involve the display assembly, touchscreen interface, internal control electronics, software, internal communication, or another service-level condition.
The console should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation.
- Evaluated using appropriate Integra LifeSciences documentation and approved test equipment.
- Repaired, calibrated, or configured only by qualified personnel.
- Fully functionally tested before return to service.
Knowing when an unreliable control interface makes a device unsafe is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A console that still produces output is not safe for use if the operator cannot reliably see or control the settings associated with that output.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"OR staff reported the CUSA Clarity touchscreen was intermittently unresponsive during setup."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found dried cleaning residue across the touchscreen surface that interfered with touch response."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Cleaned and dried the display according to approved practices, verified repeated touchscreen operation and normal system function, and returned the console to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether the screen was blank, frozen, or inaccurate.
- Whether physical controls remained functional.
- Console startup behavior.
- Screen condition.
- Presence of fluid or cleaning residue.
- Drapes or objects contacting controls.
- Accessories connected.
- Settings observed.
- Whether the fault was intermittent.
- Final display and functional test results.
Final Thought
Control reliability is a patient-safety requirement. Verify startup, cleanliness, external contact, accessories, and normal settings before assuming an internal display failure, and remove the console from service if control reliability remains uncertain.
That is successful troubleshooting.