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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting AutoCAT display, keypad, speaker, alarm, or user-interface problems caused by power, settings, accessories, or external conditions.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm whether the AutoCAT is connected to or supporting an active patient.
If the pump is in use and the display, keypad, or alarm system is unreliable, notify clinical staff immediately. A device with questionable controls or alarm annunciation should not be relied on for active IABP therapy unless clinical leadership determines it is safe.
Expected outcome: Patient support is maintained, and troubleshooting is performed only when it is safe.
If the issue affects therapy visibility, alarm recognition, or operator control, remove the pump from active use after the patient is transferred to another verified IABP.
Confirm the Reported Failure
Ask clinical staff exactly what was observed:
- Blank display
- Dim or unreadable display
- Frozen screen
- Delayed or incorrect screen response
- Keypad buttons not responding
- Some keys work but others do not
- Alarm sounds weak, distorted, or silent
- Alarm message appears but no audible alarm occurs
- Audible alarm occurs but no clear display message appears
Expected outcome: The issue is narrowed to display, keypad, alarm audio, or general control-panel behavior.
Check AC Power First
Connect the AutoCAT to a known good hospital-grade outlet.
Verify that the outlet is powered and not controlled by a wall switch, failed power strip, loose receptacle, or tripped breaker.
Expected outcome: The pump powers normally and the display/control panel behaves consistently.
If the issue resolves after moving to a known good outlet, stop and document the original power source concern.
Inspect the Power Cord and Strain Relief
Check the AC power cord for cuts, bent blades, loose fit, damaged plug ends, or intermittent power when gently repositioned.
Do not use the pump if the cord is damaged or causes flickering, rebooting, or intermittent display operation.
Expected outcome: The power cord is secure and does not cause display or alarm instability.
Check Battery Status and Power Transition
If the display or alarms fail during transport or when unplugged, verify battery charge status and whether the pump remains powered during AC-to-battery transition.
A weak or failing battery can cause shutdowns, dim display behavior, or unreliable alarm operation during movement.
Expected outcome: The AutoCAT remains powered and stable during normal power transition.
If the issue only occurs on battery power, remove the device from service for battery and charging-system evaluation.
Perform a Controlled Restart When Safe
With the device removed from patient use, power the AutoCAT down according to facility practice, wait briefly, and power it back on.
Observe the startup sequence, display behavior, keypad response, and audible alarm indicators.
Expected outcome: The display initializes normally, keypad input responds, and alarm indicators function during startup checks.
If the display remains blank, frozen, or unreadable after restart, continue troubleshooting only externally.
Check Display Brightness and Viewing Conditions
Confirm the screen is not simply dimmed, obscured by glare, covered by a damaged screen protector, or affected by poor room lighting.
Inspect for cracked display surfaces, fluid contamination, delamination, or signs of impact.
Expected outcome: The display is physically intact and readable under normal lighting.
If cleaning or lighting correction restores visibility, stop and document the condition found.
Inspect the Keypad or Control Panel Surface
Look for stuck keys, torn overlays, cracked buttons, fluid residue, cleaning chemical damage, or signs that the membrane keypad is not returning properly.
Press each non-therapy-critical key only while the unit is out of service or in a safe test condition.
Expected outcome: Keys respond consistently and do not stick, double-register, or fail to register.
If one or more keys are physically damaged or nonresponsive, remove the device from service for control-panel repair.
Check for Accessory or Cable Interference
Inspect external ECG, arterial pressure, printer, communication, and accessory cables connected near the control/display area.
Confirm no cable, pole clamp, transport hook, or accessory is pulling against the control panel, blocking buttons, or causing strain on the console.
Expected outcome: External accessories are not physically interfering with the display or keypad.
Verify Alarm Volume and Alarm Settings
Confirm alarm volume is not set too low, muted, paused, or affected by a facility-approved alarm silence function.
Review the alarm behavior with the pump in a safe non-patient-use condition.
