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Methods and devices are provided for selectively stiffening a surgical device. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical device is provided that includes a flexible elongate insertion element and a stiffening element that extends along at least a portion of the insertion element. The insertion element

Methods and devices are provided for selectively stiffening a surgical device. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical device is provided that includes a flexible elongate insertion element and a stiffening element that extends along at least a portion of the insertion element. The insertion element can be, for example, an endoscope or a sheath configured to be disposed over an endoscope. The stiffening element can be configured to selectively stiffen when an outside force, such as a vacuum force, is applied thereto. In one embodiment the stiffening element includes a plurality of elongate members disposed in a flexible sheath. When the vacuum force is applied, the sheath can be configured to engage the elongate members to maintain the elongate members in a fixed, stiffened position, thereby stiffening at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion element coupled thereto. Various methods for stiffening an insertion instrument, such as an endoscope, are also provided herein.

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1. A surgical device configured for selective stiffening, comprising: a flexible elongate insertion element having one of a rail and a complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof;a stiffening element extending along at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion eleme

1. A surgical device configured for selective stiffening, comprising: a flexible elongate insertion element having one of a rail and a complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof;a stiffening element extending along at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion element and configured to selectively stiffen when a vacuum force is applied thereto, the stiffening element including the other of the rail and the complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof such that the rail and the track are coupled to permit sliding movement therebetween, a flexible sheath that forms a length of the stiffening element, and a plurality of elongate cylindrical members independently disposed in and separate from the sheath, each elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members extending along a majority of the length of the stiffening element, and the flexible sheath being configured to radially compress around and engage an outer circumference of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members to prevent movement of the elongate cylindrical members when a vacuum force is applied to the stiffening element, andwherein one elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members is capable of contacting another elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members. 2. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongate cylindrical members are configured to generate friction therebetween. 3. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongate cylindrical members include a plurality of wires. 4. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongate insertion element comprises an endoscope. 5. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongate insertion element comprises a sleeve configured to be disposed around an endoscope. 6. The surgical device of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional stiffening element extending along at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion element and configured to selectively stiffen when a vacuum force is applied thereto. 7. A surgical device configured for selective stiffening, comprising: an elongate flexible shaft having one of a rail and a complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof; anda stiffening element having the other of the rail and the complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof such that the rail and the track are coupled to permit sliding movement therebetween and a plurality of elongate cylindrical members, each elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members being slidably disposed within and extending along a majority of a hollow sheath that forms a length of the stiffening element, the stiffening element being movable between a first position, in which the stiffening element is flexible, and a second position, in which a vacuum force applied to the stiffening element is effective to cause the sheath to radially compress around and engage an outer circumference of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members to rigidly maintain the stiffening element and at least a portion of the elongate flexible shaft coupled thereto in a desired fixed position,wherein the stiffening element has closed proximal and distal ends such that the plurality of elongate cylindrical members are retained therein. 8. The surgical device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of elongate cylindrical members are configured to generate friction therebetween. 9. The surgical device of claim 7, wherein the elongate flexible shaft comprises an endoscope. 10. The surgical device of claim 7, wherein the elongate flexible shaft comprises a sleeve configured to be disposed around an endoscope. 11. A method for selectively stiffening a surgical device, comprising: inserting a flexible elongate shaft having one of a rail and a complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof into a body cavity;selectively sliding the flexible elongate shaft relative to a stiffening element having a sheath that forms a length of the stiffening element and the other of the rail and the complimentary track disposed along at least half of a length thereof, the rail and the track being slidingly mated; andapplying a vacuum force to the stiffening element such that at least a portion of the sheath of the stiffening element radially compresses and engages an outer circumference of a plurality of elongate cylindrical members independently disposed in and separate from the sheath of the stiffening element, each elongate cylindrical member extending along a majority of length of the sheath and at least one elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members being capable of contacting another elongate cylindrical member of the plurality of elongate cylindrical members, the application of the vacuum force causing the stiffening element to become substantially rigid and maintain at least a portion of the flexible elongate shaft in a fixed position. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising moving the stiffening element relative to the flexible elongate shaft. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising moving the flexible elongate shaft relative to the stiffening element. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the flexible elongate shaft flexes as it is inserted into the body cavity and the stiffening element maintains the flexible elongate shaft in a flexed position when a vacuum force is applied to the stiffening element. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the stiffening element comprises a first stiffening element and the method further comprises coupling a second stiffening element to at least a portion of the flexible elongate shaft and applying a vacuum force to the second stiffening element to cause the second stiffening element to become substantially rigid and thereby maintain at least a portion of the flexible elongate shaft in the fixed position. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sequentially moving the first and second stiffening element relative to the flexible elongate shaft and sequentially stiffening the first and second stiffening elements with a vacuum force to move the flexible elongate shaft relative to the body cavity.