dsap Flashing Instructions (production)¶

dsap operator use is Windows-only. For command details and developer troubleshooting, see dsap Flashing Instructions (development).

Purpose¶

Use these instructions on an Assembly Laptop to:

1. Flash firmware to the MSP430 MCU.
2. Upload the device certificate bundle to the SARA module.
3. Calculate the gel sensing threshold and set the final device parameters during production.

Prerequisites¶

Before starting, confirm the following:

1. The Assembly Laptop has completed the dsap Setup Instructions.
2. Windows PowerShell is available on the Assembly Laptop.
3. The assembled device is ready for firmware flashing.
4. The traveler or work order identifies the required firmware tag.
5. The Transducer Characteristics Reference identifies the Envelope Voltage for the device transducer. This value is specified for each transducer by serial number.
6. The Assembly Laptop has BioT API access configured as described in the setup instructions.
7. The Assembly Laptop has MSP430 Flasher installed under the standard C:\TI\MSPFlasher_* or C:\TI\MSP430Flasher_* installation directory, or the actual flasher executable path is known for use with dsap mcu --flasher.

Use latest as the firmware tag only when the traveler or work order explicitly authorizes it. Otherwise, use the exact firmware tag provided. Use beta or release candidate firmware tags only when the traveler or work order explicitly lists the exact prerelease tag, such as v1.0.1-beta.1.

Equipment and Materials¶

Confirm the following equipment and materials are available:

Flashing Module Switches¶

Use these Sonogen Flashing Module switches for each operation:

1. Flash the MCU Firmware¶

1.1 Prepare the Hardware¶

1. Boot the Sonogen Assembly Laptop into Windows.
2. Connect the MSP-FET to the Assembly Laptop.
3. Connect the 14-pin connector from the MSP-FET to the Sonogen Flashing Module.
4. Connect the Sonogen Flashing Module to the assembled device with the cable oriented as shown.

1.2 Find the MSP-FET COM Port¶

Open Windows PowerShell and run:

irm https://docs.sonogenmed.com/assets/downloads/check-msp430-fet.ps1 | iex

The helper runs the newest standard TI installation from any directory. If it cannot find the utility, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner.

The command lists connected FET debuggers, checks FET firmware compatibility, and may prompt you to select one. Example output for a FET with up-to-date firmware:

* -----/|------------------------------------------------------------- *
*     / |__                                                            *
*    /_   /   MSP Flasher v1.3.20                                      *
*      | /                                                             *
* -----|/------------------------------------------------------------- *
*
* Evaluating triggers...done
* Executing FET detection sweep:
 - 1: MSP-FET @ COM7
 - Select FET number: 1
* Initializing interface @ COM7...done
* Checking firmware compatibility:
* FET firmware is up to date.
*
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
* Driver      : closed (No error)
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
*/

If prompted, enter the number for the MSP-FET. In the example above, enter 1.

Write down only the COM port number for use in section 1.3. For example, write down 7 for COM7. This is for local reference during flashing and is not a traveler record.

1.3 Run dsap mcu¶

Open Windows PowerShell and run this command, replacing <TAG> with the firmware tag and <PORT> with the MSP-FET COM port number:

dsap mcu <TAG> --port <PORT>

Example:

dsap mcu latest --port 7

dsap mcu fetches the selected firmware bundle, verifies its checksum, and flashes it with the TI flasher utility.

Use firmware from the staged dsap-fw tag for production flashing. Do not use --local-fw in production unless the traveler, work order, or engineering deviation explicitly instructs you to flash a named local firmware file.

Wait for dsap to report that firmware flashing completed successfully. Record the firmware version number from this message on the traveler:

Device flashed with firmware version: <firmware version number>

Do not continue until MCU flashing succeeds.

2. Generate the Serial Number and Certificate Bundle¶

Open Windows PowerShell and run:

dsap serial --create

Follow the prompts to generate the device serial number and record it on the traveler. dsap serial --create also:

1. creates a PDF device label under C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\labels;
2. creates the device object in the BioT cloud;
3. downloads the certificate bundle and saves it under C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\certificates.

Example output for model SB01, device code M, date 2026-05-18, and sequence number 0001:

Device serial number: SB01M2605180001
          Device UID: (01)10860013789401(21)SB01M2605180001
Device label created: C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\labels\SB01M2605180001.pdf
        Authenticating to BioT ✅
        Setting BioT Unique ID ✅
Downloading certificate bundle ✅
Certificate bundle downloaded: C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\certificates\SB01M2605180001.zip

At the end of the run, dsap prints the full certificate bundle path. Note that path for use in section 3.3. The certificate bundle path and Device UID shown are not traveler records.

Do not continue until dsap serial --create succeeds.

3. Upload Device Certificates¶

3.1 Prepare the Hardware¶

1. Disconnect the MSP-FET.
2. Connect a USB data cable from the Assembly Laptop to the USB-C port on the Sonogen Flashing Module.

