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Model
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting no-power conditions, blank displays, interrupted startup, repeated rebooting, startup alarms, or failure to reach the normal ventilator setup screen.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Ensure Patient Safety First
Do not troubleshoot a Puritan Bennett 980 that will not start or complete startup while it is connected to a patient.
- Notify respiratory therapy and the clinical team immediately.
- Transfer the patient to another verified ventilator or approved ventilation method.
- Provide manual ventilation when clinically required and directed by qualified clinical staff.
- Confirm proper ventilation, oxygen delivery, and alarm operation on the replacement equipment.
Expected outcome: The patient is safely supported without relying on a ventilator that cannot complete its startup sequence.
Continue Clinical Engineering troubleshooting only after the affected PB980 has been removed from patient use.
2. Confirm the Exact Failure
Attempt to identify and document whether the ventilator:
- Shows no lights, sounds, fans, or display activity.
- Powers the breath delivery unit but not the graphical user interface.
- Begins startup and then shuts down.
- Reboots repeatedly.
- Stops at a specific startup screen.
- Displays a technical fault, diagnostic code, or failed self-test message.
- Produces an alarm tone without completing startup.
Observe both the graphical user interface and the status display on the breath delivery unit. The PB980 incorporates a separate status display that can provide additional indication of ventilator operation.
Expected outcome: The failure is narrowed to total power loss, display-related behavior, interrupted startup, or a reported system fault.
3. Inspect for Immediate Safety Hazards
Before reconnecting power, inspect the ventilator for:
- Liquid intrusion or evidence of a spill.
- Damaged casing, wheels, or mounting hardware.
- A crushed, cut, burned, or frayed power cord.
- Bent or damaged power-plug blades.
- Unusual heat, smoke, odor, discoloration, or arcing.
- Blocked cooling vents or excessive dust accumulation.
- Evidence that the ventilator was dropped or struck.
Do not energize the unit when liquid intrusion, burning odor, smoke, severe physical damage, or electrical damage is present.
Expected outcome: No immediate electrical, fire, or mechanical hazard is found.
If a hazard is present, stop troubleshooting, remove the ventilator from service, and send it for controlled bench evaluation.
4. Verify the AC Power Source
Disconnect the ventilator and test the wall receptacle with an approved outlet tester or another known-good device.
Confirm that:
- The receptacle provides the correct facility voltage.
- The outlet is not controlled by an unexpected wall switch.
- The circuit breaker or isolated-power system has not tripped.
- The receptacle retains the plug securely.
- The outlet is approved for critical-care equipment.
Avoid relying solely on the report that “the outlet works.”
Expected outcome: The AC source is verified as functional and appropriate.
If the outlet fails testing, move the ventilator to a verified receptacle. If the ventilator then starts normally, stop and document the facility power problem.
5. Inspect and Reseat the Power Cord
Disconnect AC power and inspect the full length of the power cord.
- Confirm that the plug is fully inserted into the wall outlet.
- Confirm that the equipment-end connection is fully seated and secured.
- Look for looseness, exposed conductors, damaged insulation, bent contacts, or heat discoloration.
- Verify that the cord has not been pulled partially free by bed movement, transport, or equipment positioning.
- Replace a removable suspect cord only with an approved, known-good equivalent.
Expected outcome: The ventilator has a secure, undamaged connection to verified AC power.
If reseating or replacing the cord restores normal startup, complete the required operational and safety checks before returning the unit to service.
6. Disconnect Nonessential External Accessories
Power the ventilator off and disconnect nonessential external devices, including:
- USB devices.
- Network or data cables.
- Remote alarm or nurse-call cables.
- External displays or communication accessories.
- Nebulizer accessories.
- Other optional peripheral connections not required for basic startup.
Leave only the approved power connection and equipment necessary for a controlled startup evaluation.
Expected outcome: An external accessory or damaged peripheral connection is ruled out as a cause of startup interruption.
If the ventilator starts normally, reconnect accessories individually to identify the device or cable associated with the failure. Stop using the suspect accessory.
7. Check Battery and AC-Power Indications
Connect the ventilator to verified AC power and observe all available indicators.
Determine whether:
- The AC-power indicator illuminates.
- A battery indicator appears.
- The breath delivery unit status display becomes active.
- The graphical user interface remains blank.
- The unit operates only from battery or only from AC.
- The ventilator immediately shuts down when AC power is removed.
The PB980 supports battery operation, but battery availability must not be treated as proof that the AC input or internal charging system is functioning correctly. Medtronic describes the PB980 as using hot-swappable batteries, depending on configuration.
Expected outcome: Clinical Engineering determines whether incoming AC power, stored battery power, or both are being recognized.
Do not repeatedly cycle power from a severely depleted or questionable battery.
8. Allow Adequate AC Charging Time When the Battery Is Depleted
If the ventilator has been stored, unplugged, or unused for an extended period:
- Connect it directly to a verified AC receptacle.
- Confirm that an AC or charging indication is present.
- Allow the battery to charge according to facility procedure and the applicable manufacturer documentation.
- Attempt startup again after sufficient charging time.
