An Enhanced U-Net Deep Learning Approach for Vascular Wall Fracture Analysis

1 March 2024

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Abstract

This work outlines an efficient deep learning approach for analyzing vascular wall fractures using experimental data with openly accessible source codes for reproduction. Vascular disease remains the primary cause of death globally to this day. Tissue damage in these vascular disorders is closely tied to how the diseases develop, which requires careful study. Therefore, the scientific community has dedicated significant efforts to capture the properties of vessel wall fractures. The symmetry-constrained Compact Tension (symconCT) test combined with Digital Image Correlation (DIC), enabled the study of tissue fracture in various aorta specimens under different conditions. Main purpose of the experiments was to investigate the displacement and strain field ahead of the crack tip. These experimental data were to support the development and verification of computational models. The FEM model used the DIC information for the elastic parameter identification. Traditionally, the analysis of fracture processes in biological tissues involves extensive computational and experimental efforts due to the complex nature of tissue behavior under stress. These high costs have posed significant challenges, demanding efficient solutions to accelerate research progress and reduce embedded costs. Deep learning techniques have shown promise in overcoming these challenges by learning to indicate patterns and relationships between the Input and Label data. In this study, we integrate deep learning methodologies with the Attention Residual U-Net architecture to predict fracture responses in porcine aorta specimens. By training the network on a sufficient amount of data, the model learns to capture the features influencing fracture progression. These parameterized datasets consist of pictures describing the evolution of tissue fracture path along with the DIC measurements. The integration of U-Net should not only enhance the predictive accuracy, but also significantly reduce the computational and experimental burden, thereby enabling a more efficient analysis of fracture response.

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