A device for an automated determination of an analyte in liquid phase and a method for an automated determination of an anal yte in liquid phase using the device, in particular for monitoring a progress of a dialysis

A device for the automated determination of an analyte in the liquid phase by conducting:

• a specific chemical reaction and subsequent optical measurement of the concentration of its products, containing a hydraulic system equipped with a set of hoses for pumping liquid solutions and reactants, a system for sampling the tested solution, a reservoir for a standard solution, reservoirs for selected chemical reagents, and an optical detection system for the determination of the product of the specific reaction, where the reservoirs for liquids are placed in a replaceable cartridge, which device has a reaction space to mix the sampled portion of the tested solution or the reference solution or the standard solution with selected chemical reagents, as well as a space for optical detection of the products of the specific reaction, and the device is electronically controlled by the main controller, equipped with means for communication and information transfer with external electronic devices, characterised in that it has a reaction-detection system,
• where the reaction space takes the form of a cylinder (1) with pistons (2) moved by stepper motors (3), utilised to determine the selected analyte by conducting a specific chemical reaction and subsequent determination of its product using spectroscopic techniques,
• equipped with a detection space (6) for quantitative determination of the product of the specific reaction in the post-reaction mixture,
• equipped with an automated hydraulic system, allowing for precise sampling of the tested solution from the sample source (50,60,62), quantitative dosing of the tested solution and other reagents into the reaction space (1) and the detection space (6), as well as efficient gravitational pumping of the used liquid substances to the waste channel (61), whereby the flow of liquid in the hydraulic system is carried out pneumatically by changing the relative position of the pistons (2),
• and equipped with a replaceable cartridge (30/90) with reservoirs (20/95) to store reagents and standards, an optical detection system (70), an airlock (50) protecting the sample source against microbial contamination, and an alarm system (80) for verbalising messages regarding the determination process, equipped with a speaker (81), a light source (82) and means for remote communication (83).