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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses abnormal pump noise, visible tubing wear, and suspected occlusion by checking circuit setup, pump-head condition, tubing path, and mechanical loading.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Circuit
Do not investigate pump occlusion, tubing damage, or abnormal pump noise while a patient depends on the affected pumping circuit. Follow the perfusion contingency plan and establish reliable alternate support before removing or manipulating tubing.
If tubing shows visible damage, excessive wear, cracking, flattening, or compromise, treat the circuit as unsafe according to clinical protocol.
Expected outcome: Patient flow is maintained and the suspect pump/tubing interface is isolated from clinical use.
Once the system is safe, troubleshooting may continue.
2. Confirm the Reported Condition
Determine whether the primary problem is:
- Excessive pump noise
- Tubing wear
- Flattening or deformation
- Apparent over-occlusion
- Slippage
- Vibration
- Pump-head binding
- Noise only at specific speeds
Record when the issue occurs and whether it is reproducible.
Expected outcome: The condition is clearly characterized before adjustments are considered.
If the issue cannot be reproduced and the complete setup passes controlled verification, troubleshooting can stop.
3. Inspect the Tubing
With the pump stopped, inspect the tubing through the roller-pump path for:
- Twisting
- Kinks
- Flattened areas
- Abrasion
- Surface wear
- Incorrect routing
- Foreign material
- Improper size or compatibility
Do not reuse compromised tubing.
Expected outcome: Tubing is appropriate, correctly routed, and free of visible damage.
If replacing or correctly routing the tubing eliminates the abnormal condition, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
4. Verify Tubing Placement in the Pump Head
Check that tubing is seated consistently in the roller path and is not trapped against guards or adjacent hardware.
Do not make unauthorized occlusion adjustments.
Expected outcome: Tubing is centered and properly retained through the pump-head path.
If proper seating eliminates noise or uneven tubing loading, troubleshooting can stop after controlled testing.
5. Inspect the Accessible Pump Head
Examine the external pump-head surfaces, rollers, guards, and accessible moving areas for:
- Contamination
- Foreign material
- Visible wear
- Cracks
- Loose external hardware
- Misalignment visible without disassembly
Rotate or operate the pump only under approved safe conditions.
Expected outcome: The pump head is clean, unobstructed, and has no obvious external mechanical damage.
If cleaning or removing an external obstruction restores quiet, smooth operation, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
6. Compare With Known-Good Tubing
Use a known-good compatible tubing segment or approved test circuit to determine whether the condition follows the tubing or remains with the pump.
Do not use a patient circuit for this comparison.
Expected outcome: The cause is isolated to the disposable tubing/setup or to the pump assembly.
If known-good tubing eliminates the condition, replace the defective or inappropriate tubing and complete verification.
7. Evaluate Pump Operation Under Controlled Conditions
Run the pump using an approved bench setup and observe for:
- Grinding
- Rhythmic knocking
- Squealing
- Vibration
- Uneven roller movement
- Tubing migration
- Visible recurring deformation
Stop testing if mechanical binding or significant abnormal noise persists.
Expected outcome: Pump operation is smooth and tubing remains properly positioned without abnormal wear.
If operation is normal and repeatable, proceed to final verification.
8. Perform Final Functional Verification
Verify that the pump:
- Starts and stops correctly.
- Runs smoothly across a controlled operating range.
- Does not produce excessive noise.
- Does not cause abnormal tubing movement or visible wear.
- Maintains proper tubing retention.
Complete any applicable return-to-service checks.
Expected outcome: Pump mechanics and tubing interaction are stable and appropriate for clinical use.
If all checks pass, troubleshooting is complete.
9. Escalate Mechanical Abnormalities
If excessive noise, binding, roller irregularity, or recurring tubing damage persists with known-good compatible tubing, remove the affected pump from service.
Do not disassemble bearings, drive components, roller assemblies, or internal mechanisms without authorized manufacturer procedures.
Expected outcome: Equipment with unresolved mechanical behavior remains unavailable for patient use.
If the Problem Persists
External tubing selection, positioning, routing, contamination, and setup causes have been ruled out. Remaining causes may involve pump-head alignment, roller mechanics, bearings, drive components, or another internal mechanical condition.
The affected S5 pump should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation.
- Evaluated using appropriate LivaNova documentation and approved test equipment.
- Repaired or adjusted only by qualified personnel.
Return-to-service testing should confirm smooth mechanical operation, correct tubing retention, stable pump control, and absence of abnormal noise or wear.
Knowing when to stop before making unauthorized mechanical adjustments is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Visible tubing wear or unexplained pump-head noise should be treated as a potential circuit-integrity problem, not merely a nuisance condition.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Perfusion reported excessive noise from an S5 roller pump and visible tubing movement during setup."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the tubing twisted and riding against the edge of the pump-head path."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering replaced and correctly routed the test tubing, then verified smooth, quiet pump operation without tubing migration."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Pump position affected
- Type of noise
- Speed at which noise occurred
- Tubing condition
- Tubing routing
- Visible wear location
- Pump-head contamination
- Known-good tubing comparison
- Whether vibration was present
- Final functional result
- Final device status
Final Thought
Protect the circuit and patient first, then inspect the tubing and pump interface before assuming a mechanical pump failure. Use known-good comparisons, stop before unauthorized mechanical adjustment, and document exactly what was found and verified.
That is successful troubleshooting.