Medtronic Valleylab FT10

Asset Type

Electrosurgical Unit (ESU)

Manufacturer

Medtronic

Model

Valleylab FT10

What This Guide Helps With

This guide helps troubleshoot Error: E323 Check Foot Pedal on the Medtronic Valleylab FT10 Electrosurgical Unit. This error indicates the Mono 2 foot pedal may be pressed, stuck, connected incorrectly, damaged, or falsely detected as active.

A foot pedal activation-control issue can prevent normal ESU readiness, interrupt use, or create an unintended activation risk if the pedal input is not reliable.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Ensure Patient Safety First

• Remove the Valleylab FT10 from active patient use if the error appears during setup, before activation, or during a procedure.
• Stop use of the ESU if the Mono 2 output may activate unexpectedly or if the error will not clear.
• Provide an alternate ESU if the procedure is active or urgent.
• Do not troubleshoot foot pedal activation issues while connected to an active patient.

Verify the Reported Error and Behavior

• Power on the Valleylab FT10 and observe the display.
• Confirm the unit reports Error: E323 Check Foot Pedal.
• Note whether the error appears at startup, when the Mono 2 foot pedal is connected, when the pedal is touched, or intermittently during cable movement.
• Ask staff whether the issue occurred with one specific foot pedal or with multiple setups.

Release and Inspect the Mono 2 Foot Pedal

• Make sure nothing is resting on the foot pedal.
• Confirm the pedal returns fully to its neutral position.
• Press and release each pedal section several times.
• Check for sticking, binding, fluid contamination, tape, drape material, or physical damage.
• If the error clears after freeing the pedal, inspect the pedal condition, clean externally per facility policy, verify normal operation, and return the setup to service only if activation is safe and reliable.

Check the Foot Pedal Connection

• Disconnect the foot pedal from the ESU.
• Inspect the connector for bent pins, moisture, debris, damaged locking hardware, or loose fit.
• Reconnect the foot pedal fully to the correct port.
• Confirm the cable is not pulling on the connector.

Confirm the Correct Foot Pedal and Port

• Verify the foot pedal is appropriate for the Valleylab FT10 and connected for the intended Mono 2 use.
• Confirm staff did not connect the wrong accessory, wrong pedal type, or wrong port.
• Review the clinical setup to confirm whether Mono 2 was intended to be used.

Isolate the Foot Pedal

• Power the ESU off.
• Disconnect the suspected foot pedal.
• Power the ESU back on without that foot pedal connected.
• Observe whether Error E323 returns.
• If the error clears with the foot pedal removed, the pedal or pedal cable is the likely cause.
• If the error remains with the foot pedal removed, the issue may be internal to the ESU foot pedal detection circuit.

Swap with a Known-Good Foot Pedal

• Connect a known-good compatible foot pedal.
• Power cycle the ESU if needed.
• Check whether Error E323 returns.
• Test pedal response only in a safe, non-patient setup.
• If the known-good pedal works normally, remove the original foot pedal from service and document the accessory failure.
• If the known-good pedal also causes E323, suspect an ESU-side issue.

Inspect for Cable Damage or Intermittent Faults

• Inspect the full foot pedal cable length.
• Look for crushed sections, cuts, pulled strain reliefs, exposed conductors, fluid intrusion, or signs of rolling damage.
• Gently move the cable while observing whether the error appears or clears.
• Do not continue using a pedal cable that causes intermittent activation alarms.

Check for Environmental or Setup Causes

• Look for fluid on the floor, under the pedal, or near the connector.
• Confirm the pedal is not wedged under equipment, trapped by cords, or compressed by the OR table base.
• Verify the ESU is not being used with questionable adapters, extensions, or nonstandard accessories.
• Correct any setup issue before retesting the foot pedal in a safe, non-patient setup.

Determine Whether the Fault Is Accessory-Related or Device-Related

• If the original pedal causes E323 and the known-good pedal works, treat the original foot pedal as failed.
• If the error clears when the pedal is disconnected, suspect the pedal, cable, or connector.
• If the error remains with no pedal connected, suspect an ESU-side detection issue.
• If the error occurs with multiple known-good compatible pedals, remove the ESU from service for bench evaluation.

If the Problem Persists

If Error E323 continues after releasing the pedal, checking the connector, confirming correct setup, removing the pedal, checking the environment, and testing with a known-good compatible foot pedal, external and common causes have been ruled out.

Persistent E323 may indicate an internal ESU detection problem involving the foot pedal input path, Controller PCBA, Steering Relay PCBA, Foot Pedal PCBA, or related circuitry.

• Remove the Valleylab FT10 from service.
• Label it Out of Service.
• Do not return it for clinical use until bench evaluation or repair is completed.
• Send the ESU and the suspect foot pedal for repair evaluation if needed.

Clinical Use Tip

Never troubleshoot a foot pedal activation error on an active patient. A foot pedal that is stuck, shorted, or falsely detected can create an unintended activation risk. Move the patient to a backup device first, then continue troubleshooting in a safe, non-patient setup.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
"Medtronic Valleylab FT10 displayed Error E323 Check Foot Pedal. Staff reported Mono 2 foot pedal alarm during setup."

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
"Original Mono 2 foot pedal remained detected as pressed. Error cleared when pedal was removed and did not return with known-good compatible foot pedal."

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
"Removed defective foot pedal from service. Installed known-good compatible foot pedal, verified normal startup and safe pedal response. Returned ESU to service."

Helpful Details to Include (If Known)

• Alarm behavior
• Accessories swapped
• Power behavior
• Environmental factors
• Indicator lights
• Final device status

Final Thought

Error E323 should be treated as a foot pedal activation-control problem until proven otherwise. Start with patient safety, confirm the exact alarm, check the pedal and connection, then isolate with a known-good foot pedal. If the error remains after external causes are ruled out, remove the ESU from service and escalate for repair. Clear CCR documentation protects patient safety and shows exactly how the fault was isolated.

That is successful troubleshooting.