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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots upstream occlusion or no-flow conditions caused by closed clamps, empty containers, kinked tubing, administration-set problems, or incorrect setup.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Therapy
If prescribed therapy cannot be reliably delivered, transfer the patient to another verified pump or approved alternative. Do not perform troubleshooting while the patient depends on the suspect device.
Expected outcome: Therapy continuity is established before technical evaluation begins.
2. Confirm the Exact Complaint
Determine the alarm wording and whether the problem occurred at startup or after a period of normal operation. Ask whether the source container, tubing, or administration set was changed immediately before the problem.
Expected outcome: The circumstances surrounding the no-flow condition are clearly established. If the pump subsequently operates normally and passes verification, troubleshooting can stop.
3. Inspect the Fluid Source
With the pump removed from patient use, inspect the source container and upstream pathway. Verify the container contains fluid, is appropriately positioned for the intended setup, and is not visibly collapsed, improperly vented where applicable, or otherwise unable to supply fluid.
Expected outcome: The source can supply fluid normally. If correcting the source condition resolves the alarm, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
4. Check Upstream Tubing and Clamps
Inspect tubing between the source and pump for closed clamps, kinks, sharp bends, pinched sections, blocked connectors, or tubing trapped beneath equipment.
Expected outcome: The upstream fluid path is open. If removing an external obstruction eliminates the alarm, the issue is resolved.
5. Inspect Administration Set Loading
Verify the set is appropriate for the pump and is seated without twisting, stretching, or incorrect routing. Check the tubing section passing through the pump for visible deformation or damage.
Expected outcome: The administration set is correctly loaded and mechanically intact. If correct loading resolves the problem, troubleshooting can stop after functional verification.
6. Substitute a Known-Good Set and Source
Using a nonpatient test setup, install a known-good compatible administration set and suitable fluid source. Determine whether the problem follows the original disposable setup or remains with the pump.
Expected outcome: Normal operation with the known-good setup indicates an external disposable or source problem. If so, no further pump troubleshooting is required.
7. Check Device Position and Environmental Factors
Confirm the pump is mounted or positioned securely and tubing is not being compressed by bed rails, poles, transport equipment, doors, or other devices.
Expected outcome: Pump movement or surrounding equipment does not restrict the fluid pathway. If correcting positioning restores normal operation, the issue is resolved.
8. Perform Functional Verification
Run the CURLIN 6000 with an approved nonpatient test arrangement. Confirm stable operation, appropriate flow behavior, alarm function, controls, and physical condition according to applicable procedures.
Expected outcome: The pump operates without inappropriate upstream or no-flow alarms. Successful verification means troubleshooting can stop.
9. Escalate Persistent No-Flow Faults
If the problem remains with a known-good source and properly installed compatible set, remove the pump from service. Do not perform internal sensor adjustment, board-level troubleshooting, or unauthorized calibration.
Expected outcome: A persistent service-level problem is recognized and routed for qualified evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
External fluid-source problems, clamps, tubing restrictions, disposable-set defects, set-loading problems, and positioning causes have been excluded. A persistent problem may involve internal pumping mechanics, sensing, calibration, configuration, or other service-level conditions.
Remove the device from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for bench evaluation or repair. Use manufacturer documentation and approved test equipment. Any repair, calibration, or configuration work should be performed only by qualified personnel, followed by complete return-to-service testing.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Confirm that medication delivery has actually resumed after correcting a no-flow condition rather than relying only on disappearance of the alarm.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Nursing reported the CURLIN 6000 displayed a no-flow alarm shortly after a new infusion was started."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the upstream tubing kinked beneath the pump mounting arrangement."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Repositioned the tubing to remove the restriction, verified normal operation with the administration set, completed functional testing, and returned the pump to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact alarm message
- Source container condition
- Fluid remaining
- Clamp positions
- Tubing condition
- Administration set used
- Known-good set and source results
- Pump position
- Whether the problem followed the disposable
- Final functional test result
- Final equipment status
Final Thought
Maintain therapy first, inspect the fluid source and entire external pathway systematically, verify suspected causes with controlled testing, and escalate when the fault remains pump-specific.
That is successful troubleshooting.