Devices and methods of sensing properties of fluids

A method of measuring various properties of a fluid using a waveguide having a first end and a second end and a body of substantially uniform cross section therebetween, at least one transducer affixed to the first end of the waveguide configured to send acoustic waves and to receive reflected acoustic signals, comprising:

• a. transmitting a plurality of wave modes into the fluid using an ultrasonic shear wave transducer from the first end of a waveguide;
• b. receiving the reflected plurality of wave modes from the second end of the waveguide, wherein the plurality of wave modes are selected from longitudinal (L(m,n)), torsional (T(m,n), and flexural (F(m,n)), and the reflections contain information characteristic of the properties of the fluid;
• c. processing simultaneously the plurality of received wave modes;
• d. determining time of flight, peak frequency, energy and amplitude ratio of the received wave modes;
• and
• e. measuring one or more properties of the fluid using determined time of flight, peak frequency/energy and amplitude of the received wave modes, wherein the measuring comprises measuring the properties of the fluid using at least two wave modes, and the method comprises measuring a first property of the fluid, measuring a second property of the fluid and applying a correction to the first property using the second property measurement.