diff --git a/heudiconv/convert.py b/heudiconv/convert.py
index c115039..7acfdf7 100644
--- a/heudiconv/convert.py
+++ b/heudiconv/convert.py
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ def save_converted_files(res, item_dicoms, bids, outtype, prefix, outname_bids,
                 echo_number = fileinfo.get('EchoNumber', 1)
 
 
-                supported_multiecho = ['_bold', '_epi', '_sbref', '_T1w']
+                supported_multiecho = ['_bold', '_epi', '_sbref', '_T1w', '_PDT2']
                 # Now, decide where to insert it.
                 # Insert it **before** the following string(s), whichever appears first.
                 for imgtype in supported_multiecho:
diff --git a/heudiconv/heuristics/reproin.py b/heudiconv/heuristics/reproin.py
index 7de451d..4829941 100644
--- a/heudiconv/heuristics/reproin.py
+++ b/heudiconv/heuristics/reproin.py
@@ -28,10 +28,11 @@ per each session.
 Sequence names on the scanner must follow this specification to avoid manual
 conversion/handling:
 
-  [PREFIX:]<seqtype[-label]>[_ses-<SESID>][_task-<TASKID>][_acq-<ACQLABEL>][_run-<RUNID>][_dir-<DIR>][<more BIDS>][__<custom>]
+  [PREFIX:][WIP ]<seqtype[-label]>[_ses-<SESID>][_task-<TASKID>][_acq-<ACQLABEL>][_run-<RUNID>][_dir-<DIR>][<more BIDS>][__<custom>]
 
 where
  [PREFIX:] - leading capital letters followed by : are stripped/ignored
+ [WIP ] - prefix is stripped/ignored (added by Philips for patch sequences)
  <...> - value to be entered
  [...] - optional -- might be nearly mandatory for some modalities (e.g.,
          run for functional) and very optional for others
@@ -104,6 +105,16 @@ __<custom> (optional)
 
 Although we still support "-" and "+" used within SESID and TASKID, their use is
 not recommended, thus not listed here
+
+## Scanner specifics
+
+We perform following actions regardless of the type of scanner, but applied
+generally to accommodate limitations imposed by different manufacturers/models:
+
+### Philips
+
+- We replace all ( with { and ) with } to be able e.g. to specify session {date}
+- "WIP " prefix unconditionally added by the scanner is stripped
 """
 
 import os
@@ -426,16 +437,15 @@ def ls(study_session, seqinfo):
 # So we just need subdir and file_suffix!
 def infotodict(seqinfo):
     """Heuristic evaluator for determining which runs belong where
-    
-    allowed template fields - follow python string module: 
-    
+
+    allowed template fields - follow python string module:
+
     item: index within category 
     subject: participant id 
     seqitem: run number during scanning
     subindex: sub index within group
     session: scan index for longitudinal acq
     """
-
     seqinfo = fix_seqinfo(seqinfo)
     lgr.info("Processing %d seqinfo entries", len(seqinfo))
     and_dicom = ('dicom', 'nii.gz')
@@ -841,6 +851,7 @@ def parse_series_spec(series_spec):
     # https://github.com/ReproNim/reproin/issues/14
     # where PU: prefix is added by the scanner
     series_spec = re.sub("^[A-Z]*:", "", series_spec)
+    series_spec = re.sub("^WIP ", "", series_spec) # remove Philips WIP prefix
 
     # Remove possible suffix we don't care about after __
     series_spec = series_spec.split('__', 1)[0]
@@ -888,7 +899,9 @@ def parse_series_spec(series_spec):
 
