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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots no-power and startup failures involving AC supply, cord connections, battery state, attached accessories, environmental conditions, or internal faults.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient and Remove the Failed Unit From Use
A tourniquet system that will not start or complete its startup check must not be relied upon for patient care. Provide another verified system when tourniquet support is needed. Expected outcome: Patient care continues without dependence on the failed unit.
2. Confirm the Exact Startup Condition
Determine whether the system is completely dead, briefly powers and shuts off, freezes during startup, repeatedly restarts, or displays a startup fault. Record any visible message or indicator. Expected outcome: The no-power or startup failure is clearly characterized.
3. Verify the AC Outlet
Connect the unit to a known-good appropriate outlet. Test the receptacle using approved facility methods if necessary. Expected outcome: Reliable AC power is confirmed at the source.
4. Inspect the Power Cord and Plug
Examine the accessible power cord, plug, strain relief, and device connection for damage, looseness, heat discoloration, cuts, or bent contacts. Expected outcome: The external AC connection is intact and secure. Replace an approved detachable cord if defective and retest.
5. Check AC and Battery Behavior Separately
Observe whether the system responds differently when connected to verified AC versus battery operation, without relying on a questionable battery for clinical use. Expected outcome: The failure is narrowed to all-power operation, AC operation, or battery operation.
6. Disconnect Nonessential External Accessories
With the device out of patient use, remove nonessential external accessories that are not required for startup, while maintaining the normal safe configuration. Do not open the housing. Expected outcome: An external accessory is ruled in or out as a cause of startup interference.
7. Inspect for Environmental or Physical Damage
Check for signs of fluid intrusion, impact, overheating, unusual odor, damaged enclosure, or contamination around accessible controls and connectors. Expected outcome: No unsafe physical condition is present. If fluid, heat, odor, or significant damage is found, stop troubleshooting and remove the unit from service.
8. Attempt One Normal Restart
If no unsafe condition is present, perform a normal power cycle according to standard operator-accessible controls. Do not repeatedly reboot a unit that continues to fail startup. Expected outcome: The unit completes startup and remains stable, or the fault is confirmed as persistent.
9. Perform Functional Verification if Startup Is Restored
If an external correction restores operation, verify controls, display, alarms, pneumatic channels, inflation, deflation, and other appropriate functions using approved test equipment or a controlled test setup. Expected outcome: The unit starts reliably and passes all applicable functional checks. Troubleshooting can stop after successful verification.
10. Escalate a Persistent Startup Failure
If verified AC power and external checks do not restore normal startup, do not open the unit or troubleshoot internal power supplies, processors, boards, or firmware without authorized service procedures. Expected outcome: The unit is labeled and routed for qualified service evaluation.
If the Problem Persists
The outlet, external power cord, battery operating condition, attached accessories, environment, and basic restart have been checked. Remaining causes may involve the internal power supply, battery system, startup diagnostics, software, processor, control electronics, or other service-level faults.
Remove the A.T.S. 4000 from service, label it Out of Service, and send it for repair or bench evaluation. Evaluate it with appropriate Zimmer Biomet service documentation and approved electrical and functional test equipment. Internal repair, firmware work, or configuration changes should be performed only by qualified personnel.
Before return to service, verify reliable startup, AC and battery operation as applicable, alarms, controls, pneumatic channels, pressure functions, and all other functions affected by the repair.
Clinical Use Tip
Never place a tourniquet system into clinical use after an unexplained startup failure until it has restarted reliably and passed appropriate functional verification.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"OR staff reported that the A.T.S. 4000 would not power on when connected in the operating room."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the external power cord was not fully seated at the equipment connection."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Reseated and inspected the power cord, verified normal startup, and completed functional testing of controls, alarms, and pneumatic operation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Completely dead or partial startup
- Exact startup message
- AC or battery operation
- Outlet tested
- Power cord condition
- External accessory connections
- Restart behavior
- Evidence of heat, odor, fluid, or impact
- Functional-test results
- Final device status
- Completely dead or partial startup
- Exact startup message
- AC or battery operation
- Outlet tested
- Power cord condition
- External accessory connections
- Restart behavior
- Evidence of heat, odor, fluid, or impact
- Functional-test results
- Final device status
Final Thought
No-power and startup failures should be approached from the power source inward. Confirm simple external conditions before assuming internal failure, stop when unsafe conditions appear, verify complete operation after correction, and document the final status clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.