Method and apparatus for monitoring heart function in a subcutaneously implanted device

A method of monitoring heart function of a patient's heart, comprising the steps of:

• detecting cardiac depolarizations and storing data corresponding to the detected cardiac depolarizations in a first memory portion;
• determining whether a cardiac event is detected in response to the detected depolarizations;
• and
• detecting pressure waves corresponding to the heart function, storing the data stored in the first memory portion and subsequently detected cardiac depolarizations and detected pressure waves in a second memory portion in response to a cardiac event being detected.

An implantable medical device system device for monitoring heart function of a patient's heart, comprising:

• a housing portion housing circuitry of the device;
• a plurality of electrodes, electrically coupled to the circuitry, detecting cardiac depolarizations;
• a sensor, electrically coupled to the circuitry, detecting pressure waves corresponding to the heart function;
• a storage device storing data corresponding to the cardiac depolarizations and the pressure waves;
• a control unit controlling the sensor and storage of the data in the storage device in response to the detected cardiac depolarizations and the detected pressure waves;
• an external device receiving and processing the stored data from the storage device;
• and
• a display unit couple to the external device displaying the cardiac depolarizations and the pressure waves.

An implantable medical device for monitoring heart function of a patient's heart, comprising the steps of:

• means for detecting cardiac depolarizations and storing data corresponding to the detected cardiac depolarizations in a first memory portion;
• means for determining whether a cardiac event is detected in response to the detected depolarizations;
• and
• means for detecting pressure waves corresponding to the heart function, storing the data stored in the first memory portion and subsequently detected cardiac depolarizations and detected pressure waves in a second memory portion in response to a cardiac event being detected.