(The 2005 announcement of the Standby and Transport program offered to Cryonics Institute Members was made in two parts, one by the Cryonics Institute and one by Suspended Animation, Inc. An update announces the availability of Insurance-Funded Standby as of January, 2006)

The Cryonics Institute has successfully concluded negotiations for a contract to offer Standby and Transport assistance from the Florida cryopreservation research company Suspended Animation, Inc. CI Members who wish to receive these services must provide additional funding, part of which can be through life insurance.

"Standby" refers to a team of fully-equipped cryopreservation employees waiting by the bedside of a cryonics patient close to legal death or at risk of legal death. If the cryonics patient deanimates and is pronounced legally dead by a physician or qualified nurse, then the Standby team will immediately attempt to begin the application of cryonics stabilization procedures, including ice-bath cooling and the use of a heart-lung device.

"Transport" includes moving the cryonics patient from the location where death was pronounced to the CI Facility in Michigan. During Transport the Suspended Animation team will attempt to continue to apply procedures intended to prevent damage to tissues, particularly the brain. These procedures will include blood washout and may include cryoprotectant perfusion (depending upon whether the patient wishes CI or Suspended Animation to do the final perfusion).

Details of the Standby and Transport Services Protocols and Fees can be found on the Cryonics Institute website: Click Here

The normal funding mechanism for CI Members is to have a basic fee for perfusion, cool- down and long-term storage -- currently $28,000 Option One and $35,000 Option Two. Additionally, for Members not living in the Michigan area CI has a Local Help Rider to pay for services of a remote funeral director, which may include heparinization, some CPR, packing in ice and transport to Michigan. For the Local Help Rider CI Members are expected to allocate additional funding -- up to $5,000 in the US and up to $15,000 overseas. This can be included in their insurance or in prepayment.

The Suspended Animation agreement is simply an extension of the Local Help Rider. The SA Rider not only provides for payment for a remote funeral director (whom Suspended Animation would work-with and pay), but for post-mortem standby and transport. Formally, the new agreement is not much different from the usual Local Help Rider except that the protocol is more extensive, the price is higher and the Rider would be (initially) restricted to US Members. Insurance funding is currently only available for procedures that Suspended Animation performs after pronouncement of death. Pre-mortem Standby must be funded through pre-payment or a special bank account. CI Members interested in Suspended Animation Standby should examine the information available on the CI Website: Click Here Further information may be obtained on the SA website and below.

Cryonics Institute
24355 Sorrentino Court
Clinton Township, MI 48035
Phone 1-586-791-5961 Fax 1-586-792-7062