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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses intermittent video operation caused by loose seating, connector contamination, strain, cable damage, or incompatible accessories.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Remove Unreliable Equipment
Do not continue using a GlideScope system with an intermittent video connection during airway management. Move immediately to another verified airway device and maintain an appropriate backup airway method.
Inspect for exposed conductors, cracked connectors, liquid intrusion, unusual heat, or severe cable damage. Remove the system from service immediately if any unsafe condition is present.
Expected outcome: Patient care continues with reliable equipment, and the affected system is isolated for safe evaluation.
2. Confirm How the Intermittency Occurs
Ask whether the image fails when the cable is moved, when the handle is repositioned, after startup, or without physical movement. Determine whether the image becomes blank, distorted, frozen, or temporarily disconnected.
Reproduce the symptom away from patient care using normal handling only. Do not sharply bend or intentionally stress the cable.
Expected outcome: The movement, position, or condition associated with the failure is identified. If the connection remains stable and the complaint cannot be reproduced, continue inspection before returning the device to service.
3. Verify Stable Monitor Power
Confirm the monitor remains powered and does not restart when the image drops out. Check the approved power adapter, charging connection, battery status, and power cord as applicable.
A monitor power interruption can resemble a video cable failure.
Expected outcome: Monitor power remains stable while the video symptom occurs. Any power-related problem is corrected before continuing.
4. Inspect and Reseat the Cable Connections
Power down when appropriate. Disconnect both ends of the video cable and inspect for debris, moisture, corrosion, bent contacts, damaged alignment features, or loose connector shells.
Reconnect each end fully and confirm any locking or retention mechanism engages normally. Do not force a connector.
Expected outcome: Both connectors are clean, dry, undamaged, and securely seated. If the image remains stable after repeated reconnection, complete final verification and stop troubleshooting.
5. Inspect the Full Cable and Strain Reliefs
Examine the entire cable under good lighting. Pay particular attention to areas near strain reliefs, cart routing points, bends, clamps, and locations where the cable may have been pinched or rolled over.
Do not tape, splice, or field-repair a damaged medical video cable.
Expected outcome: The cable has no cuts, flattened sections, sharp kinks, looseness, or exposed shielding. A damaged cable is removed from service.
6. Check Cable Routing and Mechanical Strain
Confirm the cable has adequate slack during normal use and is not supporting the weight of the handle, camera, or monitor. Verify it is not tightly wrapped around the cart, trapped beneath equipment, or pulled sideways at the connector.
Reposition the cable to maintain a natural bend radius without tension.
Expected outcome: The cable remains stable without connector strain. If proper routing eliminates the interruption, troubleshooting can stop after final verification.
7. Test With a Known-Good Compatible Cable
Install a known-good approved video cable while keeping the same monitor and imaging component. Operate the system and gently reposition the cable within normal clinical movement.
Expected outcome: A stable image with the known-good cable identifies the original cable as defective. Remove the suspect cable from service.
8. Test the Imaging Component Separately
If the symptom remains with a known-good cable, test the camera, video baton, or handle with another verified compatible system when available.
Follow all required cleaning and disinfection procedures before exchanging reusable airway components.
Expected outcome: The comparison determines whether the intermittency follows the imaging component or remains with the original monitor connection.
9. Verify the Monitor-Side Connection
With a known-good cable and imaging component connected, observe whether light normal contact near the monitor connector causes loss of image. Do not apply excessive force.
A loose, recessed, or visibly damaged monitor connector requires service-level evaluation.
Expected outcome: The monitor-side connection remains stable during normal handling. If it does not, remove the monitor from service.
10. Perform Final Functional Verification
Power-cycle the system several times and confirm reliable component recognition, continuous live video, acceptable image quality, and stable operation throughout normal cable movement and cart positioning.
Complete any required post-service safety testing.
Expected outcome: The image remains continuous with no flicker, blanking, or disconnect indications. The system may return to service only after all required checks pass.
If the Problem Persists
Common external causes such as incomplete seating, contamination, cable strain, visible damage, and defective interchangeable accessories have been ruled out. The remaining cause may involve an internal connector, monitor input assembly, imaging electronics, or software.
Remove the device from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation using the correct manufacturer documentation and approved test equipment. Only qualified personnel should repair or configure the system.
Return-to-service testing must confirm stable video during normal movement, secure connections, reliable startup, and any required electrical safety checks. Stopping before unsafe disassembly is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Route the video cable with enough slack to prevent connector tension when the operator changes position during airway management.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported that the GlideScope image disappeared whenever the video cable was moved."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found a damaged strain relief at the imaging-component end of the video cable."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering replaced the cable with an approved compatible cable and verified a continuous image during repeated normal movement."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Position or movement that triggered failure
- Blank, frozen, flickering, or distorted image
- Connector condition
- Cable routing and strain
- Visible cable damage
- Known-good cable result
- Known-good imaging component result
- Monitor power stability
- Results before and after correction
- Final device status
Final Thought
Protect the patient from intermittent airway visualization, inspect and isolate external cable causes logically, verify the repair under normal movement, escalate internal connection problems, and document the result clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.