Patent ID: 8492137

Claim:
A device for controlling a temperature of at least one sample, wherein the device comprises at least the following components: at least one means for accommodating the at least one sample; at least one means for heating and/or cooling the at least one sample; at least one means for covering the at least one sample comprising at least one movable element for applying force/pressure; at least one force distribution unit suitable for (i) accommodating a force/pressure as exerted onto the at least one force distribution unit by the at least one movable element that is part of the at least one means for covering, and for (ii) redistributing and/or redirecting said force/pressure onto the at least one sample and/or the at least one means of accommodating the at least one sample, characterized in that the at least one force distribution unit comprises at least one medium or material, which is a fluid, that is unable to withstand a static shear stress and deforms continuously under the action of a shear force: wherein the at least one medium or material of the at least one force distribution unit is contained within a containment that has at least one deformable contact area that is capable of changing shape in accordance with a change in the shape of said at least one medium or material, wherein said containment is capable to contain said at least one medium or material during said change of shape, and wherein an array of elevated areas is located inside the containment, wherein the at least one medium or material of the containment is in fluidic contact with a pressure reservoir outside the containment.