Patent ID: 7799283

Claim:
A combination comprising: a multiple cell cuvette; and a device for holding and heating the multiple cell cuvette in an incubator assembly for use in a clinical analyzer, the device comprising: a unitary heat source; two or more rows of heat conducting elements in thermal communication with the heat source and extending away from the heat source, a space between the at least two rows being dimensioned for accommodating the multiple cell cuvette, wherein the multiple cell cuvette is located in the space between the at least two rows; side walls located at the ends of the rows and extending upward for partially the length of the heat conducting elements, wherein the space extends the entire length between the side walls; wherein each row of heat conducting elements comprises at least one thermal barrier that extends at partially toward the heat source and prevents or reduces heat transfer between the heat conducting elements; and wherein the heat source comprises a substantially planar, horizontal surface, the heat conducting elements extend perpendicularly away from the surface, each heat conducting element having a cross-section with a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the surface of the heat conducting element having the major dimension is planar, substantially vertical surface facing the space between the two or more rows, and wherein the surface of the element having the minor dimension faces the thermal barrier.