Apple is changing its algorithm for the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen sensor in an effort to dodge the looming sales ban in the United States.
Apple will pause Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales in the United States before Christmas over a patent dispute with technology company Masimo, following an ITC ruling that it violated Masimo’s patents related to the blood oxygen sensor.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the looming sales ban has prompted high-stakes engineering changes. In short, Apple hopes to avoid the looming Apple Watch ban with a software update. The company is working to adjust its algorithm that monitors blood oxygen levels to avoid infringing on Masimo’s patents.
Apple making software changes in response to US Apple Watch ban
Engineers at the company are racing to make changes to algorithms on the device that measure a user’s blood oxygen level—a feature that Masimo Corp. has argued infringes its patents. They’re adjusting how the technology determines oxygen saturation and presents the data to customers, according to people familiar with the work.
Masimo argues that no software changes could avoid the patent violations. If Apple cannot work around Masimo’s patents by updating the watchOS software, the company would be wise to license Masimo’s technology.
Otherwise, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 will no longer be available from Apple’s online store on December 21 and via Apple retail stores from December 25. That would, in turn, leave the Apple Watch SE as the only model available for purchase in the United States.
The report states that Apple is working on “other potential workarounds” besides software fixes but doesn’t specify them.