According to a report by Apple Insider, Apple is getting sued by a US-based doctor who has just filed a lawsuit alleging that Apple is
wilfully violating his patent surrounding the technology used in Apple Watch to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib)
Cardiologist, Dr. Joseph Wiesel was awarded the patent for “method of and apparatus for detecting atrial fibrillation” back on March 28, 2006 according to New York Unversity. The specific patent is 7,020,514.
This method is basically uses photoplethysmography which is a function found in the Apple watch that uses green light and sensors according to the Dr. Wiesel.
Dr. Wiesel said that he contacted Apple notifying them about the patent on September 2017 after the Apple Watch Series 3 was launched but Apple refused to negotiate with him according to the report even after Dr. Wiesel provided Apple with all details about his patent and pointing out the elements of the Apple Watch that he claimed to be in violation.
According to Dr. Wiesel, Apple knows that it is infringing the patent and is doing this intentionally. Dr. Wiesel wants royalties from Apple going forward and recovery of past damages as well.
The Cupertino-based tech giant has yet to respond to this lawsuit in court.
The Apple watch at this point does not give a final conclusion as to whether a person is actually suffering from Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) which is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to formation of a blood clot in the heart which can then head up to the brain causing a stroke.
Although the irregular reading can still make people consult their doctors potentially saving lives of those who might actually have an issue.
The Apple Watch Series 4 and later and now work with an ECG app to take an ECG similar to a single lead reading. Users can take ECG recording and it gives a result as to whether the heart rhythm is either AFib, sinus or inconclusive. This is done by measuring the electrical signals across the heart. All the user has to do is hold their finger on the Digital Crown of the watch and when they do. it automatically starts the ECG recording.
Estimates say that almost 1 percent of the adult population is affected by Atrial Fibrillation.
We will get more information about this lawsuit as Apple responds to it in court.
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