Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards instruments for investigation, screening, diagnosis, analysis or therapy and, more particularly, towards embodiments of one or more external rigidizable working channels along the instrument. In one embodiment, there is an apparatus that includes an instrument having an elongate body; a working channel connected externally to the elongate body and extending from a proximal position on the elongate body to a distal position on the elongate body, the working channel having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration; and a plurality of rigidizable elements disposed within the working channel to selectively hold the shape of the working channel when the working channel is in the deployed configuration. Other embodiments include an method of providing a working channel within the body that are positioning an instrument within the body; providing along the instrument an external working channel having a lumen, the lumen extending along the working channel and outside of the instrument; positioning the external working channel into a deployed configuration; and holding the shape of the external working channel in the deployed configuration.

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