Apple confirmed the return of the Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch
Apple Restores Blood Oxygen Monitoring Feature on Apple Watch
After a long-standing patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo, Apple has announced the return of the Blood Oxygen reporting feature to its Apple Watch. Here's a breakdown of the key developments and current status:
Background
The patent dispute began when Masimo accused Apple of infringing on its patents related to pulse oximetry, a technology that uses light-based sensors for noninvasive biomarker capture in user-worn devices. In December 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in Masimo's favor, leading to an import ban on Apple Watch models with the feature enabled.
Recent Developments
To circumvent the ban, Apple found a workaround by offloading blood oxygen calculations from the Apple Watch to a paired iPhone. This was enabled through a software update, allowing users to view results in the Health app on their iPhone rather than directly on the watch. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ruled that Apple could import Apple Watches with this modified feature, prompting Masimo to sue CBP in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Ongoing Litigation
Masimo is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block the Customs decision, arguing that the CBP's ruling effectively creates a loophole that undermines the ITC's exclusion orders. The patents at issue are set to expire in August 2028, after which Apple could potentially reactivate its original implementation without needing a license from Masimo.
Availability for Users
The Blood Oxygen reporting feature will be available for U.S. customers with the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Users will need to update their iPhones to iOS 18.6.1 and their smartwatch to watchOS 11.6.1 for the feature to function.
The return of the Blood Oxygen reporting feature will be welcome news for many customers of the Apple Watch Series 10, a popular fitness tracker. Despite the ongoing litigation, Apple has managed to restore the feature, ensuring that users can continue to monitor their blood oxygen levels with their Apple Watch.
Sources: 1. Bloomberg 2. CNET 3. The Verge 4. TechCrunch 5. AppleInsider
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