A deep learning-based hybrid approach for the solution of multiphysics problems in electrosurgery

Abstract Multiphysics modeling of evolving topology in the electrosurgical dissection of soft hydrated tissues is a challenging problem, requiring heavy computational resources. In this paper, we propose a hybrid approach that leverages the regressive capabilities of deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) with the precision of conventional solvers to accelerate multiphysics computations. The electro-thermal problem is solved using a finite element method (FEM) with a Krylov subspace-based iterative solver and a deflation-based block preconditioner. The mechanical deformation induced by evaporation of intra- and extracellular water is obtained using a CNN model. The CNN is trained using a supervised learning framework that maps the nonlinear relationship between the micropore pressure and deformation field for a given tissue topology. The simulation results show that the hybrid approach is significantly more computationally efficient than a FEM-based solution approach using a block-preconditioned Krylov subspace solver and a parametric solution approach using a proper generalized decomposition (PGD) based reduced order model. The accuracy of the hybrid approach is comparable to the ground truth obtained using a standard multiphysics solver. The hybrid approach overcomes the limitations of end-to-end learning including the need for massive datasets for training the network.