System and method for correcting data for deformations during image-guided procedures

A computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program for collecting and processing physical space data for use while performing an image-guided surgical (IGS) procedure, the computer program having a plurality of code sections, the code sections executable by a computer to cause the computer to perform the steps of:

• obtaining a computer model of a non-rigid structure of interest in a patient;
• performing a rigid alignment of the computer model and surface data in a patient space associated with at least a portion of said non-rigid structure;
• computing a deformation of the computer model that provides a non-rigid alignment of said computer model and surface data, said deformation computed using a set of boundary conditions defined for each node of said computer model based on said rigid alignment and a kernel function;
• and
• displaying data for facilitating said IGS procedure based on said deformation.