The apparatus 210 comprises a support 129 for a surgical device 110, a driver 132 with a transmission arrangement 134, 136, 138 that transmits the driving force to the moveable part 116 of the device 110 through an urging arrangement 142, 146. A control arrangement 150 is configured so that the user can control the driving force. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with an endoscope (100, fig 8) and controls the extension of a cutting wire (120, fig 8) extending through conduit 112 of device 110. Another embodiment of the drive device is in the form of a drive apparatus for fluid feed device (figs 1-4) which may also be used with an endoscope.
