Stasis field

A stasis field was used as a preservation device, mainly for biological tissue. It worked by altering the passage of time within the area subject to the field; usually either by slowing the passage of time, or stopping it all together.

Characteristics

All starships capable of hyperspace travel used stasis fields to protect the crew from the possible effects of traveling faster than the speed of light.

One specific type of stasis device kept its occupant's mind awake, but their body was trapped and remained inactive. While their body held in stasis, they apparently did not require sustenance to survive. It is unknown if they would still die from old age, though this seems unlikely.

Only Jedi were capable of controlling this type of stasis fields. The only recorded use of this device was when six members of the Jedi High Council trapped Dark Jedi Volfe Karkko in one. Karkko was incarcerated for a millennium before persuading Aayla Secura to set him free.

After his death, Aruk the Hutt was preserved in a stasis field by his son, Durga, until expert forensic examiners could arrive to perform an autopsy.

Mirax Terrik Horn was kidnapped and kept in stasis by Leonia Tavira.

Dread Lord Darth Krayt claimed to have been in stasis at some point in his life (though there is no way to determine if he did so once, or more than once, or how long that stasis was maintained), even though he also claimed to have perfected techniques used for prolonging life. He managed however to preserve his physical form well beyond his normal lifespan, but not without consequences.

Boba Fett was also "rumored" to have used a stasis field in extreme circumstances, though he usually preferred to kill and disintegrate his quaries.