Test-equipment maker Instron Inc., Norwood, Mass., (instron.com) announces a partnership with Machine Solutions Inc., Flagstaff, Ariz., a manufacturer of proprietary mechanical equipment to a variety of complex process and medical-device design challenges. MSI has been instrumental automating several manual processes with equipment for stent crimping, balloon catheter pleating & folding, marker-band swaging, and mechanical testing of stents and stent delivery systems. The partnership has let Instron introduce its new 5544/RX testing system, which is used to measure and record radial stiffness and hoop strength of interventional medical devices such as balloon-expandable stents, self-expanding stents, embolic filters, and collagen plugs. The devices are used in cardiology and neurology procedures.