A body controller is provided for an endoscopic surgical instrument having a cylindrical housing and an instrument body concentrically disposed interior of the housing and moveable between first and second positions. The controller is designed to accommodate and be activated by light grasping and, preferably, compressive application of, a finger or thumb of the human operator to a section which preferably includes a flexible dome-like or other similarly shaped portion which is substantially immediately responsive to the application of the hand of the surgeon or other operator to activate a surgical instrument carried within the housing, such as a retractable needle, or the like, to one position. By withdrawing the finger or thumb of the surgeon from the flexible means, the instrument body may be moved to a second, or original, position.