Cryonics

Cryonics is the practice or technique of deep-freezing the bodies of people who have just died, in the hope that scientific advances may allow them to be revived in the future.

People Who Have Been Cryonically Preserved

His wife, Fran, also signed up for cryonics

becomes Alcor’s 169th patient on May 13, 2019

Chinese man has his dead wife's body frozen

cryonic companies

The Alcor Life Extension Foundation is the world leader in cryonics, cryonics research, and cryonics technology. Consult Now

Imagine a world free of disease, death and aging. Cryonics is presently our best chance of getting there. Consult Now

Our mission is to promote scientific research and services development of whole brain preservation for long-term static storage. Consult Now

cryonic procedures

Operating Room

STEP 1

The operating room at Alcor's Scottsdale, Arizona, facility.

Cryoprotectant Perfusion

STEP 2

The operating room becomes very busy during a cryonics case. As many as a dozen technicians and support staff can be required. Procedures are performed by physician or veterinary surgeons with extensive cryonics experience, and technicians with knowledge of the process of cryoprotectant perfusion.

Blood Vessel Access

STEP 3

Contract surgeons work to gain access to major blood vessels. At this point, the patient is typically at a temperature of 60°F or lower. This permits blood circulation to be stopped for a limited time without harming the brain. Sterile technique is utilized.

Blood Replacement

STEP 4

Once vascular access is established, the patient will be connected to a perfusion machine that replaces blood with a chemical solution that prevents ice formation.

Monitoring

STEP 5

A technician prepares the cryoprotectant solution perfusion circuit. The wires behind the plastic tubing are used for electronic monitoring and data collection.

Heart-lung Machine

STEP 6

A bank of heart-lung machine roller pumps (below) circulate cryoprotectant solution into the patient in gradually increasing concentration. A computer system (above) monitors and collects temperature, pressure, and cryoprotectant concentration data during this four hour procedure.

Refractometers

STEP 7

A technician checks lines connected to electronic devices that measure cryoprotectant concentration (refractometers).

Deep Cooling without Freezing

STEP 8

A final manual check of the refractive index of the cryoprotectant solution verifies that the concentration is sufficient for vitrification (deep cooling without freezing).

Solidification without Freezing

STEP 9

The patient is now transferred from the operating room to the cooldown facility, where cooling to -130°C takes place under computer control. The result of this process is "vitrification" (solidification without freezing).

Aluminum Containers

STEP 10

Following vitrification, neuropatients are placed in individual aluminum containers.

Liquid Nitrogen

STEP 11

Containers are finally immersed in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196°C for long-term care.

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