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
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.