Patent ID: 9121816
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for determining the properties of a medium in the form of a fluid or a soft material, comprising: a) an acoustic waveguide which comprises at least two opposing guide elements which delimit an interior space to be filled with the medium and which upon filling the interior space with the medium each form an interface with the medium with an inner surface, b) a transmitter for generating acoustic surface waves in the waveguide, c) a receiver for receiving acoustic surface waves propagating along the waveguide, which is configured to be coupled with an evaluation unit for determining physical properties of the medium on the basis of a signal which is generated by the receiver upon receipt of the acoustic surface waves, and d) a housing, in or at which at least the guide elements, the transmitter and the receiver are accommodated, wherein on the respective inner surface at least a part of the acoustic surface waves are converted into volumetric sound waves of the medium and at least a part of the volumetric sound waves are converted into acoustic surface waves of the waveguide, and wherein the guide elements are integrally formed with the housing accommodating the transmitter and the receiver such that the guide elements are integrally formed with one another.