Jury finds Apple Watch infringes Masimo blood oxygen patents
A California jury determined that Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring features infringe patents owned by medical device company Masimo and ordered Apple to pay $634 million in damages. Apple states it will appeal, arguing the relevant patents expired in 2022 and its technology was independently developed.
What happened
A California jury on November 14 found that Apple Watch infringes patents held by medical device company Masimo related to blood oxygen saturation measurement technology using light transmission through skin. The jury determined that Apple Watch's workout mode and heart rate notification features violated Masimo's patents.
Masimo has alleged that Apple recruited its employees and used the company's technology in Apple Watch Series 6 and later models beginning in 2020. Apple contends that the patents expired in 2022 and that its health sensors were independently developed by Apple engineers.
Reported impact
The jury awarded Masimo $634 million in damages. Apple stated it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal.
Index analysis
The U.S. International Trade Commission previously issued an import ban on Apple Watch models with blood oxygen detection due to the patent dispute. Apple removed the blood oxygen feature from Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sold in the United States.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.