On the maxium®, updating the operating program (software update) requires no program memory exchange. Rather, this can be done externally by simply overwriting the memory con-tents by data transfer from a PC. As from software status 1.336, even the memory concon-tents of the patient circuit controller and the maxium® Beamer controller can be updated in this way in addition to those of the main controller. However, this presupposes a bootloader in these con-trollers (see section 4.1.4). For a detailed description of the updating process, please refer to the CD which, among other material, contains the new operating software and can be obtained from the Martin Service Center.
4.2.1 Aids Required for the Update
To update the internal maxium® software, the following equipment is required:
• A serial RS232 modem cable (1:1) with male DSUB9 connector at one end and a female one at the other end. Do not confuse this with a null modem cable used for connecting two PCs. Such cables have female connectors at both ends and cannot be used even with an adapter (gender changer)!
• This cable must be connected to the female 9-pin DSUB9 socket designated “RS232” on the maxium®, and to the PC’s socket that is either designated “Serial”, “RS232” or labeled
“I0I0I“ (usually a male DSUB9 socket or, in the case of laptops, frequently a PS/2 socket (such as the mouse connector)). In the latter case, you also need a PS/2-DSUB9 adapter.
For portable PCs that no longer feature an RS232 serial interface, a USB-RS232 adapter must be used.
• A laptop/PC with Microsoft Windows operating system and a free serial interface that can be used by the operating system, e.g. COM1.
• Program marFlash, which is also available from the CD containing the current software.
For installation and troubleshooting, please refer to section 4.2.4. The previously used “Fla-shit” tool should not be used anymore since it does not support the program memory ex-tension to 2 MB. As a result, software version 2.368 or higher versions can no longer be programmed with that tool.
• The current operating program for the ME402 maxium® in the form of a
me402_VX.XXX.h86 file, with “X.XXX” standing for the current version. This program is available on a CD together with the installation program.
If a maxium® Beamer is available, you should connect it, although this is not mandatory be-cause from version 1.335, the maxium® can automatically update the Beamer later.
4.2.2 Normal Software Updating Procedure
Once the PC and the maxium® have been connected with each other via the specified serial cable, and after the current download program has been installed from the CD if necessary, proceed as follows:
1. Turn on the PC and the ME402.
2. Call up the marFlash program and load the file with the new software via the “File” drop-down menu item.
3. On HW00 or HW01 versions of the ME402, select the Setup menu item and then the Ser-vice item as described in section 4.1.6. This activates the text editor. Enter the access code “2020” and confirm with Enter. Now select the item Program update in the Service menu and confirm by pressing the rotary switch. The screen will now turn completely blue and then dark – a normal process. The ME402 is now in boot mode and awaits commands and data via the serial interface. This step is obsolete with units from HW02, since the boot mode will be activated directly from the PC via the serial interface in this case.
4. Click Upload in the marFlash dialog box to start the updating process. After deleting the old program memory contents, the new data will be transferred and burnt in. The whole process will take approximately four minutes for the ME402.
Upon completion of the reprogramming process, the ME402 should be automatically restarted.
If this is not the case, switch the unit off and on again. The program version indicated on the starting screen should now be the new one. Thereafter, perform the periodic safety checks as specified in section 11. For units with hardware status HW00 and – partly – HW01, the basic setting (calibration) for the monopolar high-voltage coagulation currents must be checked in addition, following the instructions given in section 4.1.5.
4.2.3 Extended Software Updating Procedure
If the normal updating procedure is interrupted (due to an interruption of the data transmis-sion process or some other malfunction that causes a data transmistransmis-sion breakdown), turn off the ME402 maxium® and restart it again. If the unit can be switched on again in the normal way, with the old software version indicated on the starting screen, you can simply repeat the normal updating process described in section 4.2.2. However, if the screen remains dark, the reprogramming had already been started but could not be completed, with the consequence that the program memory contains only a non-executable fragment of the new software. In this case, it is no longer possible to prepare the unit for the updating process via the operator interface. Instead, proceed as follows:
1. Open the unit as described in section 6.1.
2. Using a pointed object, shift one of the two slide switches of the boot mode switch to the ON position. If necessary, disconnect the X4 connector (which connects the front board to the controller) from the controller board to facilitate access to the boot mode switch. The two slide switches have the same function; their contacts are connected in parallel. Then reconnect the cable to X4.
