Medical device company Masimo has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the reactivation of the Apple Watch’s Blood Oxygen feature. The company is now seeking to reinstate the import ban on Apple Watch models that use the feature, claiming that CBP overstepped its authority and violated procedural rules. If you are not familiar, Apple recently released iOS 18.6.1, which included a workaround for Blood Oxygen Monitoring through your iPhone, and it appears that the mechanism did not sit well with Masimo.
Masimo challenges U.S. Customs’ approval of Apple Watch Blood Oxygen workaround, seeking to reinstate the original import ban
The dispute between Apple and Masimo began in December of 2023 when the U.S. International Trade Commission, or ITC, ruled that Apple infringed Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents. An import ban then came into effect, which prevented Apple from selling Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models with the Blood Oxygen feature in the United States. In response, Apple temporarily disabled the feature via software updates, which allowed the company to keep the devices on sale without any violations.
A day or two after Apple re-released the feature via a workaround, Masimo is asking the court for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to block the CBP ruling. The company wants the original ITC import ban reinstated, 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 states that CBP’s action nullifies the ITC’s exclusion order, which undermines the legal protection of its patented technology.
It has now come to light that CBP thereafter reversed itself without any meaningful justification, without any material change in circumstances, and without any notice to Masimo, let alone an opportunity for Masimo to be heard. CBP changed its position on Apple’s watch-plus-iPhone redesign through an ex parte proceeding. Specifically, on August 1, 2025, CBP issued an ex parte ruling permitting Apple to import devices that, when used with iPhones already in the United States, perform the same functionality that the ITC found to infringe Masimo’s patents. Masimo only discovered this ruling on Thursday, August 14, 2025, when Apple publicly announced it would be reintroducing the pulse oximetry functionality through a software update.
The lawsuit could have wide-ranging implications for both the tech and medical industries. It also highlights the tensions between patent rights, regulatory enforcement, and innovation in technology. It remains to be seen how the entire ordeal pans out, and we will be keeping a close eye on the case, so be sure to stick around for an update on the story. Do you think Apple will retract its workaround feature that allows Blood Oxygen Monitoring on your iPhone and through your Apple Watch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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