Programmable stiffness tissue displacement device

A method for providing increased visibility during an operation, the method comprising:

• introducing a retraction device in a delivery state to an operation site in a patient, the retraction device comprising one or more strips of compliant jammable layer components, the one or more strips of compliant jammable layer components connected in parallel and encapsulated within a flexible envelop;
• manipulating the one or more strips of compliant jammable layer components to a desired shape;
• and
• applying negative pressure to the flexible envelope to jam the one or more strips of compliant jammable layer components, such that the retraction device transitions from a malleable state to a rigid state,
• wherein the retraction device, in the rigid state, comprises a stiffness sufficient to retract an anatomical structure of the patient to provide increased visibility of the operation site during the operation.