Masimo CEO Joe Kiani used the interview to slam Apple's use of pulse oximeters in the Apple Watch and confirmed that there have been no recent settlement talks.
Masimo CEO Joe Kiani hasn't been shy about expressing his feelings about the company's public spat with Apple over pulse oximeter technology. In a new interview, he blasted Apple for its use of the technology.
"Apple is disguising the product they're offering to consumers as a reliable medical pulse oximeter even though it's not," Chiani said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Thursday. "I really wholeheartedly believe that consumers are better off not using it."
Apple has not sought approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to certify the Apple Watch as a medical device. Chiani pointed out that on the Apple Watch, there are only two automatic measurements per day by default, while Masimo's product monitors continuously.
"A pulse oximeter is useless unless it's being monitored continuously. That happens during sleep," Chiani said in an earlier interview after showing off the Masimo product on his wrist. "During sleep, you can experience desaturation associated with apnea, or you can experience dangerous desaturation from taking opioid painkillers, and that's where the value comes from."
During the interview, Chiani also previewed the yet-to-be-released MasimoFreedomWatch, which integrates health tracking sensors. He said he believed his product could take market share away from Apple and "people who really care about pulse oximeters."
Although in an interview on Thursday, Chiani said there had been no recent licensing discussions, he had previously said a settlement with Apple was possible. In mid-December, he also said the company had not been in contact with Apple recently, aside from a court-ordered mediation that was inconclusive.
The CEO also claimed at the time that Apple hired more than 20 engineers from the company, sometimes doubling their salaries to work on similar technology for use in the Apple Watch. He added that the ITC's import ban could have been avoided if the Apple Watch and its components were produced in the United States like Masimo's products.
Apple is appealing a related patent that bans imports and sales. The appeals process and software updates are ongoing, but it's unclear how long either process will take.
Masimo reportedly demands a licensing fee as high as $3 per Apple Watch. Apple is also countersuing Masimo, claiming that the company's W1 watch infringes on multiple Apple design patents.
Apple currently has pulse oximetry disabled for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold on its website. Third parties may still sell existing inventory of pulse oximeters enabled until they are depleted.
In addition to producing medical equipment, Masimo also owns brands such as Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk, Definitive Technology, Classe, Heos and Boston Acoustics.