After an extensive patent conflict with the medical device manufacturer Masimo, Apple has revealed the reinstatement of the Blood Oxygen reporting capability on the Apple Watch. In a blog entry, Apple announced that customers in the U.S. with the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be able to utilize the feature later today following updates to their iPhones to iOS 18.6.1 and to their smartwatches to watchOS 11.6.1.

The blog entry states, “After this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be processed and interpreted on the connected iPhone, with results accessible in the Respiratory section of the Health app. This update was made possible by a recent ruling from U.S. Customs.”

In 2023, right before the holiday shopping season, the newly launched Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 were pulled from U.S. stores due to the issue with Masimo. The company was also prevented from bringing in new Apple Watches featuring the capability, as reported by Mashable at that time. Masimo asserted that Apple had violated its patent in the development of the blood oxygen capability, and the International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Masimo.

The disputed pulse oximetry capability gauges blood oxygen levels, offering crucial information for athletes and individuals with breathing health concerns.

Now, the capability is poised to make its return to Apple Watches.

As noted in Apple’s blog announcement, the update is feasible due to a recent judgment in favor of Apple. Apple had countersued Masimo, claiming the company had breached Apple’s patents. Bloomberg Law reported that Apple secured a total of $250 in the appellate court ruling, with an Apple lawyer mentioning, “We’re not here for the money” during the concluding arguments.

Moreover, Apple guarantees that the latest updates will not influence “Apple Watch units previously acquired that include the original Blood Oxygen feature, nor will it impact Apple Watch units bought outside the U.S.”

The Apple Watch Series 10 has already gained traction as a favored fitness tracker, and the reintroduction of Blood Oxygen reporting will be positive news for numerous customers.