X-Message-Number: 7648 Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1997 08:41:44 -0700 (MST) From: Fred Chamberlain <> Subject: Clarifications/Corrections re: Visser Demonstrations From: Fred Chamberlain, re: >Message #7635 From: >Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1997 02:51:23 -0500 (EST) >Subject: Rat hearts Friday Jan. 31 >FRIDAY'S RAT HEARTS >-------------------------------------- >Report of Andy Zawacki, slightly edited: >Once the hearts were perfused, they were left connected to the cannula on the >Langendorff system. The heart was covered in a shroud of cotton that was >secured to the cannula above the aorta. The cotton shroud was then soaked >with cold cryoprotectant. The flow of cryoprotectant was then turned off. A >container of liquid nitrogen was brought up under the heart and slowly moved >up to the apex of the heart and held there for 30 seconds. The container of >liquid nitrogen was then raised up to cover the rest of the heart and held >for 30 seconds longer.> >Though there was some concern that the heart was not fully immersed in liquid >nitrogen for the final 30 seconds, it appeared to me, considering the way >liquid nitrogen boils, that it was covered. [And Andy has a lot of experience >in viewing things in liquid nitrogen under a variety of conditions. --R.E.] COMMENT: Though it might have appeared otherwise to observers, a review of a videotape of this run has showed that full immersion was not accomplished. A lot of vapor was emitted, and this may have made it difficult even for those close by to be sure of the level. The videotape, on the other hand, shows the upper part of the shroud being out of the liquid nitrogen for the entire period of exposure. After removal from liquid nitrogen, there is (that is, the videotape shows) a boundary line about half way down the shroud. Below that line, the surface is dull white and dry looking, an indication that the surface photographed was solid. Above that line, there is a different, glistening surface. It seems unchanged from the appearance just prior to exposure to liquid nitrogen. The period of exposure, in any case, was brief, compared with the standards set for final demonstrations on Sunday, 2/2/97 (20 minutes of total immersion). We might have hoped that even with total immersion for longer periods, those trials would have showed evidence of viability, and that the earlier experiments would (thus) have been irrelevant. As mentioned in an earlier posting, Alcor will now pursue acquisition of fresh cryoprotective agent from the same source as used by the Vissers, with any custom distillation being to the same standards as they have specified. After we run tests with this, the results will be reported on CryoNet. Fred Chamberlain, President () Alcor Life Extension Foundation Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972. 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Phone (602) 922-9013 (800) 367-2228 FAX (602) 922-9027 for general requests http://www.alcor.org ************************************************************ * For most human beings, * * Physical obliteration comes in three basic "flavors", * * Earth, Water and Fire * * (Burial on land, at sea, and cremation). * * Critics of cryonics would add a fourth flavor, "Ice"! * * * * But the final answer will not soon be known, * * And by the time it is fully determined, * * The critics will no longer be "in the audience"! * * * * Contact ALCOR - "" * * or dial 602-922-9013, fax 602-922-9027 * ************************************************************ Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7648