Abstract: According to certain embodiments, monitoring the health of a cryocooler includes monitoring physical properties of the cryocooler to obtain failure precursor parameters that indicate cryocooler health. A health fingerprint of the cryocooler is accessed. The health fingerprint associates the failure precursor parameters with a health level of the cryocooler. The health of the cryocooler is estimated in accordance with the health level.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, monitoring the health of a cryocooler includes monitoring physical properties of the cryocooler to obtain failure precursor parameters that indicate cryocooler health. A health fingerprint of the cryocooler is accessed. The health fingerprint associates the failure precursor parameters with a health level of the cryocooler. The health of the cryocooler is estimated in accordance with the health level.

Abstract: A connector apparatus system and method for providing a direct electrical connection to an implanted medical device for recharging batteries, reprogramming memory, or accessing data. The apparatus consists of a needle-like male connector in conjunction with an implantable female connector that is attached to the implanted medical device and contains a self-resealing elastomeric septum entry port. The female connector comprises a recepticle chamber that is densely packed with a plurality of randomly intertwining, thin, flexible, and conductive metal fibers. External battery charging equipment can be connected to the implanted medical device's internal battery with the connector apparatus system. The required circuit path for recharging can be completed by the use of two single polarity connector pairs, one single polarity connector pair in conjunction with a grounding plate, or one bipolar connector pair.