Cardinal Health Alaris PCA Module
Cardinal Health · Model Alaris PCA Module
Right programming - The Alaris Auto-ID module confirms the right drug, right dose and right patient, while also capturing patient and clinician ID for potential eMAR documentation. Right monitoring - Offers unique ability for the clinician to automatically pause PCA infusion if a patient falls below your hospital-defined respiratory limits. Right feedback - Captures patient PCA dose history with corresponding oxygenation and respiratory levels throughout the post-operative stay.
Key tips
- ·Free-flow protection must be verified on every PM - a failed anti-free-flow clamp is a direct overdose risk.
- ·Test occlusion alarms in both directions - failing to alarm when it should is more dangerous than a false alarm.
- ·Battery run-time complaints are the most common real-world nuisance call - a full charge/discharge cycle test catches most of them.
Typical Failure Modes
Compiled for this model from its own documentation and established engineering knowledge for this equipment class - not from a verified service record. Confirm against the manufacturer's service manual.
Failure / error message stops delivery
HighSymptoms: The pump alarms and displays an error message / code and stops.
Root cause: A subsystem fault indexed in the service manual - motor / drive, a sensor, set-detection, or a board.
Occlusion alarm / pressure fault
MediumSymptoms: Repeated occlusion alarms, delivery stops, or an occlusion is missed.
Root cause: Kinked or clamped line, a closed roller clamp, a positional patient tube, pressure-sensor drift, or an improperly loaded set.
Air-in-line alarm
MediumSymptoms: Frequent air-in-line alarms, delivery stops.
Root cause: Air in the set, an improperly loaded set, or an ultrasonic air-detector fault.
Flow-rate accuracy drift
MediumSymptoms: Delivered volume outside tolerance on the annual test, especially at low rates.
Root cause: Worn pumping mechanism / plunger drive.
Battery will not hold charge
MediumSymptoms: Short run time, low-battery early after a full charge.
Root cause: Aged battery pack.
Door / plunger / sensor mechanical wear
LowSymptoms: Set will not load, door will not latch, plunger grip poor.
Root cause: Worn door latch, plunger jaws, or anti-free-flow mechanism.
Serviceable Parts & Consumables
Serviceable items for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Service class and relative cost are estimates, not manufacturer figures; no part numbers are given. Confirm intervals and pricing against the manufacturer.
Battery pack
Class Periodic replacementRel. cost $$R&R Fairly easy
Pumping mechanism / rotor / plunger drive
Class Major service partRel. cost $$$R&R Difficult
Pressure / air-detector sensor assembly
Class Major service partRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
Door / latch / anti-free-flow assembly
Class Major service partRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
Drive motor / gearbox
Class Major service partRel. cost $$$R&R Difficult
| Part | Service class | Relative cost | R&R difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery pack | Periodic replacement | $$ | Fairly easy |
| Pumping mechanism / rotor / plunger drive | Major service part | $$$ | Difficult |
| Pressure / air-detector sensor assembly | Major service part | $$ | Moderate |
| Door / latch / anti-free-flow assembly | Major service part | $$ | Moderate |
| Drive motor / gearbox | Major service part | $$$ | Difficult |
Relative cost: $ lowest · $$$$ highest service-part cost for this equipment class. Not a price.
PM Checklist
Preventive-maintenance tasks typical of this equipment class. Perform to the manufacturer's procedure and your facility's policy - this is general reference, not a schedule for this specific unit.
- ·Occlusion pressure and flow-rate accuracy verification
- ·Battery conditioning cycle
- ·Door latch and air-in-line sensor inspection
- ·Post-drop functional check before return to service
- ·Annual PM per manufacturer schedule
Error Codes
Extracted directly from this unit's own service manual.
MT1Stepper Motor Motor module software
Check motor wire connections, opto flag not slipping and encoder gear is not in line with opto. Chassis PCB, Control PCB.
DE1Drive Engage Detect Drive engagement software module
PF1Plunger Fitment Plunger fitment software module
Optos,Cables, Control PCB or Plunger assy.
AC1AC Alarm manager AC alarm manager failure
Control PCB
AC2AC VCO failure
Control PCB
AD1ADC Converter Voltage reference/Power regulation
Control PCB
AM1Audio manager Audio status output driver
Control PCB
AM2VCO failure
Control PCB
AS1Audio Status Software execution
Speaker, wiring or Control PCB
AS2Audio status monitoring input ADC
AS3Speaker current test at power up
BT1Battery Battery gas gauge
Battery or Control PCB
BT2Battery cell voltage is low
BT3Battery cell voltage is high
BT4Battery discharging when connected to mains.
