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A physics‐based algorithm for real‐time simulation of electrosurgery procedures in minimally invasive surgery
Author(s) -
Lu Zhonghua,
Arikatla Venkata S.,
Han Zhongqing,
Allen Brian F.,
De Suvranu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the international journal of medical robotics and computer assisted surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1478-596X
pISSN - 1478-5951
DOI - 10.1002/rcs.1561
Subject(s) - electrosurgery , computer science , algorithm , finite element method , mesh generation , block (permutation group theory) , simulation , surgery , mathematics , geometry , physics , medicine , thermodynamics
Abstract Background High‐frequency electricity is used in the majority of surgical interventions. However, modern computer‐based training and simulation systems rely on physically unrealistic models that fail to capture the interplay of the electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of biological tissue. Methods We present a real‐time and physically realistic simulation of electrosurgery by modelling the electrical, thermal and mechanical properties as three iteratively solved finite element models. To provide subfinite‐element graphical rendering of vaporized tissue, a dual‐mesh dynamic triangulation algorithm based on isotherms is proposed. The block compressed row storage (BCRS) structure is shown to be critical in allowing computationally efficient changes in the tissue topology due to vaporization. Results We have demonstrated our physics‐based electrosurgery cutting algorithm through various examples. Our matrix manipulation algorithms designed for topology changes have shown low computational cost. Conclusions Our simulator offers substantially greater physical fidelity compared to previous simulators that use simple geometry‐based heat characterization. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.