840 Chapter 7 Alarm Handling
840 Chapter 7 Alarm Handling
C HAPT ER
Alarm handling 7 7
This chapter describes how to respond to ventilator alarms. It also lists, in alphabetic order,
messages displayed by the ventilator when it detects alarm conditions.
High Requires immediate Red high-urgency ! ! ! Sequence of 5 tones that If a high-urgency alarm
attention to ensure indicator flashes rapidly. repeats twice, pauses, goes away
patient safety Alarm message flashes at then repeats again spontaneously
top of upper screen. (autoresets), its indicator
remains lit (not flashing)
until you press the alarm
reset key.
3VTE MAND
}
2 of last 4 mand breaths ≤ set limit. Check for leaks, changes in The two highest-
patient's R & C. priority active
alarm messages
11:20 25 Jun 2000 are displayed here.
The remedy
message suggests
how to resolve the
alarm condition.
8-01197
3 Correct the condition, if necessary, referring to Table 7-2. You can check the alarm log
(Figure 7-2). You may want to check the contents of the System Diagnostic Log
(accessible through the service menu, Chapter 4) for related diagnostic codes. The
troubleshooting procedures listed are sequenced to correct the most probable
malfunction or to present the most efficient corrective action first. The proposed fixes
listed, however, may not always correct the particular problem.
NOTE:
• You can change alarm settings even when alarms are active.
• Completing a new patient setup or running EST clears the alarm log.
• When more than one alarm is active and their alarm messages vary in their degree of
seriousness, you should assume that the most serious message is applicable.
4 If necessary, clear the message or reset the alarm by pressing the alarm reset key.
For specifics about alarm operation, see the 840 Ventilator System Operator’s and Technical
Reference Manual.
8-01198
"Lockable" alarms include all PATIENT DATA and CIRCUIT DISCONNECT alarms and can be
silenced for two minutes by pressing the alarm silence key. A new, high-urgency alarm
cancels the silence. Each time you press the alarm silence key, the silence period resets to two
minutes. Each time you press the alarm silence key (whether or not there is an active alarm),
the keypress is recorded in the alarm log.
Analysis Remedy
Base message Description Corrective action
message message
APNEA The set apnea interval has Check patient and settings.
(lockable) elapsed without the ventilator,
patient, or operator triggering a
breath. Resets when patient
initiates 2 consecutive breaths.
Analysis Remedy
Base message Description Corrective action
message message
CIRCUIT No Check patient/ Ventilator has recovered from 1. Check patient circuit con-
DISCONNECT ventilation. ventilator unintended power loss, detects nections.
(lockable) status. circuit disconnect, and switches 2. Run EST.
to idle mode; upper screen
displays elapsed time without
ventilator support. Resets when
ventilator senses reconnection.
DEVICE ALERT A background check or POST has Check System Diagnostic Log
detected a problem. Resets for any associated error codes.
when ventilator passes EST or Rerun POST/EST.
POST.
Analysis Remedy
Base message Description Corrective action
message message
Last spont
breath ≥ set
1PPEAK limit
Last 3 spont
breaths ≥ set
1PPEAK limit
Last 4 or more
spont breaths
≥ set 1PPEAK
limit
Analysis Remedy
Base message Description Corrective action
message message
1VTI SPONT Delivered inspiratory volume ≥ 1. For TC: Check for leaks,
(lockable) high inspiratory volume limit tube type/I.D. setting.
(breath type = TC or VS) 2. For VS: Check patient and
settings.
LOSS OF Power switch is on, but there is Turn power switch off to reset
POWER insufficient AC and BPS power. alarm. Restore AC power.
There may not be a visual
indicator for this alarm, but an
independent audio alarm sounds
for at least 120 s.
LOW AC Ventilator Power Mains (AC) power has dropped 1. Check integrity of AC
POWER currently not interrupt below 80% of nominal for 1 s. power source.
affected. possible. Ventilator continues operation as 2. If ventilator software was
close to settings as possible. recently downloaded or if
Resets when there is no low AC ventilator was moved
power signal for 1 s. between locations with dif-
ferent voltages, check Ser-
vice Mode Setup
NOTE: configuration.