         # sanitize values, which must not have _ and - is undesirable ATM as well
         # TODO: BIDSv2.0 -- allows "-" so replace with it instead
-        value = str(value).replace('_', 'X').replace('-', 'X')
+        value = str(value) \
+            .replace('_', 'X').replace('-', 'X') \
+            .replace('(', '{').replace(')', '}')  # for Philips
 
         if key in ['ses', 'run', 'task', 'acq']:
             # those we care about explicitly
diff --git a/heudiconv/utils.py b/heudiconv/utils.py
index 847dfaf..abea820 100644
--- a/heudiconv/utils.py
+++ b/heudiconv/utils.py
@@ -251,7 +251,17 @@ def treat_infofile(filename):
         j = json.load(f)
 
     j_slim = slim_down_info(j)
-    j_pretty = json_dumps_pretty(j_slim, indent=2, sort_keys=True)
+    dumps_kw = dict(indent=2, sort_keys=True)
+    try:
+        j_pretty = json_dumps_pretty(j_slim, **dumps_kw)
+    except AssertionError as exc:
+        lgr.warning(
+            "Prettyfication of .json failed (%s).  "
+            "Original .json will be kept as is.  Please share (if you could) "
+            "that file (%s) with HeuDiConv developers"
+            % (str(exc), filename)
+        )
+        j_pretty = json.dumps(j_slim, **dumps_kw)
 
     set_readonly(filename, False)
     with open(filename, 'wt') as fp:

diff --git a/heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py b/heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py
index 2517b29..0a63dc1 100644
--- a/heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py
+++ b/heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ def test_parse_series_spec():
     assert \
         pdpn(" PREFIX:bids_func_ses+_task-boo_run+  ") == \
         pdpn("PREFIX:bids_func_ses+_task-boo_run+") == \
+        pdpn("WIP func_ses+_task-boo_run+") == \
         pdpn("bids_func_ses+_run+_task-boo") == \
            {
                'seqtype': 'func',
@@ -202,3 +203,9 @@ def test_parse_series_spec():
                 'acq': 'MPRAGE',
                 'seqtype_label': 'T1w'
            }
+
+    # Check for currently used {date}, which should also should get adjusted
+    # from (date) since Philips does not allow for {}
+    assert pdpn("func_ses-{date}") == \
+           pdpn("func_ses-(date)") == \
+           {'seqtype': 'func', 'session': '{date}'}
\ No newline at end of file

AssertionError line 239 in Utils.py
<!-- DO NOT DELETE THIS! 
This template is used to facilitate issue resolution.
All text in <!-> tags will not be displayed.
-->

### Summary
<!-- If you are having conversion troubles, please share as much
relevant information as possible. This includes, but is not limited to:
- log of conversion
- heuristic
--> 
```
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/ggilmore/.local/bin/heudiconv", line 11, in <module>
    load_entry_point('heudiconv==0.5.4.dev1', 'console_scripts', 'heudiconv')()
  File "/home/ggilmore/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/heudiconv/cli/run.py", line 127, in main
    process_args(args)
  File "/home/ggilmore/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/heudiconv/cli/run.py", line 341, in process_args
    dcmconfig=args.dcmconfig,)
  File "/home/ggilmore/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/heudiconv/convert.py", line 199, in prep_conversion
    dcmconfig=dcmconfig,)
  File "/home/ggilmore/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/heudiconv/convert.py", line 318, in convert
    treat_infofile(scaninfo)
  File "/home/ggilmore/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/heudiconv/utils.py", line 252, in treat_infofile
    j_pretty = json_dumps_pretty(j_slim, indent=2, sort_keys=True)
  File "/home/ggilmore/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/heudiconv/utils.py", line 239, in json_dumps_pretty
    "Values differed when they should have not. "\
AssertionError: Values differed when they should have not. Report to the heudiconv developers
```

This works for all my scan sequences except I get this assertion failure on my CT study series. Could this be an issue with the CT sequence?

### Platform details:

Choose one:
- [x ] Local environment
<!-- If selected, please provide OS and python version -->
Ubuntu 16.04, python 2.7
- [ ] Container
<!-- If selected, please provide container name and tag"-->

- Heudiconv version: 
<!-- To check: run heudiconv with just the --version flag -->
version 0.5.4.dev1
heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_parse_series_spec
heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_get_dups_marked heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_filter_files heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_md5sum heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_fix_canceled_runs heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_fix_dbic_protocol heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_sanitize_str heudiconv/heuristics/test_reproin.py::test_fixupsubjectid