An apparatus comprising: a handheld endoscope (10; 10') comprising: a handle comprising: a port for insertion of a portion of a handheld endoscope object removal tool into a working channel of the handheld endoscope; a connector comprising a slot; and a lever; and a position holder comprising: a first end configured to connect to a proximal end of the handheld endoscope object removal tool; a second end having a snap-in projection configured to be received into the slot of the handle of the handheld endoscope; and a spine connecting the first end to the second end, where the spine comprises a plurality of serially interconnected members which are rotatable relative to each other, where connections of the members to one another comprise friction locks, where the friction locks are configured to be temporarily unlocked by overcoming friction forces at the friction locks such that the spine is semi-flexible; wherein the first end of the position holder has a ball section configured to connect to the spine; wherein the second end of the position holder has a ball section configured to connect to the spine; wherein the spine has a connector that is configured to connect to the ball section on the first end and a socket section to connect to the ball section on the second end; and wherein the position holder is configured to stabilize the position of the handle of the handheld endoscope, comprising the port, relative to the proximal end of the handheld endoscope object removal tool while a user manipulates the lever of the handle of the handheld endoscope and/or a control lever of the handheld endoscope object removal tool. a handheld endoscope (10; 10') comprising: a handle comprising: a port for insertion of a portion of a handheld endoscope object removal tool into a working channel of the handheld endoscope; a connector comprising a slot; and a lever; and a port for insertion of a portion of a handheld endoscope object removal tool into a working channel of the handheld endoscope; a connector comprising a slot; and a lever; a position holder comprising: a first end configured to connect to a proximal end of the handheld endoscope object removal tool; a second end having a snap-in projection configured to be received into the slot of the handle of the handheld endoscope; and a spine connecting the first end to the second end, where the spine comprises a plurality of serially interconnected members which are rotatable relative to each other, where connections of the members to one another comprise friction locks, where the friction locks are configured to be temporarily unlocked by overcoming friction forces at the friction locks such that the spine is semi-flexible; wherein the first end of the position holder has a ball section configured to connect to the spine; wherein the second end of the position holder has a ball section configured to connect to the spine; wherein the spine has a connector that is configured to connect to the ball section on the first end and a socket section to connect to the ball section on the second end; and wherein the position holder is configured to stabilize the position of the handle of the handheld endoscope, comprising the port, relative to the proximal end of the handheld endoscope object removal tool while a user manipulates the lever of the handle of the handheld endoscope and/or a control lever of the handheld endoscope object removal tool. a first end configured to connect to a proximal end of the handheld endoscope object removal tool; a second end having a snap-in projection configured to be received into the slot of the handle of the handheld endoscope; and a spine connecting the first end to the second end, where the spine comprises a plurality of serially interconnected members which are rotatable relative to each other, where connections of the members to one another comprise friction locks, where the friction locks are configured to be temporarily unlocked by overcoming friction forces at the friction locks such that the spine is semi-flexible; wherein the first end of the position holder has a ball section configured to connect to the spine; wherein the second end of the position holder has a ball section configured to connect to the spine; wherein the spine has a connector that is configured to connect to the ball section on the first end and a socket section to connect to the ball section on the second end; and wherein the position holder is configured to stabilize the position of the handle of the handheld endoscope, comprising the port, relative to the proximal end of the handheld endoscope object removal tool while a user manipulates the lever of the handle of the handheld endoscope and/or a control lever of the handheld endoscope object removal tool.