3. Reconnect the serial connecting cable to the PC, then start the marFlash program.
4. Reconnect the mains cable to the PC. CAUTION! The unit’s rear section is now ener-gized even if the unit is turned off!
5. Turn on the unit. The display screen remains dark now.
text message must occur indicating successful termination of the process. In case the data transfer would not start, operate the RESET key and click Upload again.
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7. The unit will not be restarted automatically. Once marFlash indicates that the data transfer has been successfully completed, switch off the ME402 and disconnect the power cord as well as the connecting cable to the PC from the unit.
8. Reset both slide switches of the boot mode switch to their OFF position. If necessary, again disconnect the front board’s connecting cable to X4 and reconnect it afterwards.
9. Perform functional check. Reconnect the power cord to the unit and turn it on. The self-test screen must now indicate the new software version.
10. Disconnect the power cord again, then close the unit as described in section 6.1.
11. Thereafter, perform the periodic safety checks specified in section 11. For units with hard-ware status HW00 and – partly – HW01, the basic setting (calibration) for the monopolar high-voltage coagulation currents must be checked in addition, following the instructions given in section 4.1.5.
4.2.4 The marFlash Program
In principle, the marFlash program does not require installation – marFlash can be started also from the CD/DVD directly. Nonetheless, it certainly makes sense to test the software first because access to the serial port can cause problems. Once the system has been configured successfully, experience shows that it runs very smoothly.
The “marFlash” program can only be used for updating Martin units of type ME402 maxium® with the associated maxium® Beamer. Neither a dongle nor licenses are required for this.
When starting the program, the following problems can occur:
• Despite the fact that a serial port is available on the PC, this port may not be available because it is used/blocked by another software. The culprit may also be the
maxiumPC program described in section 4.3! In all other cases, try to find out which soft-ware is currently using the port, then cause it to unblock it. A typical representative of such programs is the Nokia Communicator, which is a self-triggering program and blocks the serial port permanently. It is easy to deactivate such programs via the task bar. This relia-bly unblocks the port.
• Whether a RS232 serial port is really available or not can best be checked with the terminal program Hyperterm, a Microsoft Windows accessory. The baud rate should be left at 57,600 BAUD.
• Find out the correct serial port (COM port). This requires some testing on a trial-and-error basis. Note that this involves some traps. Other programs that use the serial interface can block marFlash – e.g. the mouse driver or unintentionally opened programs (e.g. mobile address management via Outlook, or the Nokia Communicator software), internal modems or IrDAs (changeover switch often hidden in the PC’s setup). Normally, however, it should be possible to run the program with any serial port that can be opened with Hyperterm, the Microsoft Windows terminal program.
Note: Be sure to terminate Hyperterm prior to starting marFlash! If not terminated, Hyperterm itself could block the serial port!
Advanced portable PCs no longer have an obligatory RS232 interface. Rather, they use adap-ters that can be operated at the USB port and provide a RS232 cable connector. However, ex-perience shows that these adapters do not always work properly. Especially in light of the great number of possible combinations between PC models and adapter models, it is hard to give reliable advice regarding the best choice. In case of problems with a USB adapter, the following “tricks” might help:
• Terminate all other programs: Messenger, Firewall and any other tool that sporadically draws on the computer’s resources (e.g. disconnect from network).
• Use a different make of RS232/USB adapter.
• Reset the protocol of the serial interface used (but only this one!!) from “None” to “Hard-ware flow control”. (This is not really logical, but it may help!)
4.2.5 Updating the Subsystems of the ME402 and MB402
The ME402 maxium® with MB402 maxium® Beamer features several programmable subsys-tems. While previous software updates lacked the software required for these subsystems, software versions 1.336 or higher are capable of updating some of these subsystems as well if necessary. This applies to the monopolar patient circuit controller, the CPLDs on the controller board and the maxium® Beamer. The version check is carried out during the initial self-test.
The subsystem updating process takes place only once (if required), namely immediately after the first restart of the system following updating of the main controller’s operating program (as described above). Of course, such subsystem updates require some additional time during the first restart. It also presupposes that the software of these subsystems already includes a bootloader. The presence of a bootloader can be checked via the Service menu as described in section 4.1.4. HW00 and HW01 units do not have a bootloader as a serial feature; program-ming of a bootloader is possible only directly via the programprogram-ming interface of the module or the main board of the Beamer, respectively. This also requires special programming adapters and tools. If installation of bootload capability on such a system is required, please contact the Martin Service Center.