ACOUSTIC ASSESSMENT AND/OR CONTROL OF FLUID CONTENT IN A RESERVOIR

摘要

The invention provides devices and methods for acoustically assessing fluid content in a reservoir. When used to assess the contents of a plurality of reservoirs, the reservoirs are typically provided as an array. An acoustic radiation generator is employed for generating acoustic radiation having an image field of a size sufficient to interrogate a plurality of selected reservoirs at one time. The generator is placed in acoustic coupling relationship via a fluid acoustic coupling medium to the selected reservoirs, and acoustic radiation generated by the generator is transmitted through the coupling medium, an exterior surface of the selected reservoirs, and the selected reservoirs. A characteristic of the transmitted acoustic radiation is analyzed so as to assess the contents of each of the selected reservoirs. Fluid may be ejected from the selected reservoirs based on the assessment. Optionally, a means is provided for removing fluid acoustic coupling medium from the exterior surface after acoustic assessment. Also provided are devices and methods for controlling the composition and/or volume of a fluid within a reservoir that include means for introducing additional fluid into the reservoir.