Systems are provided that control the positioning of various instruments (e.g., endoscopes or tissue retractors) used during surgical procedures. A positioning mechanism holding the instrument is coupled to a control mechanism such that mechanical manipulation of the control mechanism results in movement of the positioning mechanism relative to a patient's body, thereby eliminating the need to manually hold and position the instruments.本發明係提供用於控制手術程序期間所使用的不同工具(譬如，內視鏡或組織牽開器)之定位的系統。一用於固持工具之定位機構係耦合至一控制機構，使得控制機構的機械操縱導致定位機構相對於一患者身體之運動，藉此不需要人工地固持及定位該等工具。
