X-Message-Number: 9169
From: Ralph Merkle <>
Subject: Low temperature restoration of human tissue
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 11:37:43 PST

Several recent posts have discussed restoration of human tissue (and
in particular restoration of the human brain).  A relevant URL is:
http://www.merkle.com/cryo/techFeas.html#RESTORATION

One approach (among several approaches discussed) is low temperature
restoration.  If tissue is restored at sufficiently low temperatures,
concerns that brownian motion and thermal noise will cause significant
structural changes and deterioration during the restoration process can
be avoided.  However, it is then necessary to rewarm the structure. The
section on low temperature restoration discusses this, and concludes:

   By combining
     (1) rapid, highly controlled heating;
     (2) atomically precise introduction of cryoprotectants;
     (3) the controlled addition of small nanovacuoles and regions of vitrified
         H20 to reduce or eliminate thermal expansion and contraction; and
     (4) the addition of structural proteins to protect against any
         remaining thermally induced stresses;

   the damage that might otherwise occur during rewarming should be
   completely avoidable.

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