What you should know
- The pulse oximeter feature might be disabled on newly purchased Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in the U.S. due to an Exclusion Order issued by the International Trade Commission (ITC).
- The pulse oximeter measures the saturation of oxygen in a person’s red blood cells and a reading under 92% could indicate hypoxia, a condition that develops if a person’s tissues fail to receive enough oxygen.
- Joe Kiani, the CEO of Masimo, the company that filed the patent infringement suit against Apple, advised consumers to avoid using the pulse oximeter on the Apple Watch.
- The pulse oximeter on the Apple Watch was able to help a doctor onboard a Ryanair flight determine that a passenger with an existing heart condition had low oxygen saturation, allowing him to administer oxygen and potentially save her life.
Full Story
The pulse oximeter feature on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 might be a no-show for new buyers in the U.S. This is due to an Exclusion Order issued by the International Trade Commission (ITC). However, if you snagged one of these watches before the order, the feature’s still there. Older models, going back to the Apple Watch 6, also have it (SE models excluded).
The pulse oximeter, what’s it do? It measures the level of oxygen saturation in your red blood cells. Normal readings usually fall between 95% to 100%. Anything under 92%? That could mean hypoxia, a condition where your tissues aren’t getting enough oxygen.
Joe Kiani, the big boss of Masimo, isn’t a fan of the Apple Watch’s pulse oximeter. Masimo is the company that filed the patent infringement suit against Apple, which led to the ITC’s Exclusion Order. Kiani recently suggested that consumers should steer clear of using the feature. Despite this, a couple of weeks back, the feature reportedly saved an airline passenger’s life on a Ryanair flight from Birmingham, U.K. to Verona, Italy.
The passenger, a woman in her 70s, was feeling a bit breathless. This led the crew on the aircraft to look for a doctor onboard. Enter Dr. Rashid Riaz, a Nation Health Service (NHS) doctor who happened to be on the flight. He was told the woman had a pre-existing heart condition.
Dr. Riaz borrowed an Apple Watch from the crew. “The Apple Watch helped me to find out the patient had low oxygen saturation,” he said. As the flight continued, an oxygen cylinder was used on the passenger. She was helped off the plane by medical staff in Italy an hour later.
Dr. Riaz had a few thoughts on the Apple Watch’s pulse oximeter. “I used a lot of my own learning during this flight on how to use the gadget. It’s a lesson in how we can improve in-flight journeys [with] this sort of emergency [via] a basic gadget which nowadays is easily available.” He added, “These things can save someone’s life in an emergency situation.” The pulse oximeter on the Apple Watch helped him figure out what the passenger’s problem was and how he could help her during the flight.
