Patent ID: 8383999

Claim:
A device for heating a sample by microwave radiation comprising: a source of microwave radiation, a first waveguide for guiding said microwave radiation to an applicator space adapted to receive said sample to be heated, wherein said applicator space is defined by a terminal portion of said first waveguide and an initial portion of a second waveguide extending from said terminal portion of said first waveguide and being arranged at an angle with respect to said first waveguide, said second waveguide adapted to block or dampen propagation of microwave radiation from said first waveguide into said second waveguide if no sample is present in the portion of said applicator space defined by said second waveguide, and said second waveguide adapted to improve propagation of microwave radiation from said first waveguide into said second waveguide if a sample is present in the portion of said applicator space defined by said second waveguide.