RICOH’s 3D Printed Breast Cancer Surgical Models at RAPID + TCT: The Future of Patient-Specific Healthcare?

One in eight women in the United States has or has had breast cancer, making it the most common cancer in women in the country after skin cancer. Yet, despite its predominance, there still needs to be significant innovation in treatment for this cancer. Notably, it is important for treatment to be more patient specific, as each tumor and breast is different. This is where 3D printed surgical guides come in. They are helping to transform the treatment of breast cancer and we were able to see them in person while at RAPID + TCT 2025.

We stopped by RICOH 3D, a leader in the use of additive manufacturing for healthcare applications, and had the opportunity to speak with Gary Turner, the Vice President of Additive Manufacturing. He showed us the 3D printed surgical guides for breast cancer, showing how they can be used to minimize the amount of healthy tissue that needs to be removed as they help surgeons to better visualize tumor placement, tissues structure and reconstruction options before surgery. This enables doctors as well to perform nipple-saving mastectomies and complex reconstructions for women, allowing for more dignified treatment thanks to its patient-specific nature. Watch the full video below to see how these 3D printed surgical guides will be the future of patient-specific healthcare.