X-Message-Number: 24267
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 10:06:45 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #24261 - #24266

HI everyone!

The most substantive comment about G. Urban's message is that all 
those needles are likely to be quite unnecessary if we work towards
a good vitrification. Current suspension methods already work toward
complete coverage of a patient's brain. When (now years ago, unfortunate-
ly) some cryonics societies were using animals (dogs) to test their
methods, the dog brains clearly got a complete perfusion. There is
certainly a case for similar tests with current solutions, which have
changed a good deal from those early ones, but it is the character
of the solution rather than any other factors which allows it to 
spread through a patient's brain. Even if the solution is designed
to vitrify at some low temperature, before it does so it will
spread easily through a patient's brain. And the time required for
it to do this need not be a few seconds; at the low temperatures
used, even above but near 0 C, a brain will last long enough 
without deterioration for the solution to spread out inside it.

As for verification of this point, it would be a useful experiment
for a cryonics lab to once more use some of the most recent 
solutions (aimed at vitrification rather than freezing) to verify
these points on dogs. I doubt, however, that they'll be proven false.

              Best wishes and long long life to all,

                    Thomas Donaldson

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