RS2D

Founded in 2003, RS2D started its operations by offering refurbished NMR systems. Very quickly, the company launched a research and development program to build a compact and modular spectrometer, with configurable MRI or NMR versions. RS²D has been a pioneer in preclinical imaging by developing and selling in 2011 the first preclinical MRI imaging system with a superconducting cryogen free magnet. Together with Mediso Budapest, Hungary, RS2D concluded a joint cooperation on the development of 4 new systems to be integrated within the range of Mediso’s preclinical imaging nanoScan family, which are following: two standalone MRI systems at 3T and 7T, an on-line 3T PETMRI system, and the last development, not finished yet, is a multimodal imaging system for simultaneous PET and MRI acquisition at 7T. To develop these innovative devices, the two companies have signed an exclusive licensing agreement allowing Mediso to integrate the MRI technology developed by RS2D into the NanoScan systems. Besides developing new preclinical products, RS2D has also exclusive rights concerning the distribution and sales of all Mediso preclinical products in francophone territories. TRIMAGE is another important project that is developed in the frame of the European FP7-Health program. The aim of TRIMAGE is to design an optimised and cost-effective trimodality imaging instrument (brain PET/MR/EEG scanner) for early diagnosis, monitoring and follow-up of schizophrenia disorders. RS2D is the main industrial partner in this project, in charge of the development and construction of the clinical MRI prototype. Based within the Eurometropole of Strasbourg, RS²D enjoys an advantageous geographical location in the industrial area of Mundolsheim holding 800 m2 of workshop and offices and employing around 20 people. Capitalizing on its experience with partners and customers, RS²D has been increasingly involved in big innovative development programs for NMR and MRI.

 

Role In Project

RS2D is the instrumental partner of the project. Its main goal is to implement the 15N observation on the preclinical MRI systems available at the partners’ premises, especially on the OPTImouse 1.5T system installed at HMO and considered as the reference system for this project. Because the hyperpolarised magnetisation relaxes with its T1 constant and cannot be recovered, specific pulse sequence has to be developed as well as correlated processing methods. Hardware development on new RF coils and preamplifiers are also required since imaging is carried out on non-proton nuclei. Moreover, RS2D is the only SME in the project that can handle technological and methodological aspects of the implementation of new detection methods on the existing equipment. The company is able to validate the instrumental part of the program at all magnetic fields used in clinical routine namely 1.5T, 3T and 7T. In-vivo experiments can be performed on the 1.5T at HMO while ex-vivo or phantom tests can be made on 3T and 7T installed at RS2D. The other RS2D role is to coordinate actions between the partners when they implement the methods on pre-clinical scanners (UULM, UCAM and HMO).