X-Message-Number: 3552
From:  (Robert D Grahame)
Subject: SCI.CRYONICS Re: Flash freeze of Humans
References: <>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 94 21:41:09  GMT

In article <CryoNet Message: #3543> Jan Coetzee write:

>If so, then if it was possible to flash freeze a living human and then 
>flash thaw him he should have not suffered damage from it.
Possibly... But the thermal conductivity of a human is extremely low
(compared to a metal). Even if you dunked a naked brain straight into a vat
of liquid helium only a thin layer on the outside would be flash-frozen.
The rest would freeze in a normal manner, and the un-even contractions from
that process would probably crack the fragile flash-frozen layer in to the
bargain.

If you could somehow pump a similar coolant *through* the brain quickly, then
you might be on to something, but to do that you'd have to get the liquid out
of the blood vessels first, which sounds like a non-starter.

The computer method is fine, if you have metal implants running through your
brain, but for most people that's not going to be of much use. :-)

Regards,

-- Bob Grahame, Streatham, London. LAN Consultant
-- Voice : +(44)71 406 7795 : PGP Key available
-- Towel : 0d8'22"W51d24'16"N+29M

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=3552