Device and method for positioning a medical appliance

A method for positioning a medical appliance in an operational position with respect to any part of a body of a patient, the method comprising:

• fixing the medical appliance on a bearing element of a positioning device, the positioning device comprising at least two compressible chambers containing a frictional jamming material capable of exhibiting frictional jamming when air is removed from the chambers, the chambers being of an elongated, tube-like shape having at least one end and being coupled to the bearing element on one of said at least one end;
• positioning the bearing element in the operational position, the chambers being configured such that the bearing element is movable according to six degrees of freedom;
• and
• removing air from the chambers, thereby subjecting the frictional jamming material to frictional jamming, allowing for the chambers to become rigid legs of the positioning device and for the bearing element to be fixedly positioned, in an actuated configuration,
• wherein the positioning device is configured to be self-supporting in the actuated configuration.