The U.S. International Trade Commission on April 18 2026 declined to review a prior ruling that cleared Apple’s redesigned Apple Watch models of patent infringement, effectively ending Masimo’s attempt to reinstate an import ban on the devices.
The decision follows a series of legal milestones: on March 18 2026 the ITC Administrative Law Judge Monica Bhattacharyya ruled that Apple’s redesigned watches do not infringe Masimo’s patents; Masimo and Apple filed petitions for Commission review on March 25 2026; and the Federal Circuit had affirmed the ITC’s exclusion order on March 19 2026.
For Masimo, the ruling removes a key legal avenue that could have generated licensing revenue or damages. The company’s strategy to leverage its proprietary SET® pulse‑oximetry technology against Apple is now constrained, and the loss of a potential import ban limits its ability to protect its intellectual property in the U.S. market.
Apple, meanwhile, can continue selling its redesigned watches, which process blood‑oxygen data on the iPhone rather than on the watch itself. Apple’s statement expressed gratitude for the ITC decision and emphasized its ongoing legal campaign against Masimo.
The broader legal dispute remains active. Masimo can appeal the ITC decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the companies are also involved in a separate federal court case in California. A federal jury awarded Masimo $634 million in a patent‑infringement lawsuit against Apple in November 2025, a judgment that Apple is appealing. In addition, Masimo is in the process of being acquired by Danaher Corporation for $180 per share, with completion expected in the second half of 2026, a transaction that could reshape the future of the dispute.
Financial context underscores the significance of the ruling. Masimo reported consolidated revenue of $601 million for Q4 2024, up 9 % from the prior year, and healthcare revenue of $368 million, up 8 % year‑over‑year. For the full year 2024, consolidated revenue was $2,094 million, a 2 % increase, and healthcare revenue was $1,395 million, up 9 %. In Q3 2025, the company posted revenue of $371.5 million, a 8.2 % GAAP growth, and a non‑GAAP net income per diluted share of $1.32, a 38 % increase. Masimo’s full‑year 2025 guidance projects healthcare revenue between $1,500 million and $1,530 million.
The ITC decision therefore has immediate legal implications for Masimo and Apple and signals a shift in the competitive dynamics of the wearable‑device market. For investors and industry observers, the ruling highlights the ongoing legal battles that could influence Masimo’s valuation and the strategic direction of its pending acquisition by Danaher.
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