Apple chases the ultimate health watch, but it could take years

It is facing technical puzzles and patent-wielding competitors as it tries to create an all-in-one health wearable

- Dalvin Brown

Apple’s widening effort to turn its nine-year-old watch from a luxury timepiece into the ultimate all-in-one medical device is taking it into territory that is legally treacherous as well as potentially profitable.

This month’s suspension of Apple Watch sales was the starkest sign yet that the world’s most valuable tech company is treading new ground as it adds health features to the device. While Apple on Wednesday won a temporary reprieve to resume sales, specialists in medical devices say the technical and legal challenges are likely to continue.

For years, Apple has enhanced the gadget with potentially lifesaving monitors for atrial fibrillation, falls and blood-oxygen issues—raising its appeal for an aging population.

Many medical professionals envision a day when devices like the Apple Watch could also allow users to track blood pressure without the need for a bulky cuff, or blood sugar without the pain of skin punctures.

But for that, customers might have to wait. Just as Apple has been a pioneer in personal electronics, companies large and small that have been working in the healthcare tech space for years have their own intellectual property—and lawyers.

"Apple is entering into a new space where their own innovation engine isn’t as up to speed," said Andrei Iancu, a former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office who stepped down in 2021. "As a result, they might have the need for using other people’s technology."