DANVERS, Mass. (May 17, 2006)—ABIOMED, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) today announced expanded customer services for U.S. hospitals, including new customer tools, an expanded Partnership in Healthcare Program to help hospitals optimize their mechanical circulatory support programs, and customer access to a variety of services to enhance and improve clinical and financial results. Included in this offering is a customer Webcast being held on May 18, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. ET. ABIOMED will provide hospital CFOs, Cardiovascular Surgeons, Service Line Administrators, Coding Managers, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Coordinators, and other hospital staff with critical reimbursement information for its AB5000™ and BVS® 5000 Ventricular Assist Devices.

Conference call presenters include:

• Daniel Raess, MD, Cardiovascular Surgeon, St. Francis Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
• Judith M. Hickey, President, Princeton Reimbursement Group
• Andrew Greenfield, Vice President, ABIOMED
• Gwen Mayes, JD, Director, Government Relations & Reimbursement, ABIOMED.

“As more hospitals, including community hospitals, add circulatory support to their cardiovascular programs there is increasing interest for ABIOMED to share best practices for improved clinical outcomes and reimbursement,” said Michael R. Minogue, Chairman, CEO and President of ABIOMED. “There have been many changes in reimbursement for VADs, including the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy for increased reimbursement with recovery of the native heart on extracorporeal support. This move by CMS illustrates its recognition of the quality and cost benefits for heart recovery.”

WEBCAST INFORMATION
To access this Webcast, visit: www.abiomed.com and click on Reimbursement Webcast.

ABOUT ABIOMED
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. In Europe, ABIOMED offers the IMPELLA® RECOVER® minimally invasive cardiovascular support systems under CE Mark approval. The IMPELLA products are not yet available for sale in the United States. The Company’s AbioCor® Implantable Replacement Heart was the subject of an initial clinical trial 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. For additional information please visit: www.abiomed.com.

Contacts:
Liza Heapes
ABIOMED, INC.
Media Relations
(978) 646-1668
mediarelations@abiomed.com

Daniel Sutherby
ABIOMED, INC.
Chief Financial Officer
(978) 646-1812
ir@abiomed.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding development of ABIOMED’s existing and new products, the Company’s progress toward commercial growth, and future opportunities. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties associated with development, testing and related regulatory approvals, anticipated future losses, complex manufacturing, high quality requirements, dependence on limited sources of supply, competition, technological change, government regulation, future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing and other risks and challenges detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report filed on Form 10-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this Release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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