ITC judge says Apple Watch’s redesigned blood oxygen feature doesn’t infringe Masimo’s patents

There are two new developments in Apple’s ongoing legal battle with health technology company Masimo over the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen feature.

First, ITC Administrative Law Judge Monica Bhattacharyya found in a preliminary ruling that Apple’s redesigned version of the Apple Watch’s blood pressure feature does not infringe Masimo’s patents.

Second, the Federal Circuit affirmed the ITC’s preliminary injunction, ie the original The version of the blood oxygen feature on the Apple Watch is still banned in the United States.

Apple Watch’s redesigned blood oxygen feature

In the first decision filed on Wednesday, Administrative Law Judge Monica Bhattacharyya wrote that “there is no underlying act of direct infringement” of Masimo’s patents with the redesigned version of the blood oxygen feature of the Apple Watch, even if it is paired with an iPhone. ITC first announced its move last November, three months after Apple introduced a redesigned version of the feature in the US.

As an update, Apple’s redesigned version of the feature moves most of the process to the iPhone instead of the Apple Watch. You still get blood oxygen readings on the Apple Watch itself, but you have to view the results on your paired iPhone. You can’t view those results on your Apple Watch itself.

Justice Bhattacharyya’s determination is the first, recommended determination. It now goes to the full ITC Commission for a final decision.

In a statement to 9 on 5 MacAn Apple spokesperson praised the decision from Judge Bhattacharyya:

“We thank the Administrative Law Judge for the thorough review, and we are pleased with the decision. For six years, Masimo has brought dozens of false claims against Apple, almost all of which have been dismissed. We will continue to innovate to create the best health, wellness, and life-saving features for our users.”

Apple Watch’s first blood oxygen feature

The second development is that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit today affirmed the first decision of the ITC from 2023.

This is the exclusion order that initially forced Apple to halt sales of the Apple Watch in the US briefly in December 2023. A few weeks later, Apple resumed selling the Apple Watch in the US, but the blood oxygen feature was disabled.

With today’s decision by the Federal Circuit, that eviction order remains in place. Apple is allowed to continue selling the Apple Watch with a redesigned version of the blood oxygen feature in the US, but cannot replace the original version of the feature.

In a statement to 9 on 5 MacAn Apple spokesperson said:

“We disagree with this decision and are exploring all avenues for review. We are innovating every day to improve the industry’s best aspects of health, wellness, and safety, and we will continue to work to provide our users with the best products and services in the world.”

The company says it believes the decision is wrong and is exploring avenues for further review. Also, there is no impact on users’ ability to use the current blood oxygen feature available in the United States today.

(h/t IP Fray)