Evaluation of the factors affecting the optimal fiducial configurations calculated through a genetic-algorithm-based methodology in image-guided neurosurgery.

Background: Image-guided neurosurgery usually involves a point-pair registration between two spaces, associating the patient in the operating room with pre-operative image scans. The distribution and number of fiducial markers during registration are critical for the expected error at the target point.

Methods: A genetic algorithm has been designed to provide an optimal marker configuration.