The ongoing legal war over blood oxygen sensors has taken another complicated turn. A federal appeals court just upheld a previous ruling that Apple violated medical technology company Masimo’s patents. While this sounds like a massive blow to the tech giant, the victory is largely symbolic.
A separate decision from the International Trade Commission ensures that Apple will not face another disruptive import ban in the United States.
The software workaround saves the day
Back in late 2023, the International Trade Commission forced Apple to briefly halt sales of certain smartwatches after concluding the built-in pulse oximeter infringed on Masimo’s intellectual property. Apple initially responded by simply disabling the feature entirely for US customers.
By August 2025, Apple had developed a new technical workaround. The sensors still collect blood oxygen data, but the processing now happens entirely on a paired iPhone rather than the watch itself. Users can only view their results on the phone screen. Apple argued that this shifted process cleared the legal hurdles. The International Trade Commission recently agreed.
A judge ruled that this specific redesign does not infringe on Masimo’s patents. Masimo had pressured the commission to reject the modification, but the ruling allows Apple to keep selling its wearables without interruption.
There are still ongoing battles and expiring patents
Masimo is not walking away completely empty-handed from this multi-year dispute. The federal appeals court did affirm the original 2023 ruling, validating Masimo’s claims that its patents were violated by earlier implementations. Additionally, Masimo secured a $634 million verdict in a separate federal jury trial last November. Apple maintains that Masimo’s allegations are false and is currently appealing the financial penalty.
Both companies are digging in for a long fight, but the clock is ticking on the underlying intellectual property. The specific patents at the center of this controversy are scheduled to expire in less than three years.
Once those protections lapse, Apple will likely be free to restore full on-device blood oxygen processing. For now, American consumers will have to rely on their phones to check their vitals.