Expected outcome: Alarm messages and audible tones are appropriate for the alarm condition.
If the alarm was silenced or volume was adjusted incorrectly, restore the appropriate setting and document the correction.
Check the Audible Alarm Output
Listen for weak, distorted, intermittent, or absent alarm sound.
Confirm the speaker opening is not blocked by labels, tape, dust, debris, transport covers, or equipment storage conditions.
Expected outcome: Audible alarms are clear and loud enough for the clinical environment.
If the alarm message appears but the speaker is silent or distorted, remove the pump from service for alarm audio evaluation.
Inspect for Fluid Intrusion or Cleaning Damage
Look for evidence of liquid spills, residue around the display bezel, sticky keypad areas, corrosion, unusual smell, or dried cleaning solution.
Do not continue testing if fluid intrusion is suspected.
Expected outcome: No visible evidence suggests contamination or damage to the control interface.
If fluid intrusion is found or suspected, label the unit Out of Service and send it for bench evaluation.
Check for Overheating or Environmental Issues
Verify the pump is not stored near heat sources, blocked vents, or in a location where airflow is restricted.
Feel for unusual heat around the display/control-panel area without opening the device.
Expected outcome: The unit does not show abnormal heat, odor, or thermal-related shutdown behavior.
If overheating, burning smell, or abnormal warmth is present, unplug the device if safe, remove it from service, and escalate immediately.
Test Basic Control Response in a Safe Condition
With the pump not connected to a patient, confirm whether basic navigation, alarm acknowledgement, display changes, and keypad input behave consistently.
Do not perform therapy changes or operational testing on an active patient just to troubleshoot a control issue.
Expected outcome: The interface responds predictably and safely.
If the keypad, display, or alarm response is intermittent, treat the device as unreliable even if it works during one test.
Compare With a Known Good AutoCAT if Available
When available, compare normal startup display brightness, keypad feel, alarm tone, and basic control response against another verified AutoCAT.
Expected outcome: The suspect device either matches expected operation or shows a repeatable difference.
If the suspect unit behaves differently after external causes are ruled out, remove it from service.
If the Problem Persists
If the display, keypad, or alarm issue continues after power, battery status, settings, physical obstruction, contamination, and external accessories have been checked, the likely cause is internal to the display assembly, keypad/control panel, speaker circuit, alarm circuitry, processor interface, or power distribution.
The AutoCAT should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. A pump with unreliable display visibility, keypad control, or alarm annunciation should not be returned to clinical use until the fault is corrected and verified.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot display, keypad, or alarm failures on an active patient unless the check is limited, external, and clearly safe. If the pump cannot display therapy information, accept operator input, or announce alarms reliably, move the patient to another verified IABP before continuing equipment evaluation.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported that the Teleflex AutoCAT display froze during setup and the keypad would not respond to alarm acknowledgement."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Verified the unit had stable AC power and no external cable interference, but the control panel remained intermittently unresponsive during non-patient-use testing."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the AutoCAT from service, labeled it Out of Service, and sent it for bench evaluation of the display/keypad control assembly."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether the pump was on AC power or battery power
- Outlet tested and power cord condition
- Battery charge status and runtime behavior
- Display condition: blank, dim, frozen, flickering, or unreadable
- Keypad behavior: no response, delayed response, stuck key, or partial failure
- Alarm behavior: visual only, audible only, weak tone, distorted tone, or no tone
- Any visible fluid residue or cleaning chemical damage
- Any unusual heat, smell, or noise
- Whether the issue was intermittent or repeatable
- Whether the unit was removed from service or returned to use
Final Thought
Display, keypad, and alarm problems on an intra-aortic balloon pump must be treated as safety-critical because they affect therapy visibility, operator control, and alarm recognition. Start with external causes such as power, settings, obstruction, and contamination, but escalate promptly when the interface remains unreliable. Clear CCR documentation helps repair teams understand the failure and supports safe return-to-service decisions.
That is successful troubleshooting.