The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was removed from Apple Stores in the U.S. today
Apple engineers are also reportedly hard at work to replace the algorithm and other software related to the pulse oximeter with new code that doesn’t infringe on Masimo’s patents. But since the patents are mostly hardware-related, it doesn’t seem that making changes to the software would allow Apple to get out from under the ITC exclusion order.
A pulse oximeter measures the saturation of oxygen carried in a person’s red blood cells and a normal reading would be in the range of 95%-100%. Readings under the low end of that range suggest a problem called hypoxemia which could be a sign of heart or lung issues.
As for President Biden, there is no indication from the White House that he is leaning in one particular way.