A Stimulator-Regulated Rapid-Freeze Clamp for Terminating Metabolic Processes of the Heart During Normal Physiological Working Conditions

A stimulator-regulated rapid-freeze clamp has been developed by which squeezing action is used to forge the physiologically functioning rat heart into a 0.5 mm thick wafer, thereby freezing (-80°C) the entire heart, and thus terminating metabolic processes in 5 ms ±0.5 ms at any defined point in the contraction cycle. The pneumatic cylinders contain large ports and frictionless seals. 80 psi of compressed air drives the anvils at an overall rate of 0.14 in/ms.