3.2 Find the USB Serial COM Port¶

1. Open Device Manager on the Assembly Laptop.
2. Expand Ports (COM & LPT).
3. Find the COM port assigned to the USB serial connection.
4. Note only the number for use in sections 3.3 and 4.2. For example, note 7 for COM7. This is not a traveler record.

3.3 Run dsap sara¶

Open Windows PowerShell and run this command, replacing <PATH> with the full certificate bundle path and <PORT> with the USB serial COM port number:

dsap sara "<PATH>" --port <PORT>

Example:

dsap sara "C:\Users\<USER>\dsap\certificates\<serial-number>.zip" --port 7

Wait for dsap to report:

SARA configuration successful.

Do not continue until certificate upload succeeds.

4. Configure Final Device Parameters¶

4.1 Prepare the Hardware¶

1. Keep the USB Programming Cable connected between the Assembly Laptop and the Sonogen Flashing Module.
2. Place the device in the dry position on the test rig.
3. Use the same USB serial COM port number found in section 3.2.

4.2 Run dsap params --gelset¶

Open Windows PowerShell and run this command, replacing <PORT> with the USB serial COM port number:

dsap params --gelset --port <PORT>

Example:

dsap params --gelset --port 7

Follow the guided prompts. During this setup workflow:

1. dsap will pull the Client ID from the certificate bundle. Use this value unless the traveler or work order requires a different non-empty value.
2. Accept the default Gel Sensing Threshold of 50m unless the traveler or work order specifies a different value. This value is written before measurement so the device can report Median readings. It is overwritten later by the calculated final value.
3. Enter the Envelope Voltage from the Transducer Characteristics Reference.

If the envelope voltage is 0, dsap warns that the device will be a sham device and asks for confirmation. Continue only when the traveler or work order requires a sham device.

dsap params --gelset writes the setup values, captures the dry and gel readings, displays the traveler records, prompts for the final parameter-setting switch action, and writes the final device parameters to the device.

For each dry and gel measurement, follow the prompts exactly. The command gates the operator action so the USB serial capture starts before the device is turned on by placing a magnet temporarily near the Hall sensor. After the turn-on prompt appears, place the magnet near the Hall sensor; do not wait for another confirmation prompt. The command waits up to 120 seconds for a usable Median line and prints whether automatic capture succeeded for each reading. If automatic capture fails, enter the reading manually when prompted.

Record these traveler records:

1. Client ID.
2. Envelope Voltage.
3. Calculated final Gel Sensing Threshold.

Do not continue until dsap params --gelset succeeds.

5. Verify Gel-Pass and Dry-Fail Behavior¶

After dsap params --gelset writes the final parameters, follow its guided prompts:

1. Keep the device connected to the flash module and in contact with the phantom tissue. Start a treatment session by temporarily placing a magnet near the Hall sensor.
2. Verify that the blue therapy lights turn on and begin flashing.
3. Press and hold the reset button on the flash module for five seconds to stop the device.
4. Wipe gel thoroughly from the transducer face. Place the device in the dry position on the test rig again, while leaving it connected to the flash module.
5. Turn the device on by temporarily placing a magnet near the Hall sensor.
6. Verify that the red failure light turns on.
7. Press and hold the reset button on the flash module for five seconds to stop the device.
8. Remove the device from the dry position, disconnect it from the flash module, and report that parameter setting is complete.

6. Final Checks¶

Before releasing the device from this station:

1. Confirm MCU flashing completed successfully.
2. Confirm certificate upload completed successfully.
3. Confirm gel sensing threshold setup and final device parameter setting completed successfully.
4. Confirm gel-pass and dry-fail verification completed successfully.
5. Confirm all required items are recorded on the traveler.

7. Troubleshooting Notes¶

1. If dsap mcu fails before flashing, verify the firmware tag and the MSP-FET COM port number.
2. If dsap mcu reports that the MSP430 flash utility is not found, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner.
3. If Windows does not recognize the MSP-FET, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner. The station owner should verify MSP430 Flasher and the TI MSP430 FET Drivers were installed as a Windows Administrator.
4. If dsap sara, dsap params --gelset, or dsap params cannot open the port or connect to the device, confirm the MSP-FET is disconnected, a USB data cable is connected from the Assembly Laptop to the USB-C port on the Sonogen Flashing Module, and the USB serial COM port number is selected in Device Manager.
5. Enter only the COM port number with --port. Use --port 7, not --port COM7.
6. If dsap serial --create fails, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner.
7. If the certificate upload fails while staging certificates, verify that the selected file is the device certificate bundle .zip file.
8. If dsap params shows the wrong client ID, answer n and enter the correct non-empty value from the traveler or work order. The Client ID must be no more than 32 characters long.
9. If the gel-pass or dry-fail verification does not match the expected light behavior, stop and notify Sonogen Development or the station owner.

References¶

1. dsap Setup Instructions
2. dsap Flashing Instructions (development)
3. TI MSP430 FET Drivers page: https://software-dl.ti.com/msp430/msp430_public_sw/mcu/msp430/MSP430_FET_Drivers/latest/index_FDS.html