Apple Ordered to Pay $634M for Infringing Medical Device Patent

A federal jury in California ruled Friday that Apple must pay medical device maker Masimo $634 million for infringing a patent on blood oxygen monitoring technology. Reuters reports the jury found that the Apple Watch's workout mode and heart rate notification features violated Masimo's patent. This is a significant win in Masimo's ongoing efforts to protect its innovations and intellectual property, which is crucial to its ability to develop technology that benefits patients, Masimo said in a statement. We remain committed to defending our IP rights moving forward. In a statement to Reuters, an Apple spokesperson said the company plans to appeal the verdict, adding that the single patent in this case expired in 2022 and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology from decades ago. TechCrunch has reached out to Apple for additional comment. The legal dispute between Masimo and Apple focuses on pulse oximetry, a technology that uses an optical sensor to detect blood flow. Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees, including its chief medical officer, and infringing its patents on pulse oximetry technology. The U.S. International Trade Commission sided with Masimo in 2023, banning Apple from importing certain products that allegedly infringed on Masimo's patents. Pulse oximetry is a widely used technology in medical devices, including pulse oximeters, which are small devices that clip onto a patient's finger to measure blood oxygen levels. The technology has become increasingly important in recent years, particularly in the development of wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. Masimo's CEO, Joe Kiani, has been a vocal advocate for the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the medical device industry. In a statement, Kiani said, "This verdict is a significant win for Masimo and for the medical device industry as a whole. It demonstrates the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and the value of innovation in developing life-saving technologies." The verdict is likely to have significant implications for the medical device industry, particularly in the development of wearable devices and mobile health technologies. As the industry continues to evolve, companies will need to navigate complex patent laws and regulations to protect their intellectual property rights. The case is now headed to the appeals court, where Apple will likely challenge the verdict. Apple has not yet commented on the specifics of its appeal, but the company has previously argued that its use of pulse oximetry technology in its products is protected by fair use provisions. The outcome of the appeal will be closely watched by the medical device industry, which is increasingly reliant on wearable devices and mobile health technologies. As the industry continues to evolve, companies will need to navigate complex patent laws and regulations to protect their intellectual property rights and stay ahead of the competition.