X-Message-Number: 29493 Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 20:24:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Subject: Method of treating a food object in an electrostatic field United States Patent 6,451,364 provides details for a beta version of the Prokept supercooling refrigerator. A text version of this patent can be accessed here> http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=7&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=6451364&OS=6451364&RS=6451364 This technology is interesting in that it allows a reduction in the freezing point of about 5 degrees C. This means that cryoprotectants could be added to tissue inside an electrostatic field at a lower temperature, while still avoiding freezing damage. Adding cryoprotectants at a lower temperature would act to reduce cryoprotectant toxicity. In addition, if the tissue in kept in an electrostatic field during cool-down, a lower concentration of cryoprotectants would be required to avoid devitrification. Lowering the concentration of cryoprotectants constitutes a second mechanism for lowering toxicity. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=29493