Apple Watch Uses Atrial Fibrillation Invention Stolen From NY Cardiologist, Alleges Complaint 

A Long Island cardiologist accused Apple of stealing his atrial fibrillation-detection invention and building it into the Apple Watch. Joseph Wiesel, a board-certified cardiologist on the faculty of the New York University School of Medicine, landed a March 2006 patent for an “innovative approach” that “allowed patients to properly monitor atrial fibrillation in a non-hospital setting,” said his complaint (in Pacer) Friday in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, New York. “Prior to this, patients could only use manual palpation of the pulse to detect atrial fibrillation,” it said. Apple had “indisputable actual knowledge” of the patent since “at least as early” as September 2017 when it introduced the Series 4 Apple Watch with embedded atrial fibrillation-detection technology, said the complaint. That’s also when Wiesel first “engaged” Apple, “through numerous letters and claim charts,” with notice of its infringing practices, the complaint said. Apple since has compounded its bad behavior by introducing the technology into the Series 5, “but also updating the software on the existing legacy Series 1, 2, and 3 Apple Watches to enable the infringing features,” it alleged. Apple has “refused to negotiate in good faith to avoid this lawsuit,” it said. Apple’s actions, “despite continued warnings,” are evidence of a “willful disregard” of Wiesel’s rights “and a desire to profit irrespective of U.S. patent laws,” it said. Wiesel seeks “recovery of past damages” through payment of a “reasonable royalty” and is "entitled" to license fees on Apple Watch shipments on “a going-forward basis,” it said. Apple didn’t comment Tuesday.