surgical tool support 110 is connected to the rail 101 of the operating table 100 is then adjusted including by positioning and manipulating the swinger clamp 102 and tightening it onto the rail 101 and upright support 110 then the horizontal bar 120 is adjusted horizontally within the horizontal support component 130 and over the patient in the manner described above rotating the manipuable adjustment component 132 or by simply pulling on the bar 120 which may or may not require depressing the ratchet 133 depending on which direction the bar is moved as discussed above the flared insertion end 143 of the vertical support component may then be guided over the adjustment portion 157 of the retractor 150 an secured in position at the appropriate point along the adjustment portion 157 if the retractor needs to be repositioned once guided within the vertical support component 140 the adjustment portion 141 and or the ratchet 142 may be manipulated as necessary in the same manner as the like components of the horizontal support component 130 in a preferred embodiment of a surgical procedure using the inventive system thyroid surgery is conducted in which access to the thyroid is gained through the axilla this procedure can be performed robotically or manually by a surgeon the retractor used and the support can be configured to keep the surgical tool support as free from the tissue about the incision such as an axillic incision as possible to allow for other surgical equipment which in some cases may be robotically operated to more easily access the incision and thyroid or other.