Compressor operation 3. Check connections of AC
may be disrupted during power distribution compo-
low AC events. nents.
LOW BATTERY Operational Replace or Resets when BPS has more than 1. Check integrity of AC
time < 2 allow approximately 2 min of power source.
minutes. recharge. operational time remaining. 2. Check connections of AC
power distribution compo-
nents.
Analysis Remedy
Base message Description Corrective action
message message
3O2% Measured Check patient, The O2% measured during any 1. Calibrate oxygen sensor.
O2% < set gas sources, phase of a breath cycle is 7% 2. Run EST.
O2%. O2 analyzer & (12% during the first hour of 3. Replace oxygen sensor.
ventilator. operation) or more below the 4. Inspect oxygen PSOL
O2% setting for at least 30 s, or (PSOL1).
below 18%. (These percentages
increase by 5% for 4 minutes
following an increase in the O2%
setting.) Alarm updated at 1-s
intervals.
3VTE MAND 2 of last 4 Check for Exhaled mandatory tidal volume Run SST.
(lockable) mand. breaths leaks, changes ≤ set limit. Alarm updated
≤ set limit. in patient‘s whenever exhaled mandatory
RSTAT & CSTAT. tidal volume is recalculated.
3V E TOT V. E TOT ≤ set Check patient Total minute volume ≤ set limit. Run SST.
(lockable) limit for ≤ 20s. & settings. Alarm updated whenever
exhaled minute volume is
V. E TOT ≤ set Check patient recalculated.
limit for > 20s. & settings.
Analysis Remedy
Base message Description Corrective action
message message
NO AIR SUPPLY Ventilation Check air Ventilator delivers 100% oxygen. 1. Check air inlet filter.
continues as source. Resets if air supply connected. 2. Check pressure switch con-
set. Only O2 nections.
available. 3. Run EST.
Compressor Check air Ventilator delivers 100% oxygen. 1. Check air inlet filter.
inoperative. source. Resets if air supply connected. 2. Check pressure switch con-
Ventilation nections.
continues as 3. Run EST.
set. Only O2
available.
Ventilation Check patient Ventilator delivers 100% oxygen 1. Check air inlet filter.
continues as & air source. instead of set O2%. Resets if air 2. Check pressure switch con-
set except supply connected. nections.
O2% = 100 3. Run EST.
Compressor Check patient Ventilator delivers 100% oxygen 1. Check air inlet filter.
inoperative. & air source. instead of set O2%. Resets if air 2. Check pressure switch con-
Ventilation supply connected. nections.
continues as 3. Run EST.
set, except
O2% = 100.
NO O2 SUPPLY Ventilation Check patient Resets if oxygen supply 1. Check oxygen inlet filter.
continues as and O2 connected. 2. Check pressure switch con-
set. Only air source. nections.
available. 3. Run EST.
Ventilation Check patient Ventilator delivers 21% oxygen 1. Check oxygen inlet filter.
continues as & O2 source instead of set O2%. Resets if 2. Check pressure switch con-
set, except oxygen supply connected. nections.
O2% = 21. 3. Run EST.
Analysis Remedy
Base message Description Corrective action
message message
SCREEN BLOCK Possible Remove Possible blocked beam (GUI) or 1. Remove obstruction.
blocked beam obstruction or touch screen fault. 2. Service ventilator.
or touch service
screen block. ventilator.
SEVERE Little/no Check patient. Ventilator enters occlusion status Run EST.
OCCLUSION ventilation. Provide cycling (OSC) and upper screen
alternate displays elapsed time without
ventilation. ventilator support.
Clear
occlusions;
drain circuit.
VOLUME NOT Last 2 mand Check patient Ventilator cannot deliver target Check patient and settings.
DELIVERED breaths, and setting for volume.
(This alarm pressure > 2PPEAK.
applies to VC+ max allowable
and VS level
breaths.)
Last 10 or
more mand
breaths,
pressure >
max allowable
level