CK1Clock Excessive timing drift
Control PCB
DE2Drive engagement opto self test Plunger drive flexi, Control PCB or Transmission PCB flexi
DE3Emitter in wrong state
DB1Drugs Manager Drug database file system
Control PCB
DB2Drug database file retrieval
DB3Drug database file storage
DB4CRC Error
DS1Dosing Manager Dosing retrieval failure
Control PCB
DS2Dosing storage failure
DS3Dosing data failure
DS4Dosing drug library failure
DS5Dosing patient data failure
DS6Dosing IDFS failure
DS7Dosing Data Set manager failure
Control PCB
DS8Dosing Profile manager failure
DSM1Data Set Manager Data Set loading failure
Upload or check Data Set
DSM2Data Set integrity failure
DSM3Data Set incompatible format
DSM4Data Set CRC failure
DSM5Data Set read failure Upload or check Data Set
Control PCB
DSM6Data Set element CRC failure
DSM7Data Set storage failure
Control PCB
DSM8Data Set storage retrieval failure
DSM9Data Set data corruption
EV1Event Log Open log file at power up
Control PCB
EV2File storage software module
EV3Log read index
EV4Log write index
EV5Log data read
EV6Log data write
EV7Log data seek
EV8Log repair failure
EV9Log format failure
EV10Log reporting failure
EV11Log extracting failure
EV12Log pack failure
EV13Log unpack failure
FD1Fluid Delivery Fluid delivery software module
Control PCB
FD2Alarm manager software module
FD3Plunger drive software module
FD4Pressure monitor software module
FD5Syringe software module
FD6User configuration software module
FD7Fluid delivery setup data retrieval
FD8Fluid delivery setup data storage
Troubleshooting Approach
A starting sequence for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Follow the manufacturer's service documentation for the actual procedure.
Symptom: Alarm with an error message / code, delivery stopped
- Note the exact error message or code from the display.
- Look it up in the pump's technical service manual troubleshooting section.
- Run the biomed diagnostics / service utilities to exercise the named subsystem (motor / drive, a sensor, set-detection, a board).
- Follow the manual's parts-replacement procedure for that fault.
- Run the full scheduled-maintenance test set, including a flow-accuracy check, after any repair.
Symptom: Occlusion alarm / pressure fault (or a missed occlusion)
- Check the line for kinks, closed clamps and a closed roller clamp; check the patient site and cannula.
- Reload the administration set correctly, clearing all air.
- Confirm the set is an approved type for this pump.
- Run the pressure-sensor / force-sensor test in the service menu.
- Replace the set; refer the pump if the pressure sensor or pumping mechanism is indicated.
Symptom: Air-in-line alarm / free-flow or feed not delivering
- Prime the set fully and reload it; tap out micro-bubbles at the drip chamber.
- Confirm the set seats correctly against the air-in-line detector / rotor.
- Clean the ultrasonic air-detector window.
- Run the air-detector (or rotor / cassette) test in diagnostics.
- Replace a worn pumping mechanism / anti-free-flow assembly if flow accuracy or detection is out.
Symptom: Battery will not hold charge / short run time
- Fully charge, then run a battery run-down / capacity test in the service menu.
- Check the charging circuit and contacts.
- Replace the battery pack when capacity is below the service limit.
- Recalibrate the battery gauge if the pump supports it.
- Confirm run time meets spec after replacement.
Technical Specs
- Height
- 15 in
- Length
- 7.5 in
- Weight
- 5.5 lbs
- Infusion Pump Type
- Patient-Controlled Analgesic (PCA)
- Width
- 4.5 in
Typical Location
Where this class of equipment is typically deployed - general reference, not this unit's own placement record.
- Patient care floors
- ICU
- OR
- Oncology / infusion centers
- Home health (portable pumps)
Documents & Manuals
Safety & Recalls
Synced live from the FDA openFDA API.
- RECALL
Potential for open packaging seals compromising the sterility of the surgical gowns
- RECALL
The Craig Calibrated Cannula does not interface with the toothed cutter properly, which may prevent the toothed cutter from properly advancing through the cannula to the biopsy site.
- RECALL
The natural rubber latex bandages were mislabeled as latex free.
- RECALL
The cardiovascular drape may tear and/or fray at the reinforced fenestrated trough area during use.
- RECALL
The procedure kits labeled as latex-free may contain a 4' or 6' ultra-weave premium elastic bandage containing dry, natural rubber latex.
- RECALL
The Namic Angiography Kit attached to the outside top of the Custom Sterile Pack is not sterile.
- RECALL
The product was shipped prior to being sterilized.
Related calculators
From BioLab, for work done with this kind of equipment.
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