A cryogenic processor is a device engineered to reduce the temperature of an object to cryogenic levels, typically around −300°F (−184.44°C), at a moderate rate in order to prevent thermal shock to the components being treated. The inception of commercial cryogenic processors dates back to the late 1960s, pioneered by Ed Busch. The development of programmable microprocessor controls allowed machines to follow temperature profiles that increased the effectiveness of the process. Certain manufacturers integrate home computers into cryogenic processors to program the temperature profiles.
Before programmable controls were added to control cryogenic processors, the treatment process of an object was done manually by immersing the object in liquid nitrogen.