Apple must switch off Health function in Watch in the USA
Following a patent dispute with the company Masimo, Apple will no longer be using the blood oxygen measurement function on the Apple Watch in the USA. All models with the function are affected, including the current Series 9 and Ultra 2, although devices that have already been sold will retain the function.
Apple has apparently decided to remove the blood oxygen measurement function from its smartwatches. This is for reasons of patent protection, as reported by Bloomberg. The company Masimo accused Apple of infringing patent protection in the field of pulse oximetry with this function. This led to a temporary sales ban in the USA for the current Series 9 and Ultra 2 models.
Apple then filed an appeal and proposed certain changes to protect Masimo's patents. In the end, however, Apple seems to have agreed to remove the blood oxygen measurement from the watches completely. Masimo has agreed to this, meaning that the sales ban is no longer valid.
This means that Apple has prevented the greatest evil for them, even if the Watch is missing an essential function as a result. However, due to the confirmation of the Masimo patents by the International Trade Commission, the Cupertino-based company has no other choice. After all, as The Verge reports, this only affects devices that will be sold in the USA in the future.
Watches that have already been sold will probably retain the function. In addition, the problem does not affect the sale of watches in Europe, as reported by Handelsblatt. However, Apple has yet to issue an official statement.
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I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.