Determining acoustic characteristics of sample containers and fluid samples therein using reflected acoustic signals

A system for acoustically measuring at least one characteristic, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises at least one of a characteristic of a container or a characteristic of a liquid within the container, the system comprising:

• a transducer configured to emit a plurality of emitted signals towards the container bottom wall, and receive a corresponding plurality of reflected signals, wherein the plurality of emitted signals comprises a first emitted signal and a second emitted signal, the plurality of reflected signals comprises a first reflected signal comprising a reflection of the first emitted signal and a second reflected signal comprising a reflection of the second emitted signal, the plurality of emitted signals and the plurality of reflected signals comprise acoustic signals;
• a controller configured to move the transducer into a plurality of transducer positions along a first dimension with respect to the container bottom wall, the first dimension comprises a vertical dimension, and wherein the plurality of transducer positions comprises a first transducer position and a second transducer position, the second position being separated from the first position along the vertical dimension;
• and
• a processor configured to measure the at least one characteristic in part by processing data associated with the plurality of reflected signals,
• wherein the transducer is configured to emit the first emitted signal when the transducer is in the first transducer position, and
• wherein the transducer is configured to emit the second emitted signal when the transducer is in the second transducer position;
• wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a longitudinal sound speed of the emitted signal through the container bottom wall, or a shear sound speed of the emitted signal through the container bottom wall.