Modelling and Simulation of Energy Cutting Tool for Soft Tissue Using a Novel extended Finite Element Method

ABSTRACT Background Energy‐based cutting tools combine cutting and haemostasis, making them widely utilised. Accurately predicting tissue deformation during energy‐based cutting can provide precise navigation information to enhance surgical outcomes, while existing surgical cutting models focussing on blades‐based tools are unable to accurately predict energy cutting deformation. Methods This paper aims to propose a novel energy cutting model under different cutting trajectories. First, a stratified discontinuity mechanism‐based modelling method of energy cutting is proposed. Second, a parameterised impact zone model is developed for describing complex surgical manipulations using intraoperative trajectories. Third, an incremental cutting computation algorithm and a novel void enrichment function are proposed to enhance the computational efficiency. Results The mean absolute deformation errors of numerical and experimental results under various of cutting trajectories are less than 1 mm. The computation efficiency and convergence are also validated. Conclusions The desired cutting deformation accuracy is achieved robustly while maintaining computation efficiency.