X-Message-Number: 25700 From: Subject: CI Vitrification Protocol Used on Dog Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 23:22:58 US/Eastern On February 10th, 2005 the Cryonics Institute vitrified the dog of one of its Members, Kevin Boyle. Perfusion was through the aorta, with clamping of the descending aorta. Thus, only the upper portion of the body was perfused with Dr. Pichugin's vitrification mixture. The Cryonics Institute is now prepared to apply a similar procedure to its human patients living in the United States (there are shipping problems associated with overseas Members). Our vitrification mixture is unsuitable for perfusing whole bodies. We could perfuse the rest of the body with ethylene glycol or glycerol, but to do so would compromise the perfusion of the brain. Vitrification mixture, like all cryoprotectants, is toxic at higher temperatures and it is important to begin cooling immediately after perfusion to reduce the danger of ice formation. There is also a great risk of edema if we attempt to perfuse the whole body with vitrification mixture. Edema could prevent perfusion and in that case would be a costly waste of time. We will certainly be cryopreserving the whole body. Future technology will still be required to reverse biochemical damage, reverse the effects of aging and to eliminate all disease, including the damaging results of past disease. One of our prominent Members, James Swayze, is paraplegic and we definitely believe that if future technology is able to reanimate him, he will be restored to full functionality. We strongly believe that the elimination or near-elimination of ice in the brain is an enormous benefit for all CI Members. Although glycerol has vitrifying (anti-freeze) properties, it results in no less than 20% ice formation everywhere, including the brain. Eventually our research may allow for whole body vitrification, but we can make no guarantees. Our highest immediate priorities are to improve washout and eliminate cold ischemia during shipment to Michigan for administration of the vitrification protocol. We also want to improve the vitrification protocol. DONATIONS TO THE CI RESEARCH FUND ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. Make checks or money orders payable to The Immortalist Society to be tax-deductable. Mail to 24355 Sorrentino Court; Clinton Township, MI 48035 USA. Or pay by PayPal to or phone-in your credit card number to (586) 791-5961. A description of the cryopreservation of Kevin Boyle's dog can be found on the CI website: http://www.cryonics.org/reports/Dog_Thor.html -- Ben Best, President, Cryonics Institute Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25700