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The conflict began in December 2023 when the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that Apple had infringed on Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents. As a result, an import ban prevented the sale of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models with Blood Oxygen feature in the United States. In response, Apple temporarily disabled the feature through software updates, allowing them to continue selling these devices without violating the ban.
A day or two after re-releasing the Blood Oxygen feature via a workaround, Masimo filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block CBP’s ruling. The company aims to reinstate the original ITC import ban, arguing that each day the new ruling remains in effect causes irreparable harm to its competitive position in the U.S. market. According to Bloomberg Law, Masimo also contends that CBP’s action nullifies the ITC’s exclusion order, undermining legal protection of its patented technology.
CBP reversed itself without justification or a notice to Masimo on August 1, 2025, allowing Apple to import devices that perform the same functionality as those found to infringe on Masimo’s patents. Masimo only discovered this ruling when Apple publicly announced it would reintroduce pulse oximetry through a software update on August 14, 2025.
This lawsuit could have wide-ranging implications for both the tech and medical industries, highlighting tensions between patent rights, regulatory enforcement, and innovation in technology. The outcome remains uncertain, and further developments will be closely monitored.
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