X-Message-Number: 23636
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 11:24:06 -0500
From: david shumaker <>
Subject: News from Suspended Animation

News from Suspended Animation for March 1 - 12. 

Despite the setback in our attempts to begin construction of our
laboratories, SA is moving forward at a fairly fast pace. We have
located alternative buildings but are delaying decisions regarding them
until another, more desirable, locational possibility can be explored.
Fortunately, the lack of a permanent facility does not hamper basic
equipment fabrication activities or our transport capability. All of our
perfusion and cooldown equipment is on wheels and will simply be moved
to our new home when such is located. Similarly, it can also be moved to
a local laboratory to perform appropriate experiments or vitrification
itself. Only the required LN2 is somewhat less portable.

As has been the case for some time, we are totally ready for and capable
of performing Standby Based Transport anywhere. All members of our team
have SBT field experience. We can both transport to Alcor for freezing
or vitrification or to CI for final cooldown in a traditional glycerol
based freeze. 

Efforts underway include the following:

1.	A portable dry ice temperature, moderate-speed, gas cooldown box that
fits inside a Ziegler box and can be shipped to the patient location for
field glycerolized freezing to dry ice temperature prior to shipment to
CI or Alcor is in final design for fabrication beginning this week. Once
the patient is cooled to dry ice temperature, the cooling paraphernalia
is removed, dry ice is added and the box fits into the Ziegler box for
shipping to the custodial facility.  
2.	SA has orders for three of its gurney based PIBs. Parts are in
fabrication and delivery should occur soon. The PIB has its own
operating-height gurney that fits inside the folded PIB. The liner is
seamless to avoid microbe hiding places. 
3.	We have had an indication of interest for three of our advanced
thumpers but need orders for a total of ten in order to get the initial
low price from Michigan Instruments. 
4.	Our whole body fast gas vitrification cooldown system has completed
its major physical design and is now being mocked up in preparation for
final metal fabrication in about two weeks. We incurred significant
delays attempting to design a system working at a gas velocity of 60
MPH. Recent measurements indicate that gas speeds on the order of 10-12
MPH will suffice, and we are now back on track. This cooldown box will
enable SA to rapidly cool the patient to glass transition, perform an
annealing sequence and then slowly take the patient on down to storage
temperature (or remain at intermediate temperature when such storage
becomes available) all under automated computer control. The software
that drives the system has been complete for several months. The cooling
chamber itself, with 10 inches of foam insulation, was fabricated months
ago and doubles as a shipping container to move the patient to the
long-term storage facility.  The cooling system can also provide
standard glycerolized freezing profiles. 21 CM has been a big help in
this effort.
5.	The first whole body computer controlled patient perfusion enclosure
is complete and has demonstrated the ability to maintain a commanded
patient temperature environment from 5 C to well below -20C under
software control. In fact, the enclosure temperature can be programmed
to match perfusion temperature, all under automated control. The
enclosure is currently undergoing final modification to add a sump to
collect patient perfusate effluent, but is otherwise complete.
6.	Progress continues on our computerized perfusion system. Our goal
here is to have a completely computer controlled, web integrated system
that will enable persons anywhere to participate in vitrification
experiments without having to leave their office. Pumps, refractometers,
thermometers, and pressure sensors have all been successfully
integrated. This is not a simple task and because it is operated on the
labview software platform, software experts are few and far between. If
anyone knows of a labview capable person that could help in this area we
would jump at the opportunity to contract them. 

As I am sure everyone knows, we have a contract with the American
Cryonics Society to support its members. We are also getting a few
requests every week from members of other cryonics organizations for
information regarding how we may support their needs. This growing show
of support is particularly gratifying. As everyone also knows we do not
compete with existing cryonics companies but provide SBT and
cryopreservation services for everyone.

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