Instrument material holder and method of fabrication thereof

1. A holder for materials for use in a measuring instrument, said holder comprising:

a three-piece housing comprising an upper housing member, an intermediate housing member and a lower housing member, wherein the intermediate housing member has an upper surface and the upper surface has a recess therein;

a first closed cavity defined by a portion of the upper housing member and by a portion of the intermediate housing member;

a first winding assembly disposed within the first closed cavity;

a second closed cavity defined by a portion of the lower housing member and by a portion of the intermediate housing member;

a second winding assembly disposed within the second closed cavity; and

a third cavity defined by a recess formed in the upper housing member, said third cavity being adapted to receive a sample to be analyzed.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the intermediate housing member and the upper housing member are electron-beam welded together and wherein the intermediate housing member and the lower housing member are electron-beam welded together.

3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the upper housing member, the intermediate housing member and the lower housing member are formed from an alloy comprising about 80% platinum and about 20% iridium.

4. The holder of claim 1 wherein one of the first winding or the second winding comprises a heating winding and the other of the first winding or the second winding comprises a heat-sensing winding.

5. The holder of claim 1 further comprising a center post and a washer member attached to the lower housing member.