Why 3D Printed Brain Models Are Transforming Neurosurgery — Insights from Maggie Lashutka Ahead of RAPID + TCT 2026

Additive manufacturing is increasingly finding its place in healthcare, enabling the creation of patient-specific anatomical models that give surgeons a deeper understanding of complex cases before they ever enter the operating room. By transforming MRI and other medical imaging data into tangible, life-sized replicas, physicians can visualize tumors, critical structures and potential surgical corridors in ways that traditional scans alone often cannot convey. Ahead of RAPID + TCT 2026, we spoke with Maggie Lashutka, biomedical engineer specializing in additive manufacturing at Ricoh 3D for Healthcare, about how 3D printed brain models are supporting neurosurgical planning and why having one in hand can feel, as one surgeon put it, like “having the answers to a test before taking it.”

3DN: Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us how you first became involved in additive manufacturing and healthcare applications?

Later, I expanded my research into bioprinting during a fellowship in the Lewis Lab at Harvard University. Through these experiences, I fell in love with the potential of additive manufacturing to support personalized care. Seeing how patient-specific models can improve surgical planning and ultimately benefit patients is what continues to motivate me in this field.