The Life Extension Society (LES) is acquiring equipment and supplies for the experimental procedure of "cryonic stabilization" and making the equipment and supplies available for use in the mid-Atlantic region. This initiative enables cryonics organizations, which cryogenically preserve patients who no longer can be kept alive with today's medical abilities, to act more quickly to minimize damage and deterioration of the remains of donors who deanimate in the region, especially those who deanimate unexpectedly.
Cryonic Stabilization
The first two phases of cryogenic preservation together are called cryonic stabilization. Cryonic stabilization is designed to minimize damage to and deterioration of the patient. In the hypothermic cardiopulmonary support (HCS) phase, which immediately follows cardiac arrest, the remains are cooled internally and externally, circulation and respiration are supported, and the blood is treated with anti-coagulants. In the second phase, or total body washout (TBW), the blood is replaced with organ-preserving perfusate. Following cryonic stabilization, the patient is shipped on ice to a laboratory, then treated with cryoprotective solution and cryogenically preserved by cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature.
Acquisition and Provision of Kits for Cryonic Stabilizations
LES currently is acquiring a rudimentary HCS-phase stabilization kit. This kit ultimately will include a portable ice bath, heart-lung resuscitator, stabilizing chemicals, and related supplies. LES will modernize and upgrade the HCS-phase kit over time, replace kit components as they become obsolete, and undertake additional acquisition as funds permit. LES hopes to acquire a TBW-phase kit, perfusate for TBW, and a second HCS-phase kit, perform research into perfusate and other technologies, and assist in financing training in cryonic stabilization techniques.
LES provides its kit(s) upon the request of any cryonics organization, or its contractor, that performs remote (on-site) cryonic stabilizations in the LES service area. The service area currently is the urbanized mid-Atlantic region, including metropolitan Washington, Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia. A cryonics organization or contractor is under no obligation to request a kit. A cryonics organization or contractor that requests a kit is liable for a delivery fee (in 1996, $100.00), a "standby" fee (in 1996, $200.00) if the kit is delivered before actual deanimation, and, if the kit is used, a use fee (in 1996, the replacement cost of consumed materials and supplies). LES updates its fees annually.
LES does not employ personnel for cryonic stabilizations. Rather, each cryonics organization or contractor makes its own arrangements with trained stabilization technicians to use the kit(s) provided by LES. As a point of fact, some LES volunteers who maintain and deliver the kit(s) also could be trained stabilization technicians.
Financing of Cryonic Stabilization Kits
The lion's share of LES operating funds are used for outreach to attract new LES members, for dissemination of public information on life extension, and for publication of the Life Extension Society News. Operating funds also are used to maintaining existing kit(s). Because the kit(s) consist principally of non-perishable equipment and supplies, maintenance costs are low.
The operating account is funded principally by subscription fees and LES membership dues, which in 1996 are $10.00 and $60.00, respectively. In addition, delivery fees and use fees (but not standby fees) from cryonics organizations and contractors are paid into the operating account and used to pay for kit delivery and the replacement of materials and supplies consumed in stabilizations.
The acquisition account is used to acquire and upgrade the cryonic stabilization kits and to finance research and training. The acquisition account is funded by standby fees (but not delivery fees or use fees) and by "acquisition donations." An acquisition donation is a contribution by a paid-up LES member that is in addition to the membership dues that he or she pays for the same calendar year. LES also accepts direct donations of equipment and supplies. To encourage donations, LES is applying for 501(c)(3) status as a charitable organization.
Stabilization Memberships
A stabilization member of LES is an individual: 1) who is a paid-up LES member for the current year; and 2) whose combined past and present acquisition donations equal or exceed a threshold amount. (In 1996, the threshold amount is $140.00.) As equipment is acquired over the next few years, the threshold amount may have to be increased to meet funding needs. Since stabilization members are voting members of LES, their willingness to make acquisition donations ultimately will determine the threshold amount and the pace of acquisition.
LES is committed to ensuring the optimal preservation of stabilization members in good standing who reside in the service area. For a stabilization member whose deanimation is imminent, LES seeks volunteers to provide a "standby," waives the standby fee for the stabilization member's cryonics organization or contractor, and ensures that someone -- the applicable cryonics organization, its contractor, or LES -- has a kit ready for use at the deanimation site. If informed that a stabilization member has deanimated unexpectedly in the service area, LES rushes a kit to the deanimation site for immediate use. In the case of competing needs for a LES kit, a stabilization member in good standing receives priority.
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Last updated February 16th, 1996.