Claims filed in court that Apple Watch update worsens heart rate measurement accuracy

Several doctors have filed an amicus brief in court arguing that the Apple Watch's heart rate monitoring feature has been limited in functionality, preventing access to a potentially life-saving product.

apple-watch-alivecor-amicus-brief.pdf
(PDF file) https://regmedia.co.uk/2024/06/27/apple-watch-alivecor-amicus-brief.pdf

Apple degraded Watch to cut competition, say heart doctors • The Register
https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/28/apple_watch_alivecor/

The doctors' brief is related to a lawsuit between Apple and medical device manufacturer AliveCor , which has also developed a sensor-equipped band for the Apple Watch. By combining the AliveCor band with the Apple Watch's heart rate measurement function, it was possible to obtain detailed electrocardiograms.

Electrocardiogram measurement band for Apple Watch enables measurement of hyperkalemia - GIGAZINE

When the Apple Watch was first released, Apple used a heart rate measurement algorithm called 'Heart Rate Path Optimizer (HRPO)', but in the 2018 release of ' watchOS 5 ', HRPO was abolished and instead a measurement algorithm that combined 'Heart Rate Neural Network (HRNN)' and 'Irregular Rhythm Notifications (IRN)' was adopted. This change caused AliveCor's electrocardiogram measurement app to stop working, so AliveCor filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that 'Apple's change to the Apple Watch's heart rate measurement algorithm violates antitrust laws.'

In response to the antitrust lawsuit filed by AliveCor, Apple argued that 'HRRN is more accurate than HRPO' and indicated its intention to fight the lawsuit. Then, in February 2024, the court issued a summary judgment that 'Apple's changes to the heart rate measurement algorithm do not violate the antitrust law.'

Several doctors have now filed a brief with the court arguing that 'Apple's replacement of the heart rate measurement function from HRPO to a combination of HRRN and IRN has made it difficult to monitor heart health,' and that 'Apple's changes have prevented access to a potentially life-saving product,' and have asked the court to continue the antitrust lawsuit filed by AliveCor. Neither Apple nor AliveCor has commented at this time, but if the doctors' brief is accepted by the court, the lawsuit may be revived.

In addition, sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States will be halted in 2024 due to patent infringement of the blood oxygen concentration measurement function .

Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 banned in the US again, but Apple plans to continue selling them by removing the blood oxygen monitoring function - GIGAZINE