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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots unavailable air, water, or CO2 delivery caused by connections, tubing, bottles, accessories, supply sources, controls, or configuration.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain the Procedure Safely
If air, water, or CO2 delivery is required during an active procedure and the function is unavailable or unreliable, clinical staff must move to an approved alternate method or verified system before troubleshooting.
Do not disconnect insufflation or fluid-delivery components while the patient depends on them.
Expected outcome: Patient care continues using a dependable alternative while the affected system is evaluated.
2. Confirm Which Function Is Unavailable
Determine whether the complaint involves:
- Air delivery
- Water delivery
- CO2 insufflation
- More than one function
- Intermittent rather than complete loss
- Failure with one scope or all scopes
Confirm whether the problem began after tubing, water-bottle, CO2-source, scope, or accessory replacement.
Expected outcome: The affected function and operating conditions are clearly identified.
3. Verify System Power and Component Availability
Confirm the required processor, light source, pump, insufflator, and related equipment are powered and have completed normal startup.
Check power cords, outlet connections, and external power indicators.
Expected outcome: All required components are powered and available. If the problem was caused by a disconnected or unpowered external component, correct it, verify delivery, and stop troubleshooting.
4. Inspect Air/Water and Insufflation Connections
Inspect all externally accessible tubing and connections associated with the affected function.
Look for:
- Loose connections
- Kinked tubing
- Pinched tubing
- Incorrect routing
- Disconnected fittings
- Cracked or damaged tubing
- Improperly seated connectors
Do not force incompatible fittings.
Expected outcome: Tubing is properly connected, unobstructed, and undamaged. If correcting the connection restores normal delivery, perform final verification and stop troubleshooting.
5. Check the Water Bottle and Related Accessories
If water delivery is affected, inspect the installed water bottle and connecting components.
Verify:
- Adequate fluid is present
- The bottle and cap assembly are properly installed
- Tubing is connected correctly
- No obvious leak or damaged seal is present
- The correct compatible accessory is being used
Expected outcome: The water supply assembly is properly installed and free of obvious external defects.
6. Verify the CO2 Supply Path
If CO2 insufflation is unavailable, verify the approved external CO2 supply and associated insufflation equipment are available and properly connected.
Check for:
- Closed or unavailable supply
- Disconnected tubing
- Incorrect source selection
- Damaged external fittings
- A separate insufflator that is powered off or not ready
Do not alter regulated gas systems or pressure settings outside authorized procedures.
Expected outcome: The external CO2 supply path is available and correctly connected.
7. Inspect the Scope Connection and Applicable Valves
Verify the scope is correctly connected and that removable external valves or accessories associated with air/water delivery are installed properly.
Inspect for visible contamination, damage, incorrect assembly, or blockage.
Only perform cleaning or replacement permitted by approved scope-handling procedures.
Expected outcome: The scope-side external delivery components are correctly installed and unobstructed.
8. Test With Known-Good Compatible Tubing or Accessories
When available, substitute known-good compatible tubing, water-bottle components, valves, scope accessories, or another compatible scope one item at a time.
Do not substitute components that are not approved for the system.
Expected outcome: If function returns with a known-good external component, remove the defective accessory from service. If the failure remains, continue troubleshooting.
9. Verify User-Accessible Controls and Configuration
Check whether the affected air/water or CO2 function has been disabled through an accessible control, procedure profile, or connected accessory selection.
Compare settings with a known-good EVIS EXERA III configuration when appropriate.
Do not enter unauthorized service menus.
Expected outcome: Accessible controls and configuration are appropriate for the intended function. If correcting an inadvertent selection restores operation, document it and stop troubleshooting.
10. Perform Controlled Functional Verification
Using an approved bench setup, verify the affected function without a patient connected.
Confirm:
- Air delivery responds as expected
- Water delivery occurs without external leakage
- CO2 delivery is available when appropriately configured
- Tubing remains secure
- No abnormal sounds, leaks, or warnings occur
Expected outcome: The required delivery function operates consistently. Troubleshooting can stop when final functional verification is successful.
If the Problem Persists
If air, water, or CO2 remains unavailable after checking power, supplies, tubing, bottles, valves, scope connections, compatible accessories, and accessible controls, common external causes have been ruled out.
The remaining cause may involve an internal pump, control interface, gas-management subsystem, scope communication condition, configuration issue, or another service-level fault.
The affected equipment should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation
- Evaluated using appropriate manufacturer documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel
Do not bypass delivery controls or perform unauthorized pneumatic or internal repairs. Complete appropriate functional testing before returning the system to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Maintain the required insufflation or irrigation function with an approved alternate method before removing any affected equipment from an active procedure.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported that water delivery was unavailable from the EVIS EXERA III during setup."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the water-bottle tubing was kinked behind the cart and restricting flow."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Corrected the tubing route, verified normal water delivery and secure connections during bench testing, and returned the system to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether air, water, CO2, or multiple functions were affected
- Scope and accessory used
- Tubing condition
- Water-bottle condition and installation
- CO2 supply availability
- Valve or accessory condition
- Known-good substitutions performed
- Indicator or warning behavior
- Results before and after correction
- Final device status
Final Thought
Start with patient continuity, then verify the external supply path, tubing, bottles, scope accessories, controls, and configuration before assuming an internal pump or gas-management failure. Confirm normal operation before return to service and clearly document the final finding.
That is successful troubleshooting.