Apple has reintroduced the blood oxygen detection feature on the Apple Watch for US users after redesigning the function and gaining approval from a recent US Customs ruling. The feature, previously disabled due to patent disputes, is now available through a software update.
Legal battle forces temporary removal
The blood oxygen monitoring capability had been unavailable in the US market amid an ongoing legal dispute with medical technology company Masimo. Masimo filed a complaint in 2023 with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), seeking to block Apple Watch sales over alleged patent infringements. The ITC responded with an exclusion order that temporarily removed the latest Apple Watch models from US shelves, prompting Apple to disable the blood oxygen sensor via software.
Dispute origins trace back years
According to CNBC and Reuters, the dispute traces back to accusations that Apple recruited employees from Masimo and misappropriated trade secrets, resulting in a patent lawsuit filed in 2020. This conflict persisted despite the Apple Watch Series 6 launching that same year with blood oxygen detection capabilities.
Software updates restore functionality
Apple has confirmed that current models, including the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, will receive the blood oxygen feature through future software updates. Users will be able to view related health data on their paired iPhones.
Currently, the Apple Watch supports various health monitoring functions, including electrocardiogram (ECG) reading, sleep tracking, fall detection, and wrist temperature monitoring. Apple remains committed to advancing health technologies on its wearable devices despite the ongoing legal challenges.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
