Low profile scope holder

An instrument support apparatus for supporting an instrument having a shaft extending along a shaft axis relative to a patient positioned adjacent to an external frame comprising:

• a base fixedly mountable on the external frame;
• a shank defining a vertical shank axis and mated to and insertable in the base and adjustable to a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base;
• first and second clamp assemblies, the second clamp assembly defining a horizontal axis and being adjustable through an arc in a plane perpendicular to the horizontal axis;
• a first pivot assembly mounted atop the shank and secured thereto by the first clamp assembly, and rotatable about the shank axis
• an arm assembly defining a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis and having a first arm section mounted in the second clamp assembly and adjustable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first pivot assembly and a second arm section movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first arm section, the second arm section also being rotatable about the longitudinal axis;
• a grip having a grip axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a generally C-shaped clamp for clamping the instrument relative to the second arm section and a strap matingly encompassing the C-shaped clamp, the C-shaped clamp and the strap being secured to the second arm section and defining the grip axis, the C-shaped clamp further having a bore for containing the instrument shaft;
• a second pivot assembly mounting the grip to the second arm section of the arm assembly for pivoting the grip relative to the second arm section about a grip axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm assembly and perpendicular to the support axis;
• a first pressurized-gas-actuated lock assembly for locking the first pivot assembly on the shank axis and for locking the third clamp assembly;
• a second pressurized-gas-actuated lock assembly for locking the second arm section relative to the first arm section both along the longitudinal axis and rotationally;
• and
• a manually operable lock-actuating controller, coupled to the first and second lock assemblies for actuating the lock assemblies simultaneously when in a first operating state and releasing the first and second lock assemblies when the controller is in a second operating state, the controller having a vent for venting gas from the first and second lock assemblies when in the second operating state and a lever adapted for mounting onto the instrument for controlling operation of the controller by a user by the same hand that is positioning the instrument;
• whereby the grip is movable by a user using only one hand.