University Cardiologist Sues Apple Inc For Stealing His Heartbeat-Monitoring Invention

The iPhone maker Apple Inc has been sued by a New York University cardiologist who alleges that the Tech Giant firm’s Apple Watch uses his patented heartbeat-monitoring invention and he wants compensation.

Yesterday, Dr Joseph Wiesel, who teaches at New York University School of Medicine filed the lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn. According to Wiesel, Apple Watch violates his patent for a method to detect an irregular heartbeat.

The case is Wiesel v. Apple Inc., 19-7261, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn)

Apple wearables segment generated more than $24 billion in sales profits last year. The segment which entails Apple Watch, Apple TV and Beats headphones, generated more profits after Apple marketed a feature in the watch that can measure the wearer’s heart rate and provide notifications of an irregular pulse.

According to Wiesel, his invention covered “pioneering steps in atrial fibrillation detection by monitoring irregular pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals.”

He wants the court to order Apple to pay him royalties and block the company from using his invention without permission. Wiesel said Apple refused to negotiate in good faith to avoid this lawsuit when he first contacted Apple in September 2017 giving the California-based company detailed information about the patent.