Diagnostics, Fault Isolation and Board-Level Troubleshooting

This course teaches a structured approach to diagnostics and board-level fault isolation using publicly available information and general engineering knowledge. Students learn to organize fault histories, correlate logs with operating conditions, and build symptom-to-fault hypotheses without assuming that a logged event identifies the failed component. Topics include power-supply behavior, motion-control feedback, imaging-chain signal integrity, interconnect faults, and safe methods for narrowing problems to a subsystem or board. Hands-on activities use simulated records and de-energized or low-voltage training circuits rather than unrestricted access to clinical equipment. Repair-versus-replace decisions emphasize manufacturer service documentation, technician qualifications, traceability, and required post-service safety and performance verification. Anode Technical Institute provides this independent education without affiliation with, endorsement by, or authorization from Medtronic, and the course does not constitute factory training or authorize work beyond documented service limits.

InstructorJacob Calhoun

Prerequisites

OAR 120

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Lesson 1: Diagnostic Workflow, Service Limits, and Safety Boundarieslecture

02Lesson 2: Log Interpretation, Event Timelines, and Fault-History Collectionlecture

03Lesson 3: Symptom-to-Fault Mapping and Evidence-Based Test Planninglecture

04Lesson 4: Hands-on Lab: Build a Fault Tree from Simulated Logs and Symptomslab

05Lesson 5: Power-Supply Faults, Rail Stability, and Distribution Pathslecture

06Lesson 6: Motion-Control Faults, Position Feedback, and Interlock Dependencieslecture

07Lesson 7: Imaging-Chain Faults, Artifact Patterns, and Signal-Path Isolationlecture

08Lesson 8: Hands-on Lab: Low-Voltage Power-Fault Isolation & Midterm Reviewlab

09Lesson 9: Interconnects, Grounding, Communication Paths, and Intermittent Faultslecture

10Lesson 10: Board-Level Isolation, Test-Point Selection, and Measurement Limitslecture

11Lesson 11: Hands-on Lab: Component and Interconnect Checks on De-Energized Training Boardslab

12Lesson 12: Repair Versus Replace: Service Limits, Risk, and Traceabilitylecture

13Lesson 13: Post-Service Verification and Manufacturer-Documented Return-to-Service Criterialecture

14Lesson 14: Capstone Project: Evidence-Based Fault Isolation and Repair-or-Replace Recommendationassignment

Syllabus

["Week 1: Lesson 1: Diagnostic Workflow, Service Limits, and Safety Boundaries", "Week 2: Lesson 2: Log Interpretation, Event Timelines, and Fault-History Collection", "Week 3: Lesson 3: Symptom-to-Fault Mapping and Evidence-Based Test Planning", "Week 4: Lesson 4: Hands-on Lab: Build a Fault Tree from Simulated Logs and Symptoms", "Week 5: Lesson 5: Power-Supply Faults, Rail Stability, and Distribution Paths", "Week 6: Lesson 6: Motion-Control Faults, Position Feedback, and Interlock Dependencies", "Week 7: Lesson 7: Imaging-Chain Faults, Artifact Patterns, and Signal-Path Isolation", "Week 8: Lesson 8: Hands-on Lab: Low-Voltage Power-Fault Isolation & Midterm Review", "Week 9: Lesson 9: Interconnects, Grounding, Communication Paths, and Intermittent Faults", "Week 10: Lesson 10: Board-Level Isolation, Test-Point Selection, and Measurement Limits", "Week 11: Lesson 11: Hands-on Lab: Component and Interconnect Checks on De-Energized Training Boards", "Week 12: Lesson 12: Repair Versus Replace: Service Limits, Risk, and Traceability", "Week 13: Lesson 13: Post-Service Verification and Manufacturer-Documented Return-to-Service Criteria", "Week 14: Lesson 14: Capstone Project: Evidence-Based Fault Isolation and Repair-or-Replace Recommendation"]