Ultrahuman files appeal following US import restriction
Ultrahuman is no longer allowed to import its smart ring into the United States. That restriction comes from an International Trade Commission exclusion order that has now taken effect, and the company is responding with a mix of legal appeals, redesign plans and a focus on its existing US-based manufacturing.
Ultrahuman is not backing down
Ultrahuman filed its appeal of the ITC exclusion order on October 22, 2025, with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The case names the International Trade Commission as appellee, while Oura Health Oy and Ouraring Inc. have filed to intervene.
On the same day the appeal was filed, Ultrahuman also submitted an emergency motion asking the court to stay the exclusion order while the case is under review. That motion has not yet been decided.
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On October 23, the court ordered the ITC to respond to the stay request within 20 days. If Oura is granted intervenor status, it will also be allowed to submit a response. A follow-up reply from Ultrahuman would be due within three days of those submissions.
Procedural filings are underway. Ultrahuman must submit its certificate of interest and entry of appearance by November 5. Its docketing statement is due by November 21. The ITC is required to file the certified list of the administrative record by December 1.
US-based production and legal risk
At the same time, Ultrahuman has publicly stated that it is working on a redesigned version of the Ring Air. The goal is to avoid the patent claims at issue, though the company has not provided technical details or a timeline for the redesign. It has said it will not rush the process, and wants to make sure the new product is legally clear before moving forward.
Ultrahuman has also said it is evaluating whether its Plano, Texas facility can be used to produce a “Made in USA” version of the Ring Air. The company claims this factory was already being scaled to handle US demand earlier this year. If a device is fully manufactured within the US, the ITC exclusion order would not apply to it, as it only covers imports.
However, the situation is not straightforward. Oura has filed a separate patent lawsuit in Texas, targeting Ultrahuman and its US-based manufacturing partner. That case includes claims beyond what was covered in the ITC ruling. So even if Ultrahuman moves forward with domestic production, it may still face legal challenges unless those patent issues are addressed directly.
Betting on the patent challenge
In parallel with its appeal of the ITC exclusion order, Ultrahuman has noted that a post‑grant review of the key patent (U.S. Patent No. 11,868,178) is underway at the USPTO. Other companies, such as Samsung, are also fighting this patent.
If that review succeeds in cancelling the patent, Ultrahuman’s legal position would improve significantly. The patent challenge could weaken the basis for the import restriction and future lawsuits. Until then, the patent remains enforceable.
For now, Ultrahuman has reassured existing users in the US that their devices will continue to function. Firmware updates, app support and warranties are still being maintained. Retailers are allowed to sell units that were already brought into the country before the exclusion order took effect. But once those stocks run out, the Ring Air will no longer be available to buy unless Ultrahuman re-enters the market with a compliant version or succeeds in its appeal.
Some competitors, like RingConn, have opted to settle and license Oura’s patents. Ultrahuman has taken a different route, choosing to challenge the legal foundation of the case rather than pursue a licensing deal. Whether that approach works out will likely depend on the outcome of the appeal and the separate patent office review.
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