An NYU doctor is suing Apple alleging it stole a life-saving Apple Watch feature he says he invented

Aaron Holmes

Dec 30, 2019, 22:21 IST

An NYU doctor is suing Apple alleging it stole a life-saving Apple Watch feature he says he invented

Stephen Lam / Stringer / Getty Images

An NYU cardiologist has filed a lawsuit against Apple over an Apple Watch feature that detects heartbeat irregularities, arguing that the company stole his patented design.
The feature is potentially life-saving - several people said they visited heart doctors in time to receive treatment after their Apple Watch detected an irregular heartbeat and alerted them.
The doctor claims that he first told Apple about the patent in 2017, but that the company "refused to negotiate in good faith." Apple has yet to comment on the claims.
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Apple Watches can detect irregularities in people's heartbeat and will alert them if they're showing signs of atrial fibrillation - but an NYU cardiologist says he designed the technology and is suing Apple, alleging the company stole it and didn't pay him.

Joseph Wiesel claims that he invented and patented the atrial fibrillation technology years ago, and filed a lawsuit against Apple on Friday seeking royalties, Bloomberg first reported.

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Apple has touted the Apple Watch's heart detection as a potentially life-saving feature. It was first rolled out with the Apple Watch Series 4, and is now available on all Apple Watch models. In November, a Texas man says his Apple Watch saved his life by notifying him of his irregular pulse in time for him to seek treatment.

Wiesel filed a patent in 2002 for a heartbeat detection device that alerts people to atrial fibrillation based on their pulse readings. In the lawsuit, Wiesel alleges that he notified Apple about his patent in 2017 but that the company "refused to negotiate in good faith."

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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