X-Message-Number: 16588
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 07:18:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ben Best <>
Subject: Re: Ice blockers and CI protocol

On Mon, 18 Jun 2001, Charles Platt wrote:

> In a previous post I stated that 21CM's ice blocker can be used in
> conjunction with "existing protocol." What I should have said is that
> the ice blocker can be used in conjunction with the type of conventional
> glycerol solution that is used in existing protocol--PROVIDED THAT the
> glycerol reaches a high terminal concentration in the perfused tissues.
>
> Since the terminal concentration reported by Robert Ettinger on Cryonet
> some months ago is really quite low, CI would need to upgrade its
> perfusion capability before it could profitably add the ice blocker.
> This is pretty much what Ben Best said in his post.
> 
> One can reach two conclusions from these statements. Either it's
> pointless for CI to experiment with the ice blocker; or CI might consider 
> improving its perfusion technique to reach a higher terminal concentration, 
> so that the ice blocker could be used to provide greatly enhanced 
> protection for its patients.

    I don't think that it is possible to vitrify cryonics patients with
glycerol. Therefore, I think it is not only pointless, but damaging for CI
to use ice blockers as long as glycerol is being used. Until a reasonable
level of vitrification can be achieved with a superior cryoprotectant
cocktail, I recommend against the use of ice blockers by CI. 

                                  -- Ben

         --------------------------------------------
            Ben Best ()
            http://www.benbest.com/

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