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Asset Type
Fluoroscopy / Interventional System
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting table tilt, lift, movement, brake, locking, or positioning faults using safe external checks before repair escalation.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm whether a patient is on the table or actively positioned for fluoroscopy.
If the table tilt, lift, brake, or lock is unreliable, stop all table movement immediately.
Expected outcome: The patient and staff are protected from unintended table motion, pinch points, or loss of positioning control.
If the patient cannot be safely moved or the table is stuck in a clinically unsafe position, escalate immediately.
Remove the Patient Before Troubleshooting
If the issue occurred during an exam, have clinical staff move the patient to another table, stretcher, or approved imaging room before troubleshooting continues.
Do not test table motion, tilt, lift, or locks with a patient on the table.
Expected outcome: Troubleshooting is performed only when the table is unloaded and safe to operate.
Confirm the Exact Movement Fault
Ask the technologist what failed and when it occurred.
Identify whether the issue involves:
- Table tilt not moving
- Table lift not raising or lowering
- Tabletop movement not responding
- Longitudinal or lateral movement restriction
- Table lock or brake not engaging
- Table lock or brake not releasing
- Unexpected movement stop
- Collision, limit, or positioning message
- Hand control, foot control, or console command not responding
Expected outcome: The affected table function is clearly identified before checks begin.
Check for Obstructions Around the Table
Inspect under, beside, and behind the table for stools, step platforms, cables, detector accessories, linens, patient supports, footrests, or room equipment.
Fluoroscopy tables may stop or inhibit movement if physical clearance is blocked.
Expected outcome: The table path is clear and movement is not being blocked by external objects.
If removing an obstruction restores movement, verify normal operation and stop.
Verify Table Load and Accessory Setup
Confirm the table is not overloaded and that accessories are properly installed.
Check side rails, compression devices, footboards, straps, patient supports, and removable table accessories for misalignment or interference.
Expected outcome: Accessories are secure and not preventing tilt, lift, lock release, or tabletop travel.
If correcting the accessory setup resolves the issue, document the cause and return the system to service after functional verification.
Check the Emergency Stop and Safety Controls
Inspect all accessible emergency stop buttons, table stop switches, and room safety controls.
Confirm none are pressed, stuck, partially engaged, or obstructed.
Expected outcome: Safety stop controls are released and the system is allowed to enable table motion.
If an emergency stop was engaged, reset it according to site policy, verify table function, and document the finding.
Review System Messages at the Operator Console
Check the fluoroscopy console, room control panel, and system display for table, lock, collision, tilt, lift, brake, or position-related messages.
Record the exact message before clearing or restarting anything.
Expected outcome: The reported fault is matched to the system’s displayed status.
Confirm System Readiness
Verify the Luminos Agile Max is fully powered on, initialized, and not in startup, shutdown, service, standby, or interlock state.
Some table functions may be disabled until the system completes initialization or recognizes the table position.
Expected outcome: The system is ready for controlled table motion.
Check Power to the System and Room Controls
Confirm the system is receiving normal facility power.
Check that the operator console, room controls, table controls, and system indicators are powered and responsive.
Do not reset breakers repeatedly if a breaker trips or the system loses power again.
Expected outcome: The system and table control circuits appear powered and stable.
If power is unstable, remove the system from service and escalate to Facilities or Siemens service as appropriate.
Inspect External Control Devices
Check the hand control, table-side controls, console controls, and foot controls if applicable.
Look for loose connectors, damaged cables, stuck buttons, fluid intrusion, cracked housings, or controls wedged under equipment.
Expected outcome: External controls are connected, physically intact, and not mechanically stuck.
If one control does not work but another control operates the same movement normally, suspect the affected control device or its connection.
Test One Table Function at a Time
With the table unloaded and the area clear, test only one function at a time:
- Raise/lower
- Tilt
- Tabletop longitudinal movement
- Tabletop lateral movement
- Lock engage/release
- Brake hold/release
Use small controlled movements only.
Expected outcome: The failed function is isolated without creating additional safety risk.
Check Whether Movement Stops at a Limit
Determine whether the table is already at a mechanical or programmed travel limit.
Try moving the table slightly in the opposite direction if safe.
Expected outcome: A normal limit condition is distinguished from a true movement fault.
If movement resumes only away from the limit, verify operation and document the limit condition.
Check Table Locks and Brakes
Confirm whether the reported issue is failure to move or failure to hold position.
A table that will not move may have a lock, brake, or inhibit still engaged. A table that will not hold position may have a locking or brake fault.
Expected outcome: The issue is separated into “motion inhibited” or “locking/holding failure.”
If the table does not reliably lock or hold position, remove it from service.
Listen and Observe During a Safe Movement Attempt
During a short unloaded test, observe for abnormal sounds, jerky movement, hesitation, clicking, grinding, unusual heat, odor, or sudden stops.
Expected outcome: Any signs of mechanical drive, brake, lift, or table motion abnormality are identified.
If abnormal sound, smell, heat, or erratic movement is present, stop testing and escalate.
Restart Only If Clinically Appropriate
If there is no patient on the system and no urgent clinical use is underway, perform a controlled system restart according to site policy.
After restart, allow the system to fully initialize before retesting table movement.
Expected outcome: Temporary communication or initialization faults may clear.
If the table fault returns after restart, do not continue repeated resets.
Perform a Final Functional Check
If the issue appears resolved, verify the affected table function several times through a safe limited range.
Confirm table movement is smooth, stops normally, locks correctly, and no fault messages return.
Expected outcome: The table is safe and predictable before being returned to clinical use.
If the Problem Persists
If the table tilt, lift, movement, brake, or locking fault remains after external checks, common user-accessible causes have been ruled out.
The issue may involve an internal table drive, brake, lift column, sensor, limit switch, control circuit, communication pathway, or safety interlock fault.
The device should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for Siemens service, repair, or bench evaluation
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. Do not continue testing a fluoroscopy table with unreliable movement or locking behavior.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot table tilt, lift, or lock faults with a patient on the table. Move the patient first, protect lines and accessories, and only test table motion when the area is clear and safe.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Technologist reported the Luminos Agile Max table would not tilt and displayed a table movement fault during exam setup."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the table path obstructed by a footboard accessory and confirmed the emergency stop was not engaged."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the obstruction, verified unloaded table tilt and lift operation, confirmed table locks engaged correctly, and returned the system to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether a patient was on the table when the issue occurred
- Exact table function affected
- System message or error displayed
- Whether emergency stop was engaged
- Whether table controls responded
- Whether another control point worked
- Obstructions found near or under the table
- Accessory setup or patient support involved
- Movement direction affected
- Any abnormal noise, heat, smell, or jerky motion
- Whether the table locked and held position
- Final device status
Final Thought
Fluoroscopy table movement problems should always be approached with patient safety first. Start with external conditions, room setup, controls, emergency stops, accessories, and limits before assuming an internal fault. If table motion or locking is not predictable, remove the system from service and document the complaint, cause, and resolution clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.