Cryonics is a technique to preserve legally dead individuals at low temperatures in liquid nitrogen with the goal of future revival when medical technologies allow for repair of damage from aging, disease, or the freezing process. The document discusses the cryonics process, which involves replacing a patient's blood with cryoprotectants to prevent ice crystal formation before cooling the body to liquid nitrogen temperatures. It also discusses companies that offer cryonics services and the costs associated with whole body or neuropreservation. The ultimate goal of cryonics is to give individuals the opportunity to be revived when medical advances can cure what caused their death.

1. Cryonics For Dummies Written By Alexis R. Boonstra 06/08/09

2. What is Cryonics? Cryonics is a technique designed to save lives and greatly extend lifespan. It involves cooling legally-dead people to liquid nitrogen temperature. 06/08/09

3. What is Death? Heart has stopped beating No brain electrical activity Loss of information that defines person Absolute death only occurs when the brain's essential information is destroyed 06/08/09

4. Can you start the process before you die? Legally, not yet. Obviously, it would be better to cool a patient before illness causes so much physical damage that it results in death. 06/08/09

5. How is Reanimation Possible? Nanotechnology could be used to restore a persons body after being suspended. The repair capabilities of molecular biology and nanotechnology increasingly point to a future technology that can repair damage due to aging, disease and freezing. Mind files are being used to store a persons memories beliefs and personality. 06/08/09

6. How is Cryonics Done? Upon the patients death, a medical team is deployed to pick up the body and deliver it to a hospital-suite. Once there, blood is drained and replaced with cryopreservation fluid, which prevents ice crystals from forming and destroying the tissue. The body is then strapped in a stainless steel tube of liquid nitrogen and cooled at a rate of 1 degree an hour until it reaches minus-196 degrees. 06/08/09

7. Vitrification Surgeon accesses patient's vascular system for vitrification. Adding high concentrations of chemicals called cryoprotectants to cells permits tissue to be cooled to very low temperatures with little or no ice formation. 06/08/09

8. What is the Purpose of Cryonics? To preserve the brain and body until reanimation is possible. To keep the body intact and prevent decay until medical science provides a cure for what killed the patients. 06/08/09

9. Has any mammal been Cryopreserved and revived? Dogs and monkeys have had their blood replaced with protective solution and cooled to below 0ºC, with subsequent rewarming and revival. At the July 2005 Society for Cryobiology Conference, it was announced that a rabbit kidney had been completely vitrified rewarmed and transplanted 06/08/09

10. Will I Lose my Memory? Yes and No Short-term memory depends on electrical activity. However long-term memory is based on durable molecular and structural changes within the brain. 06/08/09

11. Why are Mindfiles Important Loss of Memory Personal Records Loss of Physical Body one example is being lost at sea Storing your mind files is a free way to live for ever. You store detailed information about yourself and then upload it to a server or computer. 06/08/09

12. To Die or Not to Die? That is the Question. 06/08/09

13. Alcor ACS Cryonics Institute KrioRus Suspended Animation Inc. Trans Time Inc. What Companies Offer This Service? 06/08/09

14. How Much Does it Cost to be Cryonicised? NAME WHOLE BODY NEURO YEARLY FEES Alcor $150,000* $80,000 $398* ACS $155,000* N/A $376* CI $100,000 N/A $120* KrioRus $25,000* $9,000 None Trans Time $150,000 $50,000 $96* * =simplification, see explanation 06/08/09

15. Cryochamber 06/08/09

16. Average Monthly Payments on A Life Insurance Policy Used for Cryonics Individuals in average health who fund their cryonic suspensions through life insurance can find insurance programs that allow them to pay premiums of as little as $28 a month or less The actual monthly investment to insurance can be less than a daily cup of coffee at Starbucks. 06/08/09

17. Payment Plans Insurance Prepaid Cash Trust Annuity 06/08/09

18. Pets Can be Cryopreserved! You must be a member of either CI Alcor or ACS to use this service Price varies by pet size about $40,000 – $20,000 for most pets Alcor only offers Neuro- Preservation but ACS offers Full Body Suspension and so does CI No standby is offered at either facility but you can make arrangements with your vet to substitute for standby There are currently 16 dogs, 15 cats, and 1 monkey in the Alcor facility 06/08/09

19. How are the Organizations Legally Classified? CI is authorized as a Cemetery and its vitrifications are actually done at a Mortuary. Alcor is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization authorized to accept anatomical donations ACS is a Coordinator and Manager of Cryonics done by others. 06/08/09

20. Why you should Consider Cryonics? Cyonics allows you to preserve your body indefinitely until medical science is capable of reanimation If you Love life and you want to continue Living as long as Humanly possible consider Cryonics for Life Death is the only other alternative to Cryonics. Once you are cremated or buried your body and brain are destroyed forever. 06/08/09