ITC Judge Rejects Masimo’s Bid to Ban Redesigned Apple Watches
A U.S. International Trade Commission judge ruled that Apple’s redesigned Apple Watches do not infringe Masimo’s blood-oxygen monitoring patents, rejecting Masimo’s bid for a renewed import ban. The full ITC commission will now decide whether to affirm the preliminary decision after Apple altered its watches to circumvent the 2023 ban.
1. Preliminary Ruling and Rationale
A U.S. International Trade Commission judge preliminarily ruled that Apple’s redesigned Apple Watches do not infringe Masimo’s blood-oxygen monitoring patents, rejecting Masimo’s bid for a renewed import ban on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models.
2. Apple’s Redesign to Avoid Ban
After the ITC blocked imports in December 2023, Apple removed direct on-watch blood-oxygen readings, routing measurements through paired iPhones instead. This design change secured U.S. Customs approval for resumed imports in August 2025.
3. Next Steps and Broader Patent Battle
The full ITC commission will review whether to affirm the judge’s decision, and Apple intends to explore further review at the Federal Circuit. The dispute continues alongside Masimo’s $634 million patent verdict, its challenge to customs approvals and a pending $9.9 billion acquisition of Masimo by Danaher.