X-Message-Number: 5233
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 1995 10:38:43 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: vitrification proposal blows up

     I have recieved a personal communication, which has prompted me to
 rewrite the following article. First I would like to apologize to those
 who were on the cryonet several years ago, when apparently this same
 proposal was discussed in depth by individuals far better qualified than
 I. 
     Among other criticisms propane constitutes unfortunately an extreme
 fire hazard. For example I imagine Steve Bridge would not be too happy if
 someone dropped a match while experimenting and instigated a propane
 detonation at Alcor HQ. See there, is it a flying saucer? Is it superman? 
 NO!, it is a big foot dewar blown into orbit! The cryonauts have become
 astronauts! I have been informed "Doug, you are dumb, dumb, DUMB". 
     However this vitrification proposal still has its intriguing points
 despite that fact that my original suggestion using propane has blown up
 in cyberspace. Fortunately nobody has gotten hurt and I would here like
 to amend the article with an ecologically incorrect, but scientifically
 defensible substitute before leaving the topic. 

 As before the following article may be reprinted in any cryonics oriented
 newsletter or magasine, whose editor wishes to do so: 

                     A VITRIFICATION PROPOSAL
                        By Doug Skrecky

      Any attempt to vitrify with relatively low and non-toxic
 concentrations of cryoprotectant would require cooling rates in excess of
 that acheivable by immersing the entire body in any coolant. I would like
 to here outline a possible way out of this impass. The cardiovascular
 system has an internal area over 300 times that of the external bodily
 surfaces. Using the cardiovascular system as a heat exchanger would allow
 cooling rates considerably in excess of that achievable by whole body
 immersion. 
      Coolant circulating through veins, arteries and capillaries would
 have to have a freezing point lower than the annealed glass transition of
 glycerol (-100 C) if glycerol is selected for the cryoprotectant, as well
 as a boiling point of at least 0 C. The coolant must also be nontoxic -
 which seemingly eliminates simple solvents such as ethanol (freezes -130
 C) from consideration. 
      However freon 11 or trichlorofluoromethane freezes at -111 C, boils
 at 23.7 C, is chemically fairly inert, nonflamable and insoluable in
 water. After perfusion with freon 11 cooled to 0 C, we could rapidly
 inject freon cooled to -100 C, thereby achieving very high cooling rates
 and hopefully vitrifying the body.


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