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A Word From Alan Sinclair
Last time
We
saw how far we had come in such a short time, we have a comprehensive
manual, a mobile perfusion unit which was tested when we visited Cornwall,
our team has learnt to cool to water ice, administer medication and perfuse
the patient is now ready to cool further to dry ice -97 and improve the
perfusion technique before transporting to the storage provider.
For those who are still not active members of
the suspension team I would urge you to come along regularly to meetings
because good suspension will only be achieved if we help one another and
there is much more to do than hands on.
Having looked at both Alcor and CI methods of
cooling to dry ice I have decided to recommend Dr Pichugin leader of CI
research department suggestions. He feels that dry ice by itself will be
satisfactory to cool within two days and this is the method adopted by CE.
I have explained to our suspension team the
various methods used by other companies and the reasons I rejected them but
I wont boor you now.
It is worth noting that dry ice will not be
supplied unless the driver is in a separate compartment e.g. a trailer or a
van with a sealed cab, so our MPU is ideal for the collection of dry ice.
Estimated quantities of dry ice cool down are
approximate (depending on the weight of
the patient) 182kg = 400lb plus a further 120kg = 264lb for
transport.
Dry ice from B.O.C is only available from
Monday to
Friday and
is normally delivered the following day but can be collected the same day.
Normally supplied in 10kg boxes
measuring 305mm = 13.75inch * 290mm = 11.5 inches * 178mm * 7.25 inches but
occasionally in bags.
Our transport box internal
measurements are only 2206mm = 89ins long706mm = 30 ins wide 401mm =16ins
deep.
We will need 18*10kg boxes + 12
for transport. (after cool down assess
how much will be required for transport).Space is at a premium
and stacking is important.
Cardboard dry ice boxes will
stack in the transport
box 2 deep ((7.5ins * 2 = 13ins)
2 across (13.75 * 2 = 27.5ins) 7 long (11.5 * 7 = 80.5ins) a space is still
left round the sides that opened ice could be placed.
A total of 28 boxes plus say
four round the sides 32 can be held for up to four days with very little
loss if required.
If the boxes are packed close
together when not in the transport box (between
jobs) boil off will be kept to a minimum, thick polystyrene
sheets (the type used to insulate walls,
acquired in most builders merchants) placed round the outside of
the stacked boxes will also act as a temporary dry ice keeper.
Dry
ice must always be handled with the appropriate gloves and must NEVER be
carried inside a car or even in the boot.
On remote locations the same
box with the aid of the newly developed
spacer will be used for cool down to dry ice and then used with
the aid of a metal box to transport to the storage supplier, it can also act
as a temporary ice keeper.
Place about 301mm = 12 inches
at the bottom of the red transport box.
Place
patient in a sleeping bag making sure there are no exposed parts.
With the aid of the sling place
patient on top of the dry ice and place spacer (only
to be used when cooling) in place of the lid.
(straps on sling should be left outside the cooling box to assist when
topping ice up).
Cover with dry ice to the top
of the spacer and put on lid (making
sure temperature probes are in place).
Replace lid on top of spacer
and check as required (top up with dry
ice as needed
(being sure to check ice underneath as well as on top)
Leave to cool until temperature
reaches -79 (estimated time about 48
hours).
When -79 is reached place
patient still in sleeping bag into metal container and seal (this
is required by some coroners) this process will normally be
undertaken by the funeral director who will arrange transport to the
US.
Care must be taken to minimise
this process to avoid re-warming.
About 4inches of dry ice is
placed into the red box followed by the metal box with the patient in and
the remainder of the 120kg of dry ice is packed round the metal box.
NOTE IT IS OF THE UTMOST
IMPORTANCE THAT ONLY 120kg is measured out carefully
THIS IS THE MAXIMUN ALOWED BY THE AIRLINES.
Administering
perfusate
I have for some time been trying
to find a way of administering perfusate by using a closed circuit method
but unlike methods used to date it must be simple to use, a method a
embalmer can recognise without a great deal of explanation.
I do not believe cells can
adsorb satisfactory amounts of cryoprotectant with open ended perfusion as
used by embalmers at this time.
If enough time is not allowed
for the cells to absorb the perfusate it can cause severe dehydration
causing the cells to shrink, damage which can be avoided in part by the
perfusion methods I am adopting for CE.
I feel that having the
cryoprotectants going round and round for several hours while cooling will
give a much better uptake as the water goes from the cells (this is why
human type antifreeze or as we call it cryoprotectants are added)
My ideas are being evaluated at
this time and I hope to have a demonstration model by the next meeting.
Our visit from Charles Platt I
am sure will be covered elsewhere in this addition so I will only cover the
part that affects our team.
I have known Charles for many
years and found his opinions very helpful even when he disagrees it’s always
worth noting why and taking notice
In principle he has agreed it
would be of mutual benefit for Alcor and CE to have closer cooperation and
it would seem the hostility that existed between groups has largely gone.
My hope is that CE will
continue good relations with Alcor and work towards the extremely good
relationship we have with CI.
Its early days but I hope to
further news in the next addition.
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