What happens after cryopreservation?

Once a patient has been cooled and vitrified, the next critical step is long-term storage — a phase that must maintain stability for decades or even centuries.

Unlike typical freezing, cryopreservation involves bringing the body to a glass-like (vitrified) state using cryoprotectants. Once in this state, no biological decay occurs. The body can be stored indefinitely as long as the correct conditions are maintained.

That’s where cryopreservation storage comes in.

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The ideal temperature: -196°C

At -196°C — the temperature of liquid nitrogen — molecular motion virtually stops. This halts:

• Enzymatic activity
• Bacterial growth
• Decomposition

This temperature is cold enough to preserve tissues and organs in their current state without forming ice crystals, which are what typically cause cell damage during freezing.

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How cryopreservation storage is maintained

At Tomorrow.bio, patients are stored in vacuum-insulated dewars — tall, cylindrical containers that hold liquid nitrogen and maintain the required temperature passively, without the need for electricity.

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Key features of cryopreservation storage systems:

• No power required: Unlike mechanical freezers, dewars stay cold through the natural evaporation of nitrogen.
• Redundant systems: Multiple sensors and manual checks ensure liquid nitrogen levels are always adequate.
• Secure facilities: Our partner storage facility, the European Biostasis Foundation in Switzerland, is equipped with backup systems, access control, and real-time monitoring.
• Safe materials: Storage chambers are built with materials that can withstand cold-induced stress for decades.

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How long can a body stay preserved?

Theoretically, indefinitely — as long as temperatures remain stable. Cryopreserved patients are not degrading, decaying, or aging. There’s no metabolic activity at -196°C.

This is why many view cryopreservation not as a medical intervention, but as a time bridge — a way to wait for future technology without further decline.

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How are multiple patients stored?

Each patient is stored individually in a canister within a larger dewar. The storage design:

• Keeps patients upright to protect brain structure
• Minimizes exposure during inspection or refill
• Prevents contamination or thermal stress

Some dewars store full bodies; others are designed for neuro patients (those preserving only the head/brain).

Tomorrow.bio offers only whole-body cryopreservation to preserve as much biological and identity-relevant material as possible.

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What happens if storage fails?

Because cryonics involves long-term planning, providers prepare for all contingencies:

• Facility failure: Liquid nitrogen storage is independent of the power grid. Backup generators and manual protocols are in place.
• Political risk: Patients are stored in stable countries (e.g., Switzerland) with clear biostasis legislation.
• Organizational collapse: Trusts, endowments, and partner foundations are established to manage patients even if the original company no longer exists.

Tomorrow.bio collaborates with the European Biostasis Foundation, which is structured as a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to long-term preservation and patient safety.

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How is storage paid for?

Cryopreservation costs — typically €200,000 — cover not only the procedure but lifetime storage. Funds are secured via life insurance and managed to cover:

There are no surprise fees later on — this is critical for ethical and sustainable storage.

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Why this step matters

While it may seem passive, cryopreservation storage is arguably the most important step of all — it ensures that the effort of preservation isn’t lost to time, decay, or human error.

It’s not just about cold temperatures. It’s about trust. It’s about keeping a promise — to wait, to protect, to hope.

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About Tomorrow.bio

At Tomorrow.bio, we are dedicated to advancing the science of cryopreservation with the goal of giving people and pets a second chance at life. As Europe’s leading cryopreservation provider, we focus on rapid, high-quality standby, stabilization, and storage of terminal patients — preserving them until future medical technologies may allow revival and treatment.

Our mission is to make cryopreservation a reliable and accessible option for everyone. We believe that no life — human or animal — should end because current medical capabilities fall short.

📧 Contact us at: hello@tomorrow.bio
🌐 Visit our website: www.tomorrow.bio
🤝 Schedule a consultation: Book a call

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