diff --git a/slic/core/acquisition/pvacquisition.py b/slic/core/acquisition/pvacquisition.py
index 1419771a6..9742e9516 100644
--- a/slic/core/acquisition/pvacquisition.py
+++ b/slic/core/acquisition/pvacquisition.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ from time import sleep
 import numpy as np
 from epics import PV
 
+from slic.utils import get_dtype, get_shape
+
 from .acquisition import Acquisition
 
 
@@ -75,22 +77,6 @@ def make_arrays(pvs, n_pulses):
     return arrays
 
 
-def get_dtype(v):
-    if is_array(v):
-        return v.dtype
-    else:
-        return type(v)
-
-def get_shape(v):
-    if is_array(v):
-        return v.shape
-    else:
-        return tuple()
-
-def is_array(v):
-    return isinstance(v, np.ndarray)
-
-
 def write_to_h5(filename, channels, arrays):
     if filename == "/dev/null":
         return
diff --git a/slic/utils/__init__.py b/slic/utils/__init__.py
index 4d4b5bf71..78100329e 100644
--- a/slic/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/slic/utils/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from .elog import Elog
 from .fs_tools import can_create_file, glob_files, make_dir
 from .ipy_tools import devices
 from .json_tools import json_dump
-from .npy_tools import fraction_to_percentage, within, within_fraction
+from .npy_tools import fraction_to_percentage, within, within_fraction, get_dtype, get_shape, is_array
 from .screenshot import Screenshot
 
 
diff --git a/slic/utils/npy_tools.py b/slic/utils/npy_tools.py
index 3b668fee8..9c16b8518 100644
--- a/slic/utils/npy_tools.py
+++ b/slic/utils/npy_tools.py
@@ -25,4 +25,20 @@ def fraction_to_percentage(fraction, ndigits=1):
     return percentage
 
 
+def get_dtype(v):
+    if is_array(v):
+        return v.dtype
+    else:
+        return type(v)
+
+def get_shape(v):
+    if is_array(v):
+        return v.shape
+    else:
+        return tuple()
+
+def is_array(v):
+    return isinstance(v, np.ndarray)
+
+