ABIOMED, Inc. Announces 500th Customer for BVS Cardiac Assist System; New Model Supports Patient Transport; Improved Reimbursement Helps Hospitals.

Business/Technology Editors & Health/Medical Writers

DANVERS, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 17, 2001

ABIOMED, Inc (NASDAQ: ABMD) today announced an agreement with Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the 500th U.S. customer to select ABIOMED's BVS(R) cardiac assist system. The BVS system is used by cardiac surgeons and referring cardiologists to support patients in cardiogenic shock, as well as those with other reversible heart failure conditions, and facilitate their recovery.

Doylestown Hospital recently received its certificate of need to establish a heart surgery program and began its evaluation of mechanical cardiac support systems. Most of the attending surgeons were familiar with the BVS technology, having trained in medical centers where the BVS is used to support the recovery of patients from a variety of life-threatening heart disorders. John Mitchell, Director of Cardiovascular Services at Doylestown Hospital, commented: " Past experience with the BVS has shown this device to be an outstanding and reliable asset to a heart program. In our new program we wanted to provide all our patients the same standard of care by affording them the best technology available." The BVS technology is FDA approved and has supported over 4,000 patients, the most of any advanced ventricular assist device.

To provide greater flexibility, ABIOMED recently introduced the BVS 5000t transport model. This new design allows patients on mechanical cardiac support to be moved between hospitals more easily. It also provides emergency backup in the hospital. Lightweight and compact, the BVS-transport model meets the specific and unique requirements found in a variety of ambulances, helicopters and fixed wing craft used to move these patients. "This product enhancement provides open heart centers the ability to move patients to where they can be cared for most effectively", said Gene D. Rabe, ABIOMED's Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Services. "It also facilitates the most efficient use of hospital resources. The concept of central hubs providing backup and increased options to outlying community hospitals has been greatly strengthened by this new product."

"Expansion of mechanical heart support capabilities to smaller heart programs has also been facilitated by a recent reimbursement increase from Medicare," Rabe added. "A few months ago, Medicare moved the procedure code for this technology to a higher paying inpatient DRG (DRG's, or Diagnosis Related Groups, are Medicare's methodology for paying for hospital inpatient services). Small programs can now more easily absorb the costs of mechanical assistance and can more readily choose to add this life saving technology to their heart program."

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. The Company's AbioCor(TM) implantable replacement heart is in an advanced stage of development and moving into a state of preparedness for initial human trials. ABIOMED currently manufactures and sells the BVS, a temporary heart assist device, for the support of all patients with failing but potentially recoverable hearts.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements regarding the potential effects of increased reimbursement and the BVS transport model on future growth. The Company's actual results may be materially affected by a number of factors, including complex manufacturing processes, dependence on key personnel, competition and technological change, government regulations, dependence on limited sources of supply, dependence on third-party reimbursement, potential inadequacy of product liability insurance, dependence on patents and proprietary rights and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned that all such statements involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these 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 after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.