Patent ID: 7966882
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a fluid property comprising the steps of: delivering a first ultrasound pulse to a member with a transducer, the member being comprised of a solid material and including a first surface opposite a second surface, the first surface being coupled to the transducer and the second surface being in contact with a fluid, the ultrasound pulse reflecting between the first surface and the second surface to provide a first ultrasound pulse echo series; detecting a multiplicity of the ultrasound pulse echoes of the echo series with the transducer; delivering a second ultrasound pulse through a shear wave transducer, the shear wave transducer configured to provide a pulse at a general angle of 45 degrees relative to the interface of said second surface and said fluid to obtain a second ultrasound pulse echo series; detecting a multiplicity of ultrasound pulse echoes of said second ultrasound pulse echo sound series with said shear wave transducer; determining a first value from the multiplicity of pulse echoes of the first ultrasound pulse echo series; determining a second value from the multiplicity of pulse echoes of the second ultrasound pulse echo series; and determining a physical property of the fluid utilizing said first and second values.