Teleflex AC3 Optimus

HELIUM SUPPLY OR PNEUMATIC FAULT

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Asset Type

Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

Manufacturer

Teleflex

Model

AC3 Optimus

What This Guide Helps With

Troubleshooting helium supply, pressure, tubing, or pneumatic faults affecting balloon inflation and IABP operation.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Ensure Patient Safety First

Confirm whether the AC3 Optimus is actively supporting a patient.

If the pump is in use and helium delivery, balloon inflation, or pneumatic performance is unreliable, notify clinical staff immediately and prepare an alternate IABP or appropriate clinical intervention.

Expected: Patient support is maintained before troubleshooting begins.

If the issue occurs on an active patient, do not continue troubleshooting beyond basic external checks unless clinical staff confirm it is safe.

Verify the Reported Fault

Confirm the exact alarm or message displayed on the AC3 Optimus.

Note whether the issue appears:

Expected: The helium or pneumatic fault is clearly identified and documented.

Check the Helium Cylinder Supply

Verify that the helium cylinder is installed, properly seated, and contains sufficient pressure.

Confirm the cylinder valve is open if applicable to the installed configuration.

Expected: The pump recognizes an adequate helium source.

If the cylinder is empty, closed, loose, or improperly installed, correct it and retest. If the fault clears, return the device only after confirming normal startup and pneumatic readiness.

Inspect the Helium Cylinder Connection

Remove the device from patient use first if needed, then inspect the cylinder connection area for:

Expected: The cylinder connection is secure with no obvious leak or damage.

If a connection issue is found, reseat or replace the cylinder as appropriate and retest.

Listen for Audible Leaks

With the device in a safe test condition, listen near the helium cylinder connection, pneumatic fittings, and external tubing path for hissing.

Do not place hands or face near pressurized fittings during operation.

Expected: No audible helium leak is present.

If a leak is heard at an external connection, remove the device from service until the leak source is corrected or evaluated.

Check the IAB Catheter Connection

Inspect the catheter connector and pneumatic tubing connection to the pump.

Confirm the tubing is fully seated, locked if applicable, and not loose or partially connected.

Expected: The catheter pneumatic connection is secure.

If reconnecting resolves the alarm and the pump passes its required checks, document the loose connection and stop troubleshooting.

Inspect the External Pneumatic Tubing

Check the external catheter tubing for:

Expected: The pneumatic path is open, dry, undamaged, and correctly connected.

If tubing damage or contamination is present, escalate to clinical staff for catheter-side evaluation. Do not attempt to repair patient catheter tubing.

Confirm Catheter Size and Setup Compatibility

Verify the pump setup matches the catheter and clinical configuration being used.

Check for incorrect catheter connection, incorrect setup selection, or improper preparation sequence.

Expected: The pump configuration matches the connected IAB catheter.

If the wrong setup or connection is found, have trained clinical staff correct the setup and repeat the required device checks.

Check for Recent Cylinder Replacement or Transport

Ask whether the fault began after the helium cylinder was replaced, the pump was moved, or the device was transported.

Inspect for shifted cylinder seating, bumped connectors, or tubing strain.

Expected: No recent handling issue is causing the fault.

If reseating the cylinder or correcting an external connection clears the issue, monitor for recurrence before returning to service.

Power Cycle Only When Clinically Safe

If the device is not supporting a patient, power the pump down and restart it according to normal operating practice.

Observe whether the helium or pneumatic fault returns during initialization.

Expected: The device completes startup without helium or pneumatic fault.

If the fault returns immediately, suspect an internal pneumatic, valve, sensor, or helium regulation issue.

Test With a Known Good Helium Cylinder

If available and permitted by site procedure, install a known good compatible helium cylinder.

Expected: The pump recognizes the helium supply and pneumatic fault clears.

If the issue clears with a known good cylinder, remove the suspect cylinder from use and document the cylinder-related failure.

If the fault remains with a known good cylinder, continue escalation.

Check for Moisture, Blood, or Contamination at External Pneumatic Ports

Inspect only externally visible ports and connectors.

Look for liquid, dried residue, damaged fittings, or debris.

Expected: Ports are clean, dry, and undamaged.

If contamination is present, remove the device from service. Do not attempt to flush, probe, or internally clean pneumatic ports without approved service procedure.

Review Alarm Behavior During Test Operation

In a safe non-patient test condition, observe whether the fault is:

Expected: The failure pattern helps separate external supply issues from internal pneumatic faults.

If the fault occurs with no patient tubing attached and a good helium source installed, the issue is likely internal.

Do Not Open Pneumatic Assemblies in the Clinical Area

Do not perform internal pneumatic disassembly, regulator adjustment, valve replacement, pressure sensor replacement, or board-level troubleshooting at the point of care.

Expected: Troubleshooting remains safe, external, and appropriate for Clinical Engineering response.

If the Problem Persists

If the helium supply, cylinder connection, catheter connection, tubing path, configuration, and basic restart checks have been ruled out, the issue is likely internal to the pneumatic system.

The AC3 Optimus should be:

Possible internal causes may include a helium regulator issue, pneumatic valve fault, pressure sensor fault, internal leak, compressor/pneumatic control issue, or internal tubing failure.

Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. An intra-aortic balloon pump with unresolved pneumatic or helium faults should not remain available for patient use.

Clinical Use Tip

Do not troubleshoot helium or pneumatic faults on an actively supported patient unless the check is external, quick, and clinically approved. If balloon support may be interrupted, move to another verified IABP or alternate support plan first.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
"Clinical staff reported the Teleflex AC3 Optimus displayed a helium supply/pneumatic fault and would not proceed with normal balloon pump operation."

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
"Found the helium cylinder connection loose after transport; cylinder was reseated and the pump recognized helium supply normally."

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
"Reseated helium cylinder, inspected external pneumatic connections, verified no audible leak, restarted pump, and confirmed the helium fault cleared during startup checks."

Helpful Details to Include (If Known)

Final Thought

Helium and pneumatic faults on an intra-aortic balloon pump must be handled with patient safety first. Start with external supply, cylinder, connector, tubing, and setup checks before suspecting internal failure. If the fault remains after basic checks, remove the device from service and document the findings clearly using CCR.

That is successful troubleshooting.

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