Apple v Masimo
A federal jury in California has found that Apple infringed on a Masimo patent for its pulse oximetry technology and awarded Masimo $634 million in damages.
Masimo said:
“We are pleased by this outcome, and appreciate the time and attention given to our case by the court and the jury. This is a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property, which is crucial to our ability to develop technology that benefits patients. We remain committed to defending our IP rights moving forward.”
The two companies have been locked in a long patent battle. According to Apple, Masimo has sued the company in multiple courts over the past six years, asserting more than 25 patents, but most have been found to be invalid.
A U.S. administrative law judge previously ruled that by importing and selling some Apple Watches with light-based pulse oximetry functionality and components, Apple infringed on the medical device maker’s patent.
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) will now deliberate once again, on the possibility of implementing an import ban on these Apple Watches.
Unsurprisingly, Apple disagrees with the decision, which it believes is contrary to the facts, an Apple spokesperson said in a statement.
“Over the past six years (Masimo has) sued Apple in multiple courts and asserted over 25 patents, the majority of which have been found to be invalid,” the spokesperson said.
“The single patent in this case expired in 2022, and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology from decades ago.”
According to Masimo, in 2020, Apple first introduced a pulse oximeter sensor with the Apple Watch Series 6 and continues to integrate the technology in its current smartwatches.
Masimo makes pulse oximeters for medical use, with its Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology, proven to help reduce blindness in babies in the neonatal intensive care unit, save lives of post-surgical patients on opioids and COVID patients monitored remotely.
