A novel virtual cutting method for deformable objects using high-order elements combined with mesh optimisation.

BACKGROUND: Virtual cutting of deformable objects plays an important role in many applications, especially in digital medicine, such as soft tissue cutting in virtual surgery training system. METHODS: We developed a novel virtual cutting algorithm, combined with mesh optimisation. A new local mesh processing method is used to control the number and quality of the elements created during the cutting process. At the same time, high-order tetrahedral elements are used to fit the cutting surface and reduce the mesh size. RESULTS: In this paper, single cut, multiple cut and intersecting cut are performed on the mesh model, combined with a force feedback device, and the result obtained is that the visual feedback is higher than 30 Hz, and the tactile feedback is 800∼1000 Hz. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can effectively eliminate low-quality elements and control the mesh size, thereby ensuring real-time simulation.