The present invention discloses sample thawing devices, systems, and methods, that are configured to take individual 10 mL to 50 mL sample vials and to thaw the contents of such vials. The contents of such relatively large gauge vial are samples with cells, and the thawing of such samples is based on the temperature, volume, and mass of the sample in order to evenly distribute heat and avoid ice crystallization damage to the cells during thawing. A multi-part heater block lined with a thermally-conductive compliant material may be molded to a shape of a vial so as to fittingly mate with known vial sizes. The heater block is capable of separating into three or four segments, providing for ease in inserting and removing samples. The heater block segments can be moved linearly along a tractor, or tilt along a hinge, to move between inward and outward positions.
