A warming device includes a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting a convective apparatus with comb-shaped, interleaved, separately inflatable sections, each adapted to enable a particular mode of warming. Each node is generally organized as a network element and a disk element. The hose is connected with a connector assembly which includes a tapered insertion with ridges extending radialy therefrom which are engaged with the auxiliary passages. The output fiber includes a rare-earth element. The beam which is shaped into a form of an overlapped portion of the divided layouts and the classified basic figure is emitted onto a sample. The method further includes an optional step of applying a desired amount of compressive stress on the sample prior to testing.