A surgical apparatus (200) for insertion of an implantable device within the body of a subject comprises a housing (204) in which an insertion head portion (206) is mounted and adapted to releasably hold an implantable device (102). An electro-mechanical actuator (212) mounted within the housing (204) comprises a shaft (216) movable between first and second stop positions (222, 214) in response to signals applied at an electrical input. A mechanical coupling between the insertion head portion (206) and the shaft (216) is configured such that movement of the shaft from the first stop position (22) to the second stop position (214) applies an insertion force to the insertion head portion. An electronic controller (502) is configured to apply an electrical control signal (506, 508) to the electrical input of the actuator (212), wherein the electrical control signal is adapted to cause application of an insertion force having predetermined characteristics to the insertion head portion (206), for insertion of the implantable device (102). The apparatus enables improved precision of insertion velocity control, which is difficult to achieve with purely mechanical or pneumatic approaches. Furthermore, the control signals generated by the electronic controller may beneficially be varied and adapted to accommodate a range of insertion conditions.La présente invention concerne un appareil chirurgical (200) pour linsertion dun dispositif implantable à lintérieur du corps dun sujet, ledit appareil comprenant un boîtier (204) dans lequel une partie tête dinsertion (206) est montée et conçue pour maintenir de manière libérable un dispositif implantable (102). Un actionneur électromécanique (212) monté à lintérieur du boîtier (204) comprend une tige (216) pouvant passer dune première position darrêt à une seconde position darrêt (222, 214) en réponse à des signaux appliqués au niveau dune entrée électrique. Un couplage mécanique entre la partie tête dinsertion (206) et la tige (216
