Cryogenic containers

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Cryogenic Containers
July 18 2007 at 2:08 PM Melody Maxim (Login melmax)
Veteran Member


Response to Finally, here's the report:
The main thing that caught my interest, in Ben Best's report on the SA conference, was this:

BEN BEST: "I was quite impressed with the Suspended Animation cooling box, which was completely designed by Charles. He had the advantage of building the unit from scratch, whereas the CI cooling box was adapted from a shipping box. Their unit is more compact and has two liquid nitrogen spray bars and two powerful fans to concentrate cooling on the patient. The unit is built mainly of wood and insulating material. This allowed for rapid construction and testing. Another model is to be built with aluminum."

I would like to know what manufacturer provided the shipping box for CI, if Ben or Andy wouldn't mind sharing this information. Was it a company that specializes in cryogenic containers, such as Cryofreeze Solutions? http://www.cryofreezesolutions.com/ I went back through some notes I made, during my research of cryogenic containers, to find the following information, which was provided to Gary and Charles, before the cooldown box project was started:

>>Cryofreeze Solutions builds custom containers for Voltaix and Science Care Phoenix ( http://www.sciencecare.com/). The Voltaix is a custom-built system the size of "three pick-up trucks," with plumbing installed for LN2 injection. (Cryofreeze Solutions will not build the LN2 system itself, but they will build and install the plumbing and fans, according to customer specifications.) The container for Science Care Phoenix is custom-built for shipping cadavers at dry ice temperature.

Cryofreeze Solutions will guarantee their R52 (heat resistance rating) containers to -200 degF (-128 degC). This container would have 26 gauge steel inner and outer linings, with a polyurethene/polyisocyanurate insulation filling and a mylar vapor barrier. The cost of a container with interior dimensions of 2' x 2' x 7' and 6-inch walls would be approximately $2,500. For stainless steel, add about $450. A similar "VIP" (vacuum in place) container is approximately $4,000, but capable of lower temperatures (R90 heat resistance rating). They will deliver a basic unit in about a week, but require a little extra time for the installation of customer-specified plumbing and fans.<<

I'm having a very difficult time believing Charles and Gary can produce a container that is on par with those built by Cryofreeze Solutions. They've been working on this project since before I resigned, in January, and the cost of the man-hours for the two of them, for each 40-hour week, approaches $4,000. Would anyone care to guess how much time and money has been spent on this project, so far? And, now, they are starting on a second version? As I wrote in a previous post, I suppose my husband could step into the garage and build a refrigerator, but it would be a huge waste of time and money, when I could buy something superior, for a few hundred dollars, and have it delivered to my door, tomorrow. Where's Pancake when I need some engineering sanity???

In addition, as "filterpatrol" recently pointed out, SA doesn't do vitrification and I believe that such a cooldown box as this would be used AFTER that process. Is this correct? SA has yet to perfect their standby, stabilization and transport capabilities; vitrification is only a dream for them, at this point, (especially with their current staff). Were they building this cooldown box for CI? Are they hoping to sell one to Alcor? Something just isn't "right" with this entire scenario.


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I hope Ben or Andy will give us some thoughts on that. - Finance Department on Jul 18, 2007, 9:54 PM
Response to Melody and Finance Department - AndyZawacki on Jul 19, 2007, 8:14 AM
Cryogenic Container Options - Melody Maxim on Jul 19, 2007, 9:41 AM
Yes, SA needs to prioritize things a lot better. - Finance Department on Jul 19, 2007, 12:18 PM
In Charge of an OR with No Purpose?? - Finance Department on Jul 20, 2007, 11:11 PM
Transport Box - Finance Department on Jul 19, 2007, 12:17 PM
More on Cooling boxes - Ben Best on Jul 19, 2007, 8:56 PM
Exploring Options - Melody Maxim on Jul 20, 2007, 9:22 AM