Deployment mechanism for passive normalization of a probe relative to a surface

An apparatus configured to carry an instrument and be coupled to an external device comprising:

• a first four bar linkage operatively coupled to the instrument such that the instrument is supported by the first four bar linkage, the first four bar linkage being configured to move the instrument along a first path and in a first direction relative to a surface against which at least one portion of the apparatus can be applied;
• and
• a second four bar linkage operatively coupled to the instrument and configured to passively move the instrument in a second direction relative to the surface;
• wherein the first and second four bar linkages are configured to deploy the at least one portion against the surface so as to position the instrument relative to the surface and maintain contact between the at least one portion and the surface and the first direction comprises a pitch direction and the second direction comprises a roll direction.