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A hybrid implicit-explicit finite element framework for real-time bioheat transfer simulation in deformable
Feilong Wang1, Peter Xiaoping Liu2
1School of Information Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
|March 24, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a hybrid finite element framework for real-time bioheat transfer simulation in deformable tissues, balancing stability and efficiency for surgical training. The method achieves high accuracy and fast computation, enabling realistic interactive applications.
Area of Science:
- Computational biomechanics
- Finite element analysis
- Bioheat transfer modeling
Background:
- Real-time simulation of bioheat transfer in deformable tissues is crucial for surgical training but faces challenges in numerical stability and computational efficiency.
- Existing methods struggle to meet the demands of interactive surgical simulations requiring both accurate tissue deformation and thermal modeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a unified finite element framework integrating implicit and explicit schemes for real-time simulation of bioheat transfer in deformable tissues.
- To enhance surgical training by enabling computationally efficient and numerically stable thermal simulations alongside realistic tissue deformation.
Main Methods:
- A hybrid finite element framework employing an optimization-based implicit scheme for stable tissue mechanics and an explicit scheme for the Pennes bioheat transfer model.
- Integration of a physiological motion model to accurately reproduce tissue dynamics.
- GPU acceleration for thermal computations.
Main Results:
- The framework demonstrated excellent accuracy, validated against commercial software (Abaqus, COMSOL), with minimal normalized relative error (<0.4%) and RMSE (<0.009 °C).
- Achieved single-step execution times below 50μs for large meshes (up to 50,000 elements) using GPU acceleration.
- Confirmed real-time performance on consumer hardware for liver ablation simulations, proving suitability for interactive training.
Conclusions:
- The hybrid implicit-explicit strategy successfully balances numerical stability and computational efficiency in coupled thermo-mechanical simulations.
- The framework's accuracy and real-time performance make it highly suitable for interactive surgical training, especially for thermal ablation therapies.
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