Do not assume a fully depleted battery is the only problem if the ventilator also fails to respond while connected to verified AC power.
Expected outcome: A deeply discharged battery condition is either corrected or ruled out.
If the ventilator starts after charging, evaluate battery condition and runtime before returning the unit to clinical use.
9. Perform One Controlled Power Cycle
If no electrical hazard is present:
- Turn the ventilator off.
- Disconnect AC power.
- Allow the unit to remain fully powered down briefly.
- Reconnect it directly to a verified AC receptacle.
- Turn it on using the normal power control.
- Observe the complete startup sequence without repeatedly pressing controls.
Record:
- Which displays illuminate.
- Whether fans or pneumatic components activate.
- Any alarm tones.
- The last screen or message displayed.
- Any diagnostic or technical fault code.
- Whether the failure occurs at the same point each time.
Expected outcome: A temporary startup state clears, or the failure becomes repeatable and documentable.
If the ventilator completes startup normally, continue with all required pre-use testing before considering it operational.
10. Verify the Graphical User Interface Connection Externally
Inspect the graphical user interface, mounting arm, and externally accessible cable path without removing covers.
Check for:
- A loose or visibly damaged external cable.
- Pinching at the mounting arm or pivot points.
- Evidence of impact damage.
- A powered breath delivery unit with a completely blank graphical interface.
- Intermittent display activity when the unit or arm is positioned normally.
Do not open the graphical user interface or breath delivery unit during basic troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: Obvious external display-connection damage is identified or ruled out.
A working breath delivery unit status display with an inactive graphical interface may indicate a display, cable, communication, or internal power problem requiring bench evaluation.
11. Record Startup Messages and Diagnostic Codes
Photograph or transcribe any startup message exactly as displayed.
Document:
- Full fault wording.
- Diagnostic code.
- Date and time.
- Software version, when visible.
- Whether the fault clears or repeats.
- Whether the failure occurs on both AC and battery power.
- The point in the startup sequence where operation stops.
Do not clear logs, perform unauthorized software changes, or repeatedly reboot the ventilator in an attempt to bypass a persistent fault.
Expected outcome: Repair personnel receive precise information that can be correlated with manufacturer service documentation.
12. Complete Required Testing After a Successful Startup
A ventilator that eventually starts after an unexplained failure should not immediately be returned to patient use.
Complete the facility-approved inspection and applicable manufacturer testing, including:
- Startup and power-on self-test verification.
- Short self-test or equivalent pre-use test, as applicable.
- Alarm verification.
- AC-to-battery transfer testing.
- Battery condition and runtime evaluation.
- Ventilation performance verification with an appropriate test lung and analyzer.
- Electrical safety testing when the power cord, power source, or electrical integrity was questioned.
- Review of diagnostic or event information when accessible through approved procedures.
Medtronic directs users to the PB980 operator’s manual for complete operating instructions, warnings, and pre-use requirements.
Expected outcome: The ventilator consistently starts, passes required testing, and performs normally before being released.
If any test fails or startup remains intermittent, remove the ventilator from service.
If the Problem Persists
If verified AC power, the power cord, batteries, accessories, external connections, and a controlled power cycle do not restore reliable startup, common external causes have been ruled out.
The failure may involve an internal power supply, battery interface, graphical user interface, breath delivery unit, internal communication path, cooling system, software, or another protected component.
The ventilator should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for authorized repair or controlled bench evaluation.
- Evaluated using the current manufacturer service documentation and approved test equipment.
Do not return a ventilator to clinical use when startup is intermittent, a technical fault remains active, or the cause of an unexpected shutdown has not been established.
Knowing when to stop and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Never troubleshoot a PB980 startup or power failure while it is the only ventilator supporting an active patient. Move the patient to verified equipment first.
A ventilator that starts after several attempts is not necessarily reliable. Intermittent startup behavior should be treated as a potential recurrence risk until the cause is identified and required testing is passed.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Respiratory therapy reported that the Puritan Bennett 980 remained blank and would not complete startup when needed for patient use."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Verified wall power and power cord were functional, but the ventilator repeatedly stopped during startup with the same technical fault displayed."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the PB980 from service, labeled it Out of Service, documented the startup fault, and routed it for authorized bench evaluation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Patient removed from the affected ventilator
- Exact reported symptom
- Outlet tested
- Facility voltage verified
- Power cord inspected
- Known-good power cord tested
- AC-power indicator behavior
- Battery indicator behavior
- Operation tested on AC power
- Operation tested on battery power
- External accessories disconnected
- Graphical user interface behavior
- Breath delivery unit status-display behavior
- Startup screen where failure occurred
- Technical fault wording or code
- Alarm tones or indicator lights
- Evidence of liquid intrusion
- Unusual heat, smell, smoke, or sound
- Startup or pre-use test results
- Electrical safety results
- Final device status
Final Thought
Patient safety comes before restoring power. A logical evaluation of the outlet, power cord, batteries, accessories, indicators, and startup behavior prevents unnecessary disassembly and supports appropriate escalation. Clear CCR documentation gives repair personnel the information needed to reproduce the failure and verify a safe resolution.
That is successful troubleshooting.