A hand grip apparatus for receiving operator input for controlling a surgical tool in a robotic surgery system , the apparatus comprising: a generally tubular body having a proximal end shaped to be grasped by a hand of the operator and a distally located interface end operably configured to be coupled to an input apparatus for controlling the surgical tool; a first control lever attached to the body at a first pivot joint and extending along the body away from the proximal end , the first control lever terminating in a finger grip end configured to receive one of the operator's fingers, the first control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the first pivot joint ; a second control lever attached to the body at a second pivot joint on a generally opposing side of the body to the first pivot joint, the second control lever extending along the body away from the proximal end and terminating in a thumb grip end configured to receive the operator's thumb, the second control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the second pivot joint , wherein movement of at least one of the first and second control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement; and an input control on an upper surface of the body and generally interposed between the finger and thumb grip ends , the input control having an actuator surface that is angled towards the finger grip end and being operably configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation of the actuator surface by one of the operator's fingers, wherein the finger grip end comprises a retaining loop operably configured to retain the operator's finger for actuating the first control lever, and wherein the retaining loop comprises a loop portion and an open portion , the open portion being disposed to permit lateral movement of the operator's finger between the finger grip and the input control. a generally tubular body having a proximal end shaped to be grasped by a hand of the operator and a distally located interface end operably configured to be coupled to an input apparatus for controlling the surgical tool; a first control lever attached to the body at a first pivot joint and extending along the body away from the proximal end , the first control lever terminating in a finger grip end configured to receive one of the operator's fingers, the first control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the first pivot joint ; a second control lever attached to the body at a second pivot joint on a generally opposing side of the body to the first pivot joint, the second control lever extending along the body away from the proximal end and terminating in a thumb grip end configured to receive the operator's thumb, the second control lever being laterally moveable away from the body about the second pivot joint , wherein movement of at least one of the first and second control levers is operable to produce a first control signal representing the movement; and an input control on an upper surface of the body and generally interposed between the finger and thumb grip ends , the input control having an actuator surface that is angled towards the finger grip end and being operably configured to produce a second control signal in response to actuation of the actuator surface by one of the operator's fingers, wherein the finger grip end comprises a retaining loop operably configured to retain the operator's finger for actuating the first control lever, and wherein the retaining loop comprises a loop portion and an open portion , the open portion being disposed to permit lateral movement of the operator's finger between the finger grip and the input control. <EOS>