Apparatus and method for measuring a property of a liquid

摘要

An apparatus for use in characterising liquids by obtaining a fingerprint of the liquid. This allows one to measure a property of a liquid, and thereby distinguish between liquids. The apparatus comprises means for directing acoustic energy at a sample of the liquid, which is preferably in the form of a drop, and means for deriving a signal related to the interaction of the acoustic energy with the liquid sample. The drop may change in volume or shape during the measurements, to derive additional properties of the liquid. The apparatus and method of the invention are used in distinguishing and analysing a variety of liquid samples.