Patent ID: 8353487

Claim:
An interface system for aiding clinicians in controlling and manipulating at least one endoscopic surgical instrument and a cable-controlled guide tube system, said interface system comprising: a tool docking assembly supportable relative to the cable-controlled guide system, said tool docking assembly comprising: a first tool docking station for retainingly supporting one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a first axis upon application of a first pivotal motion thereto and about a second axis upon application of a second pivotal motion thereto; a first cable attachment assembly configured to couple a first cable from the cable controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station; at least one friction brake assembly interacting with said first tool docking station for retaining said first tool docking station in a desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said first and second pivotal motions to said first tool docking station; a second tool docking station for retainingly supporting another one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a third axis upon application of a third pivotal motion thereto and about a fourth axis upon application of a fourth pivotal motion thereto; a third cable attachment assembly configured to couple another cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said second tool docking station; and at least one other friction brake assembly interacting with said second tool docking station for retaining said second tool docking station in another desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said third and fourth pivotal motions to said second tool docking station.