On this page
Asset Type
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots failure to begin or resume delivery caused by power, disposable installation, controls, program state, alarms, locks, or external accessories.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain Therapy
If prescribed therapy is delayed or interrupted, immediately provide another verified infusion device or alternate therapy method as directed by clinical staff.
Do not continue relying on a pump whose delivery status is uncertain.
Expected outcome: Patient therapy is maintained independently of the suspect pump.
2. Confirm the Exact Failure
Determine whether the pump:
- Will not power on
- Powers on but will not start
- Stops and will not resume
- Appears to run but does not deliver
- Rejects an attempted programmed dose
- Displays an alarm or status message
Document the exact display information rather than paraphrasing it when possible.
Expected outcome: The specific failure mode is clearly identified.
3. Verify Basic Power Condition
Inspect the external condition of the pump and its approved power source or battery arrangement as applicable.
Check for:
- Correctly installed batteries or approved power accessories
- Loose or damaged contacts accessible without disassembly
- Corrosion or contamination
- Obvious physical damage
- Evidence of leakage, overheating, or odor
If there is heat, odor, battery leakage, or damage, remove the pump from service immediately.
Expected outcome: The pump has a stable, appropriate power source and no unsafe physical condition.
4. Check for Active Alarms or Conditions Preventing Delivery
Review the pump display for an alarm, paused state, incomplete setup, open door or cassette condition, or another visible reason preventing operation.
Do not clear alarms without identifying the cause.
Expected outcome: Any external condition preventing delivery is identified and corrected.
5. Inspect the Cassette and Administration Set
Verify that the compatible cassette or administration set is correctly installed, fully seated, and free of obvious damage.
Inspect the latch and external mechanism for anything preventing normal engagement.
Expected outcome: The disposable is correctly installed and the pump accepts it normally.
6. Verify Controls and Program State
Using authorized user-accessible functions, confirm that the pump is in the intended operating state and that the entered therapy configuration is consistent with the clinical order.
Do not independently alter clinical parameters to make the pump run. Any therapy programming should be verified by qualified clinical personnel.
Expected outcome: No unintended hold, lock, programming state, or control condition is preventing delivery.
7. Test With Known-Good External Components
When applicable, substitute known-good batteries, approved external power accessories, and a compatible bench-test cassette or administration set.
Change one item at a time so the cause remains identifiable.
Expected outcome: The pump starts and delivers normally with known-good external components, identifying the original external component as the cause.
8. Perform a Controlled Delivery Test
Using appropriate infusion pump analysis equipment and approved procedures, run a representative delivery test.
Confirm that the pump starts, continues delivery, responds to normal controls, and does not stop unexpectedly.
Expected outcome: The pump demonstrates reliable operation and required delivery performance.
9. Determine Whether Troubleshooting Can Stop
If an external cause was corrected and the pump passes functional and delivery verification, return it to service according to facility policy.
If it still will not reliably start, resume, or deliver, remove it from service.
Expected outcome: Only a pump with verified reliable delivery is returned to clinical use.
If the Problem Persists
Once batteries or power accessories, disposables, visible alarms, control state, programming status, and external accessories have been ruled out, the condition may involve the pumping mechanism, control system, power circuitry, internal detection, configuration, or another service-level fault.
The device 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
Perform complete applicable operational, alarm, delivery-accuracy, and electrical or battery-related return-to-service testing after repair.
Stopping when reliable delivery cannot be demonstrated is an essential part of proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A pump that appears powered but cannot reliably start or resume therapy should be treated as unavailable until delivery is independently verified.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Nursing reported that the CADD Legacy powered on but would not resume the programmed infusion."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the cassette was not fully seated and the pump remained in a non-delivery condition."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The cassette was correctly installed, the pump was functionally tested for start and continuous delivery, and normal operation was verified."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact display or alarm message
- Whether the pump powered on
- Battery or external power condition
- Start versus resume failure
- Disposable installation
- Lock or hold condition observed
- Known-good substitutions
- Delivery test result
- Whether shutdown recurred
- Final device status
Final Thought
When an infusion pump will not deliver, maintain patient therapy first and verify power, alarms, disposables, controls, and program state before assuming an internal defect. Only verified, reliable delivery supports return to service.
That is successful troubleshooting.