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Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Addresses cart or dock charging failure caused by outlet, cord, power supply, seating, contact contamination, alignment, battery, or accessory faults.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Secure the Equipment
Do not troubleshoot cart or dock power while the scanner is needed for active patient care. Move care to another verified scanner.
Set the cart brakes and place it on a stable surface before inspecting cords or removing the scanner from its cradle.
Expected outcome: Patient care continues and the cart remains stable during troubleshooting.
2. Confirm the Exact Charging or Power Failure
Determine whether:
- The cart has no power
- The scanner does not charge in the dock
- Charging is intermittent
- Charging stops when the cart moves
- The scanner powers from direct AC but not the dock
- Another accessory on the cart also lacks power
- The dock indicator is absent or abnormal
Observe the scanner and cart indicators without relying only on the battery icon.
Expected outcome: The failure is isolated to the cart, dock, contact path, scanner, or building power source.
3. Verify the Wall Outlet
Test the outlet using an approved outlet tester or known-good device. Confirm that any wall switch, emergency-power designation, power strip, or isolation system is in the intended state.
Do not use damaged receptacles or unauthorized extension cords.
Expected outcome: A stable AC source is confirmed. If outlet correction restores charging, proceed to final verification.
4. Inspect the Cart Power Cord
Inspect the full accessible length of the power cord, plug, strain relief, cart inlet, and cord retention for cuts, crushing, exposed conductors, loose blades, discoloration, or heat damage.
Remove the cart from service immediately if electrical damage is found.
Expected outcome: The cord and inlet are intact and securely connected.
5. Check the Cart Power Supply and Indicators
Confirm that the cart power supply is connected and that its normal indicators are present. Inspect low-voltage cables and accessible connectors for looseness, contamination, and damage.
Do not open the power supply enclosure.
Expected outcome: The cart power supply receives AC and provides normal external indication.
6. Inspect Dock Seating
Remove the scanner and inspect the cradle for foreign objects, damaged guides, bent components, dried gel, or accessories preventing full seating.
Reinstall the scanner squarely and verify that it settles completely into the charging position.
Expected outcome: The scanner is fully seated and charging begins. If so, continue to final testing.
7. Inspect Charging Contacts
Inspect accessible contacts on the scanner and dock for debris, gel, oxidation, wear, recessed pins, misalignment, or physical damage.
Clean only according to the approved external cleaning process. Do not scrape contacts with metal tools or apply unapproved chemicals.
Expected outcome: Contacts are clean, aligned, and able to make consistent connection.
8. Check for Intermittency
With the scanner properly seated, observe charging status while lightly stabilizing the cart and cable. Do not aggressively move or flex the equipment.
If charging changes with slight movement, inspect cable routing, strain reliefs, dock alignment, and contact engagement.
Expected outcome: Charging remains stable during normal cart handling.
9. Compare Direct and Docked Charging
When the design permits, connect the scanner using an approved direct charging method and compare it with dock charging.
A scanner that charges directly but not through the dock points toward the cart, dock, contacts, or cart power path.
Expected outcome: The affected part of the charging path is isolated without internal disassembly.
10. Remove Nonessential Cart Accessories
Disconnect nonessential approved peripherals from the cart power system and retest charging. A damaged accessory or overloaded cart power path may interfere with normal operation.
Reconnect accessories one at a time after stable charging is confirmed.
Expected outcome: The scanner charges normally with nonessential accessories removed, or the failure remains isolated to the dock or power system.
11. Compare With a Known-Good Component
When approved compatible equipment is available, test the scanner in a known-good dock or test the dock with a known-good scanner.
Clearly identify all units and avoid mixing unapproved accessories.
Expected outcome: The failed scanner, dock, cart power system, or battery is isolated.
12. Perform Final Functional Verification
Confirm that:
- Cart and dock indicators are normal
- Charging begins each time the scanner is seated
- The displayed battery state increases
- Charging remains stable during normal cart movement
- The scanner operates on battery after charging
- A test scan completes normally
- No cord, contact, or power component overheats
Expected outcome: Cart power, dock power, and charging contact operation are stable. The system may return to service.
If the Problem Persists
External causes involving the outlet, cart cord, power supply connections, cradle seating, contact contamination, alignment, accessories, and direct-charging comparison have been ruled out.
The remaining cause may involve the cart power supply, dock electronics, internal wiring, charging-contact assembly, scanner battery, charging circuitry, or another service-level condition. Do not open powered enclosures or perform board-level repair.
The affected scanner, dock, or cart should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation
- Evaluated using appropriate Verathon documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel
After repair, complete electrical safety testing when applicable, charging verification, battery operation testing, cart stability checks, and full scanner functional testing before return to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Keep the cart brakes set while docking the scanner so incomplete seating does not create intermittent charging.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported that the BladderScan i10 did not charge when placed in the cart dock."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found dried gel on the dock contacts that prevented consistent electrical contact."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering cleaned the accessible charging contacts, reseated the scanner, verified stable charging and battery operation, and completed a successful test scan."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Outlet test result
- Cart power indicator status
- Power cord and inlet condition
- Power supply indicator status
- Dock seating condition
- Contact contamination or damage
- Charging response to movement
- Direct-charging comparison
- Known-good dock or scanner result
- Battery operation after charging
- Test scan result
- Final cart and scanner status
Final Thought
Start with patient continuity and cart stability, then verify the outlet, power cord, supply, dock seating, contacts, accessories, and battery response. Escalate damaged or intermittent power systems, complete required safety and functional testing, and document the verified CCR clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.