Temperature-controlled sample introduction system for analysis of viscous samples

A system for controlling a temperature of a fluid-containing sample during transit and handling, the system comprising:

• an autosampler including a temperature-controlled deck to support one or more sample containers configured to hold a sample in a fluid state, the autosampler configured to introduce a probe into the one or more sample containers to remove the sample in the fluid state;
• a heating unit including one or more heating elements to heat one or more fluids to be introduced to the sample removed from the one or more sample containers by the probe or to sample contained within the one or more sample containers;
• a transfer line fluidically coupled with the autosampler to receive the sample in the fluid state from the probe, the transfer line including a wired heating element configured to transfer heat to fluid flowing through the transfer line to maintain the sample in the fluid state, wherein the transfer line includes a fluid line, an outer tube, and an inner tube, wherein the fluid line is contained within the outer tube and is configured to transfer the sample within the fluid line, wherein a first portion of the wired heating element is positioned between the outer tube and the inner tube and a second portion of the wired heating element is positioned between the inner tube and the fluid line;
• and
• a sample handling system fluidically coupled with the transfer line and configured to fluidically couple with an analysis device, the sample handling system including a housing and a heating element configured to control a temperature of an environment defined by the housing to maintain the sample in the fluid state in at least a portion of the housing.