X-Message-Number: 669 Subject: CRYONICS: Re: #664: Brain suspension From: (Edgar W. Swank) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 92 12:57:59 PST This is in response to Max More's inquiry in Msg #659 about Brain Suspensions. Q. How much additional delay before freezing resulted from the need to remove the brain from the skull? A. A skilled pathologist is required to remove the brain (without damaging it) as opposed to just severing the head. In the case of Jerry White's mother, with the last-minute nature of the arrangements, the patient was held at ice-point about 6 hrs awaiting arrival of the pathologist. The actual brain removal procedure only took a few minutes. The few minutes is a realistic estimate for delay when adequate advance arrangements are made. This delay should be balanced against the better exposure to cryoprotectant made possible by exposure of brain surface. Q. How is the brain to be protected from mechanical injury in the absence of the skull? A. Jerry White has created a container which was used for his mother and is likely to be used in future brain suspension cases. It consists of a common plastic airtight food container (like TupperWare) into which the brain is placed surrounded and cushioned by cryoprotectant fluid. This in turn is placed inside a metal cylinder with removable metal disks closing off the ends. If Alcor can't or won't do a brain suspension for you, I suggest you contact Trans-Time. Trans-Time already separately prices most of its services and does not require that you buy a "package". So I would think you could arrange for Trans-Time to do your perfusion and brain removal and packaging and that Alcor could still do your long-term storage if you desired. Of course, you would have to negotiate with Alcor for an adjustment in their price. You can reach Trans-Time President Art Quaife via E-mail at Art Quaife <> -- (Edgar W. Swank) SPECTROX SYSTEMS +1.408.252.1005 Silicon Valley, Ca Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=669