CABT Equipment Maintenance and Troubleshooting Questions and Answers

Question 1

A nurse reports a portable patient monitor will not power on. The technician confirms the device is plugged into a known-working wall outlet. What is the MOST logical next troubleshooting step?

Accepted Answer

Check the integrity of the power cord and its connection to the device.

Answer

The principle of starting with the simplest and most common failure points is crucial in troubleshooting. External components like power cords are subject to frequent stress and damage, making them a high-probability cause for power issues. This should be verified before assuming more complex and invasive internal failures.

Question 2

When performing preventive maintenance on a defibrillator, a technician must verify the accuracy of the energy delivered during a shock. Which piece of test equipment is specifically designed for this measurement?

Accepted Answer

Defibrillator Analyzer

Answer

A defibrillator analyzer is a specialized instrument designed to safely absorb and measure the energy output (in joules) of a defibrillator. It also tests other critical parameters like charge time and ECG signal processing. While a DMM or oscilloscope are essential electronic tools, they are not suited for this specific high-energy measurement.

Question 3

A centrifuge in a clinical laboratory is reported to be vibrating excessively during operation. After confirming the unit is on a level surface, what is the most common operational cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

An improperly balanced load

Answer

The most frequent cause of excessive vibration in a centrifuge is an unbalanced load. Tubes and samples must be placed symmetrically within the rotor to maintain balance as it spins at high speeds. An imbalanced load will cause severe vibration, which can damage the equipment. This is typically a user-related issue and should be the first thing investigated.

Question 4

A biomedical technician is troubleshooting a complex medical imaging system and suspects the power supply module is faulty. The technician swaps the module with a known-good one from an identical system, and the fault is resolved. This troubleshooting technique is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Module substitution

Answer

Module substitution is a troubleshooting method where a suspected faulty sub-assembly or module is replaced with a known functional one. If this action corrects the problem, it effectively isolates the fault to the original module, often leading to a faster repair.

Question 5

Which of the following is a primary objective of a scheduled Preventive Maintenance (PM) program for medical equipment?

Accepted Answer

To ensure equipment safety and reduce the likelihood of failure.

Answer

The core purpose of a preventive maintenance program is to proactively inspect, test, calibrate, and service equipment at regular intervals. This process aims to identify and correct potential problems before they lead to equipment failure, thereby enhancing patient safety and equipment reliability.

(CABT) Certified Associate in Biomedical Technology Practice Test

(CABT) Certified Associate in Biomedical Technology Practice Test

CABT Equipment Maintenance and Troubleshooting Questions and Answers