X-Message-Number: 21230
From: "John Bull" <>
Subject: Memories and a question
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 17:06:41 -0800

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Charles Platt's explanation of LN2 levels brings back memories and raises a
question.  Judging from all that's been said, Alcor patients are not
immersed fully in LN2 rather they're  inserted head down in the cryostats.
The reason being that since the brain is the most important thing to
preserve, it will be at LN2 temperature until the cryostat is almost empty
of LN2.  

Back in the 60's Curtis Henderson, who with Saul Kent founded The Cryonics
Society of New York, was taking care of  2 capsules (they weren't called
cryostats in those days) with 3 or 4 patients in them.  One of them
contained Ann DeBlasio, I believe the second person suspended by CSNY. She
was in the capsule "heads up" as was everyone in those days. Her husband,
Nick came out to the cemetary where the capsules were stored, on a regular
basis. If he ever found the LN2 level below Ann's head, he raised hell with
Curtis. It was such a point of contention that Curtis finally suggested
placing Ann "heads down," a very practical solution. Nick's reaction was the
same as Ted Williams's buddy at the thought of his friend being upside down.
Nick was furious, and it was never done.

My question to Charles is at what LN2 level are the cryostats maintained,
what is the "normal" level you mention, (half full, quarter full,?) and
since heat rises, what is the temperature in the area of the feet? And has
there been an assessment of the degree of risk for allowing the feet, and I
guess the lower torso also, being at a higher temperature than -196C?

Incidentally, in the current issue of The Immortalist, a fine publication,
IMHO, there's a photo of  the two capsules  mentioned, along with a rather
leggy Diane Henderson, Curtis's wife at the time.
Incidentally #2, I visited the Alcor facility a couple of years ago, it
seemed well organized, and have no negative recollections of the place,and
the table in the perfusion room sure looked like a stainless steel one. 
 
John Bull

www.cryonics.org 


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