Hypothermic Berth
The Hypothermic Berth is a high density passage method using hypothermic temperatures to reduce bodily functions.
- It is the basis for the AutoDoc and related equipment.
- It is also known as a Chill Berth.
- It is a kind of Ship Equipment.
Description (Specifications)
Induced hypothermia (body temp between 5C and 30C for humans) reduces heart rate and oxygen use primarily for surgical purposes. Primary method of suspended animation used in AutoDocs. Requires closer monitoring than CryoBerths. Learning programs or audio entertainment can be used by the occupant. Slows aging by half or more at lower temperatures, lower temperatures reduces the effectiveness of learning programs. Side effects include death, heart issues, confusion, and higher risk of pneumonia. Confusion normally clears in one to six days, arrhythmias, pneumonia, low platelet counts, and low white count can be treated through normal medicine. AutoDocs automatically attempt to treat side effects potentially increasing recovery time and outcome. [1] [2]
- In an attempt to reduce aging and improve survivability of long sleeps, one variant was a Near-Cryogenic Berth (body temp between -5C and 5C for humans). The technologically is crude and requires the patient to wear a special suit, with many tubes connecting it to the container itself for the many sensors, but also for the various body fluids the container and the patient will exchange, including several catheters and probes. In particular, the blood of the patient is mixed in high ratio, or sometimes even completely replaced, with an artificial fluid whose function is similar to formaldehyde : preserving the body from decay. Other fluids which need to be controlled include oxygen (or other breathing gases), saline solution (to control body dehydration), excrements and so on. At the end of the cold sleep, the artificial preserving fluid is filtered out. No need to say, this is somehow traumatizing for the body, which explains why cold sleep is risky for the health of the patient.
- Gravity control technology (when available) is also used to avoid that the body rest always in contact with the container on the same parts which could cause oedema or tissue necrosis. For low berth of lower TL where this technology is not available, the body is usually immersed inside a fluid of the same density as the body (i.e. same as water) which keeps the body floating 'in between'. According to the available TL (and patient's organism), a breathing apparatus may be necessary or the fluid may be directly breathable.
Image Repository
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Low Berth Alternatives
| Low Berth Alternatives | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 1. TL | 2. Max Time | 3. Medic Required | 4. Recovery Time | 5. Operating Cost | 6. Consciousness | 7. Volume | 8. Aging | 9. Side effects |
| Hypothermic Berth | TL:7-9+ | TL-7 weeks | Yes | 3 hours | Cr200.0 | Semi | 0.5 Ton | 1/2 | Death, Heart issues, Confusion, etc. |
| Near-Cryogenic Berth | TL:7-9+ | indefinite | Yes | 6 hours+ | Cr2000.0 | No | 1 Ton | 1/60 | Death, Heart issues, Confusion, etc. |
| AutoDoc | TL:10-12+ | TL weeks | No | 2 hours | Cr200.0 | Semi | 0.5 Ton | 1/10 | Death, Heart issues, Confusion, etc. |
| Advanced AutoDoc | TL:13-15+ | Indefinite | No | 1 hour | Cr200.0 | Semi to no | 0.5 Ton | 1/10 to no aging | Death, Heart issues, Confusion, etc. |
(Note: AutoDoc operating cost is only for use as a Hypothermic Berth, Medical use is extra, as is treating of side effects.)
History & Background (Dossier)
After noticing that cold events are easier to resuscitate victims, such as cold water drowning vs warm water drowning, research began on uses of cold in medicine. Finding that cold, specifically hypothermia slowed bodily functions including bleeding. This lead to developments in hypothermic surgery and hypothermic suspension which aided people getting to surgery. Advances in hypothermic suspension were vital to perfecting cryogenic suspension.
Expected Low Berth Development Sequence
COLD SLEEP DEVICES & RELATED TECHNOLOGIES:
- Hypothermic Berth → Near-Cryogenic Berth → Cryogenic Berth → Emergency Low Berth → Early Stasis Berth → Stasis Berth
COLD SLEEP ALTERNATIVES:
- Steerage Berth → Fast Drug Berth → Psionic and Alien Alternatives
References & Contributors (Sources)
|
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- Donald P. Rapp. Merchants & Merchandise (Paranoia Press, 1981), 14.
- Gary L. Thomas. "Medical Digest - Suspended Animation." The Travellers' Digest 21 (1990): 40-45.
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Urbi et Orbi
- Author & Contributor: Author & Contributor: Master Scout, and Former Naval Architech CRHensley of the Ministry of Science
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science
- ↑ Gary L. Thomas. "Medical Digest - Suspended Animation." The Travellers' Digest 21 (1990): 40.
- ↑ Information provided to the library by CRHensley