X-Message-Number: 5716
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 00:04:34 -0500
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <>
Subject: Re: Fast Freeze

In #5712,  (Rodney Perkins) writes:
> The current record is for a the mercury barium calcium copper oxide
> (HBCO) compound which superconducts at about 134 K without pressure.
> Under hydro-static pressure, this compound superconducts at 164 K, ...

Perhaps I shouldn't have said "close to liquid nitrogen temperatures".
But my point stands.  164 K (-109 C or -228 F) is extremely cold.
There is no value in being able to quickly cool a patient who is
*already* at that temperature.

Besides, superconductors of electricity are *not* superconductors of
heat anyway, despite common beliefs to the contrary.  So HBCO would
not help cool a patient, even if it superconducted at all temperatures,
and even if you could somehow get it threaded through every artery,
vein, and capillary.
--
Keith Lynch, 
http://www.access.digex.net/~kfl/


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