From Nasdaq:

Apple is removing the blood-oxygen feature from its latest smartwatches to avoid a U.S. ban amid a patent dispute with Masimo. The U.S. Court of Appeals found that Apple’s redesigned watches do not contain pulse oximetry functionality, likely helping to avoid further sales disruptions. The tech giant is awaiting a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals, which is expected in the coming days.

The move comes after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) banned the sales of Apple’s latest watch models in October, finding that they infringed patents owned by Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories, Inc. related to the blood-oxygen feature. However, the Exclusion Order Enforcement Branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has decided that Apple’s redesign falls outside the scope of the remedial orders.

Following the ITC ban, Apple had halted sales of its new watch models briefly, but resumed temporarily after a federal appeals court paused the ban. A permanent stay on the ban while Apple appeals the ITC ruling is expected from the U.S. Court of Appeals in the coming days, Apple’s spokesperson said the watches will continue to include the blood-oxygen feature for the time being, and its removal would only be necessary if the Appeals court doesn’t grant a permanent stay on the U.S. trade ban.



Read more: Apple To Remove Blood Oxygen Sensor From Series 9, Ultra 2 Smartwatches