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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoot unavailable AIM/fluorescence imaging or uneven fluorescence caused by incompatible components, connection, positioning, contamination, settings, or illumination problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Maintain the Required Imaging Method
If fluorescence imaging is clinically required and the mode cannot be relied upon, notify the procedural team immediately.
Do not continue troubleshooting while the patient depends on unreliable fluorescence visualization. Provide an approved alternate imaging approach or exchange the equipment when necessary.
Expected outcome: The clinical team has a reliable imaging method before technical troubleshooting continues.
2. Confirm the Exact Fluorescence Complaint
Determine whether:
- AIM/fluorescence mode cannot be selected.
- The mode activates but no fluorescence image appears.
- Fluorescence appears only in part of the field.
- Illumination is uneven.
- The image works intermittently.
- The problem occurs with one scope, camera head, light cable, or room setup only.
Document the exact operating configuration.
Expected outcome: The failure is reproducible and narrowed to activation, image quality, or a specific accessory path.
3. Verify Normal White-Light Imaging First
Confirm that the camera system produces a stable conventional image before troubleshooting fluorescence functionality.
Inspect for general focus, illumination, and image stability problems.
Expected outcome: Standard imaging operates normally. If normal imaging is also defective, troubleshoot the broader camera, scope, light, or video path first.
4. Verify Required Components Are Present and Compatible
Confirm the procedure setup includes the correct compatible components required for the intended AIM/fluorescence function.
Inspect the camera head, scope, light source, light cable, and associated accessories for mismatched equipment or substitutions introduced during room setup.
Do not assume that a component capable of standard imaging is necessarily suitable for fluorescence operation.
Expected outcome: The complete imaging chain is appropriate for the intended fluorescence mode. If an incompatible component is found, replace it with the correct approved component and retest.
5. Inspect and Reseat Camera and Light Connections
Inspect external connections between the:
- Camera head and camera control unit.
- Light source and light cable.
- Light cable and scope.
- Any associated communication connection used by the installed system.
Check connectors for contamination, damage, incomplete seating, or strain.
Reseat connections when clinically safe.
Expected outcome: All external connections are clean, undamaged, and fully seated. If reseating restores fluorescence operation, verify repeated mode activation and troubleshooting can stop.
6. Inspect the Scope, Light Cable, and Optical Surfaces
Inspect accessible optical surfaces for:
- Debris.
- Moisture.
- Residue.
- Clouding.
- Scratches.
- Damage.
- Improperly seated adapters.
Inspect the light cable for obvious damage, severe bending, or poor coupling.
Use approved cleaning methods only.
Expected outcome: Optical surfaces and the illumination path are clean and correctly connected. If cleaning or reseating restores an even image, verify across the full field and troubleshooting can stop.
7. Check Scope and Camera Positioning
Verify the camera head, coupler if present, and scope are aligned and secured correctly.
Confirm the light cable is fully connected and that the scope is not partially obstructed or positioned in a way that creates artificial illumination differences.
Compare the image while viewing a controlled nonpatient target when appropriate.
Expected outcome: Illumination and fluorescence response are reasonably uniform under controlled positioning. If the uneven image disappears when positioning is corrected, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
8. Verify AIM/Fluorescence Selection and Accessible Settings
Confirm the intended imaging mode is selected using the normal approved controls.
Review accessible camera-head button assignments and system settings to ensure fluorescence activation has not been reassigned or disabled through a normal configuration change.
Do not enter restricted service menus.
Expected outcome: The intended control activates the expected imaging mode. If correcting an authorized control assignment restores operation, verify repeatable activation and troubleshooting can stop.
9. Verify Light-Source Operation
Confirm the connected compatible light source is operating normally and providing stable illumination.
Look for abnormal front-panel indications, unexpected mode changes, unstable output, or failure to respond when fluorescence mode is selected.
If communication with the light source also appears abnormal, troubleshoot the communication path separately before assuming an optical failure.
Expected outcome: The light source remains stable and responds appropriately to normal system operation. If the light source is unstable or does not coordinate with the camera system, isolate that equipment before continuing.
10. Substitute Known-Good External Components
When available, substitute one compatible known-good component at a time, such as:
- Light cable.
- Scope.
- Camera head.
- Light source.
Do not replace several components at once because doing so makes the cause difficult to identify.
Expected outcome: The problem follows a specific component or remains with the 1688 system. Replace or repair the isolated defective external component and verify fluorescence imaging before stopping.
11. Compare With a Known Working Setup
If another properly functioning 1688 fluorescence setup is available, compare:
- Connected accessories.
- Camera-head button assignments.
- Light-source connection.
- Scope type.
- Accessible configuration.
- Image behavior.
Avoid copying undocumented settings blindly.
Expected outcome: A meaningful external or configuration difference is identified and corrected, or the fault remains isolated to the suspect system.
12. Perform Final Functional Verification
After any correction:
- Verify conventional imaging.
- Activate fluorescence mode repeatedly.
- Confirm consistent mode switching.
- Verify image uniformity using an appropriate controlled test setup.
- Confirm the light source responds normally.
- Verify camera-head controls operate as assigned.
- Check for intermittent loss while gently repositioning external cables.
Expected outcome: Fluorescence mode activates reliably and produces a stable, appropriately illuminated image. The system can be returned to service after required facility verification.
13. Escalate Persistent Fluorescence Failure
If fluorescence mode remains unavailable or the image remains significantly uneven after compatible accessories, optical cleanliness, connections, settings, and known-good substitutions have been verified, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The system is removed from service when fluorescence functionality is required and sent for qualified evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
Common external causes have been ruled out when compatible components, connections, optical surfaces, positioning, accessible settings, and light-source operation have been verified.
Remaining categories may include an internal camera-system fault, fluorescence-processing problem, internal light-source problem, calibration or configuration issue requiring authorized service, or failure of a specialized compatible accessory.
The device should be:
- Removed from service when required imaging functionality cannot be assured.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation.
- Evaluated using appropriate Stryker documentation and approved test equipment.
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel.
Return-to-service testing should verify both standard and fluorescence imaging, image uniformity, mode switching, associated controls, and light-source coordination.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Confirm the complete camera, scope, and light path before the procedure whenever fluorescence imaging will be relied upon clinically.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"OR staff reported that fluorescence mode activated on the 1688 Camera System but the image was dim and uneven across the field."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found a damaged light cable causing inconsistent illumination, while the camera head, scope, and light source operated normally with a known-good cable."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Replaced the damaged light cable and verified stable white-light and fluorescence imaging with uniform illumination and repeatable mode switching."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether fluorescence mode could be selected.
- Whether standard imaging worked normally.
- Scope and camera-head configuration.
- Light-source model in use.
- Light-cable condition.
- Optical contamination or damage observed.
- Camera-head button assignment.
- Known-good accessory substitution results.
- Whether the issue followed the scope, cable, camera head, or light source.
- Image behavior before and after correction.
- Final white-light and fluorescence verification.
Final Thought
Fluorescence problems should be approached as a complete imaging-chain problem rather than an assumed camera failure. Protect the patient, verify compatible external components and optical paths first, confirm the result objectively, and escalate when reliable fluorescence imaging cannot be demonstrated.
That is successful troubleshooting.