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Stasis chamber as seen in Star Trek: Voyager

Suspended Animation is the process of having one's vital functions slowed down to near death by external means. Sometimes referred to as cryostasis or stasis, it often involves cooling the body to very low temperatures, though techniques sometimes vary. In reality, extreme cold has been found to slow down the functioning of the body's systems to the point of being undetectable without causing death, for a limited period of time. Practical application is limited but has led to study in the field of cryonics.

Suspended animation is used often in science fiction as a means of travelling for long periods of time without being subjected to aging, the demands of the human body, and the effects of long-term space travel. Other uses include suspending life in cases of injury or disease, in hopes of a future cure.

It has also been used in Sci Fi as a way to bring a character into another time period. Buck Rogers was accidentally placed into a state of suspended animation, and Adam Adamant was frozen by The Face, an enemy of his. Austin Powers is another example, as is Captain Caveman. Some stories have had prehistoric creatures thawing out to become menaces in modern times.

Some popular examples of suspended animation can be found in:

2001: A Space Odyssey

Stargate Atlantis—Episode "Before I Sleep"

Stargate SG-1—Episodes "Frozen," "Lost City, Part 2," "Lifeboat"

Star Trek: Voyager—Episodes "The 37s," "The Thaw," "Resolutions," "One"

Star Trek: The Next Generation— Episodes "The Emissary", "The Neutral Zone"

The Torchwood team has a suspended animation "vault" in the Hub

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