AF Mpanga Advocates has assisted Dr Tamara Noel Fitzgerald and Dr Jenna Lynne Hook Mueller with a patent strategy for a laparoscopic device designed for use in low- and middle-income countries. The strategy covers OAPI, ARIPO and South Africa. It has already resulted in patent grants through OAPI and in South Africa.

An accessible approach to laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopy allows surgeons to perform diagnostic and surgical procedures through small incisions. A camera and specialised instruments are used to view and operate inside the body. For many abdominal and pelvic procedures, this approach offers important advantages over open surgery. These include less pain, fewer wound infections, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.

Access to laparoscopic surgery remains uneven. In many African healthcare facilities, conventional systems are too expensive to buy and maintain. Replacement parts and specialist maintenance may also be difficult to obtain. Unreliable electricity and limited sterilisation facilities create further barriers.

Dr Fitzgerald and Dr Mueller developed the device with these conditions in mind. The patent specification describes a device with a miniature self-correcting camera, automatic image rotation, strobed LED lighting and modular, waterproof housing.

The modular design allows individual components to be replaced or exchanged. A damaged part need not make the entire device unusable. This makes the system easier to repair and maintain.

The strobed illumination system provides light while an image is being captured. It also limits heat at the tip of the device. The autorotation system keeps the image stable as the laparoscope is moved or rotated. Its waterproof construction allows the device to be submerged for disinfection.

The specification also allows surgical images and video to be displayed on an electronic device and shared with a surgeon in another location. This could support real-time consultation and mentorship where specialist expertise is not available on site.

Technology has also been considered in published research on an accessible laparoscope for low- and middle-income countries. The study reported imaging performance comparable to a commercial laparoscope at commonly used working distances. It also noted the value of a portable and reusable system designed for low-resource settings. Further details are available in the inventors’ published research.

Why technology matters

What sets this invention apart is that it was designed around the conditions in which it is intended to be used. A portable, waterproof and repairable device could address some of the practical barriers to minimally invasive surgery. Its remote-mentoring function could also help experienced surgeons guide colleagues working in other hospitals or countries.

The benefits may extend beyond the operating theatre. Shorter recovery periods and hospital stays can ease pressure on hospitals with limited bed capacity. They can also allow patients to return to their families and livelihoods sooner.

The work in Uganda has also benefited from important local collaboration. Dr Robert Ssekitoleko and his team at Makerere University navigated local procurement of materials, the approval process before Uganda’s National Drug Authority, and networking with businesses and the Ugandan healthcare system to ensure that the technology can be locally manufactured for Ugandan patients. ShiShi International is manufacturing the device in Uganda. Their involvement brings together the regulatory, academic and manufacturing experience needed to support the device’s practical rollout.

Building protection across African markets

Protection was sought through two regional patent systems and a separate national filing in South Africa.

The first application was filed with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) on 26 August 2024. It was granted as OAPI Patent No. 21913 on 5 May 2025. The patent has effect across OAPI’s 17 Member States.

An application was then filed with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) on 1 November 2024. It claims priority from the OAPI application and designates 20 Member States. ARIPO Application No. AP/P/2024/016060 remains pending.

A South African patent application was filed on 19 November 2024. It was granted as Patent No. 2024/08780 on 27 May 2026. Together, these filings seek protection for the invention across a substantial part of the African market.

Patent protection can help medical-device innovators attract investment and secure manufacturing partners. It can also support licensing, distribution and technology-transfer arrangements. A patent does not replace clinical testing or regulatory approval, but it protects the underlying technology while those steps are taken.

AF Mpanga’s role

AF Mpanga advised Dr Fitzgerald and Dr Mueller on the filing strategy. We assisted with drafting and preparing the patent applications, managing the priority claims and coordinating the OAPI, ARIPO and South African filings. We also managed the applications through the grant process.

We are pleased to have supported our clients in securing patent grants through OAPI and in South Africa and continue to assist them with the ARIPO application.

The AF Mpanga team advising Dr Fitzgerald and Dr Mueller comprised David F.K. Mpanga, Brian Kalule and Judith Kagere. The team assisted with the patent strategy, drafting and preparation of the applications, management of the priority claims, and coordination of the OAPI, ARIPO and South African filings through to grant.

This work reflects our Intellectual Property team’s experience in protecting inventions across Africa and assisting clients from the initial drafting and filing stages through grant and portfolio management.

Author- Judith Kagere (Associate TMT)