US Patent 11786906 Resistive heaters and anisotropic thermal transfer

System, heaters, and heat transfer devices are disclosed. For example, a system for performing polymerase chain reaction includes a support member configured to receive a sample vessel and a heater that is positioned to affect a temperature of the sample vessel. The system additionally includes a heat transfer device disposed between the heater and the sample vessel. The heat transfer device illustratively includes anisotropic fibers axially aligned parallel to one another and positioned to conduct heat from the at least one heater toward the sample vessel in the axial direction of the anisotropic fibers. An exemplary heater includes a body defining one or more channels, a heating element positioned in the one or more channels, and retention members adjacent the one or more channels. At least a portion of the heating element is mechanically interlocked with the channel by deforming the retention members into a closed position.