X-Message-Number: 18623
From: 
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 10:07:15 EST
Subject: Clarifications

CLARIFICATIONS

Since there seems to be some persistent misunderstanding, let me clarify CI 
policy regarding "neuros" and split responsibilities, and related matters.

The CI directors remain opposed to offering the "neuro" (head or brain only) 
option in the CI contract. The Board has also declined to enter into 
contracts with other organizations to accept neuros from them, with some 
minor possible exceptions. However, our standard contract requires us to 
accept any member with a funded contract, if he is delivered to us--or any 
part of him, in any condition--and do the best we can for him. 

Any CI member is also free to contract with anyone he pleases to perform 
initial services, and use CI for storage only. Such an arrangement, with a 
different organization for initial services, would be separately contracted 
and funded.

This means that if the projected new company, TDIS, succeeds in developing 
and demonstrating an effective vitrification procedure, and a CI member wants 
to avail himself of that, he is free to do so. If the projected price for 
vitrification by TDIS holds up at $40,000 (the same for whole body or neuro, 
they say), then the member would have to arrange to pay this to TDIS, and 
also arrange transportation to CI and the cost of that. The CI minimum would 
remain at $28,000 for its services.

A complication is that the TDIS procedure may require storage not in liquid 
nitrogen but at a higher temperature, maybe around -130 C. CI will offer that 
too, either through cryostats of new design that we have on the boards, or 
else with commercially available units. This would increase the cost, but 
undoubtedly still leave it much lower than available elsewhere. (The CI Board 
might later decide not to raise the price if the storage is neuro.) This 
information should be available to CI members or prospective members on a 
timely basis whenever TDIS reaches its objectives and is ready to offer 
contracts.

TDIS has also said it expects to offer licensing or/and training to all 
cryonics organizations equally, and it is possible that CI may at some point 
offer TDIS-type of initial procedures on CI premises. However, the 
information that has been made public suggests that, at least for several 
years, TDIS will operate at a heavy loss, being subsidized by Kent & Faloon 
et al  This suggests that, for several years, TDIS procedures will be 
available from TDIS in Florida at a lower cost than anywhere else. Those 
services may also be available from TDIS traveling teams, but of course at a 
higher price yet to be determined. 

To repeat: If the TDIS estimates are correct, and if TDIS succeeds in its 
objectives, it is difficult to see how any other organization could afford 
the investment needed to duplicate the TDIS capabilities. It is possible, 
therefore, that the stated TDIS objective of becoming the hub of suspension 
activity might eventually be realizable, for that subset of patients who are 
physically appropriate for it and who can afford it.

But it is also important to remember that CI research, under Dr. Yuri 
Pichugin, is continuing and is examining both better freezing procedures and 
vitrification with a variety of CPAs. In all probability, within the next 
year or two we will be offering a range of options rather than a single 
standardized procedure. It may turn out that the best feasible 
"vitrification" procedure (or something approaching vitrification) is not 
much better than the best feasible freezing procedure. Further, the questions 
of cost, and of laboratory vs. field conditions, may make "vitrification" 
available only in theory and seldom in practice. 

To elaborate slightly on that, we recall reports that rabbit kidney 
vitrification failed to achieve viability--after many years of 
effort--because a sufficiently uniform perfusion had not been achieved. These 
were tiny little organs in healthy young animals. We are working with human 
brains, very much larger and more complicated, from people usually old and 
sick, with impaired circulation. Whether such patients can obtain 
meaningfully better results with "vitrification" than with freezing 
procedures, as these develop, remains to be seen--especially considering 
possible delays in getting the patient to the facility. 

Once more: CI will work with TDIS and anyone else, as our judgment and 
resources indicate or allow, and will also continue to develop our own 
improved methods, and at an appropriate time will offer a range of options. 
CI members are free right now, or at any time, to make separate arrangements 
with anyone they like for initial preparations, using the CI contract for 
storage.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
www.cryonics.org

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