They cannot detect oxygen levels in the blood
Apple has prepared modified Apple Watch models that «do not include pulse oximetry functionality», health technology company Masimo announced in a document filed today in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
A document accessed by MacRumors says Apple will remove the Blood Oxygen app from the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the US, at least temporarily. The change will allow Apple to bypass a ban on the import and sale of Apple Watch models with a blood oxygen sensor that the U.S. International Trade Commission imposed last year after it ruled Apple had infringed Masimo's pulse oximetry patents. The ban had already been temporarily suspended shortly after it began last month, but it could resume as early as this month, which Apple was reluctant to allow.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has begun shipping customized Apple Watch models to retail stores in the United States, but it's unclear when they will go on sale. Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment.
At the time of writing, Apple's website still advertises the Blood Oxygen app as an available feature on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 order pages in the US. This feature can measure and display your body's blood oxygen percentage and is for «health purposes» only. Existing Series 9 and Ultra 2 owners will likely continue to have access to this feature. It is also not expected to be removed from models sold in other countries.
Removing this feature is likely a temporary solution, as Gurman reported that Apple is preparing a software update that will adjust the Blood Oxygen app's algorithms in an attempt to avoid Masimo's proprietary technology.