"We are very pleased that three of the most accomplished clinical and research centers for cardiac medicine in Europe have chosen to be early adopters of ABIOMED's new life saving heart assist and recovery system," said Michael R. Minogue, CEO and President of ABIOMED. "We are committed to making these systems available globally and offering patients worldwide the possibility of recovering after a serious cardiac event, and returning home with their natural hearts, untethered by permanent devices."

"By making this system available to allow patients hearts to rest and potentially recover following a cardiac event, we will be giving them a greatly improved chance of survival," said Prof. Dr. Rainer Korfer at Herzzentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen. "Because the system is transportable, patients can go on support at their local hospitals and be transferred to a more advanced cardiac center if necessary. This network program allows for rapid intervention, which saves lives. We believe that having this kind of life saving system available to our patients is essential to our high standard of care."

The AB5000 Circulatory Support System consists of two principal components. The AB5000 Ventricle is a disposable blood pump capable of supporting the left, right, or both ventricles of the heart and is designed to provide improved patient mobility, comfort and ease of use. The AB5000 Console is an advanced, software-driven system that drives the blood pumps and can be used either in the hospital or for transport of patients between hospitals.

Key Facts on the AB5000 Circulatory Support System:

• The AB5000 is ABIOMED's newest product offering, approved by the FDA in 2003. It is based on technology developed for the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart.
• The AB5000 Console is an advanced system with upgradeable software. It offers the flexibility of driving either the BVS 5000 blood pump or the AB5000 ventricle to support the left, right or both ventricles of the heart. In ongoing bench testing, the AB5000 Circulatory Support System has maintained performance exceeding six months of operation.
• Unlike other ventricular assist systems that can require multiple drivers for a single patient, patients on the AB5000 require only a single console – regardless of condition.
• The AB5000 is designed to allow patients to leave their hospital rooms and walk within the hospital and on hospital grounds. Multiple studies have shown that patient ambulation, or walking, greatly assists the recovery process. The ease of use and transport capability of the AB5000 System makes it an important option for both regional and local cardiac centers.
• Patients can be put on the AB5000 or the BVS 5000 System – ABIOMED's other temporary circulatory support offering -- at their local hospital and then be transported to more advanced cardiac centers if necessary. This network program has been shown to greatly improve chances of survival for patients.

Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, ABIOMED, Inc. (pronounced “AB’-EE-O-MED”) is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical products designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing heart. ABIOMED currently manufactures and sells the AB5000™ Circulatory Support System and the BVS® 5000 Biventricular Support System for the temporary support of all patients with failing but potentially recoverable hearts. The Company’s AbioCor® Implantable Replacement Heart is the subject of an initial clinical trial being conducted under an Investigational Device Exemption from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The AbioCor has not been approved for commercial distribution, and is not available for use or sale outside of the initial clinical trial.

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Media Contact:
Andrea tenBroek
Communications Specialist
(978) 646-1419
mediarelations@abiomed.com