Abiomed Appoints Dr. Daniel Raess as Company Medical Advisor; Experienced Cardiovascular Surgeon Strengthens Clinical Expertise Offerings to Customers.

DANVERS, Mass. -- Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) announced today the appointment of Daniel Raess, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.S. to the position of Medical Advisor. Dr. Raess will be responsible for advising Abiomed's customers on best practices in patient care and will have added responsibilities in product development for Abiomed's lifesaving circulatory support technologies.

Dr. Raess joins Abiomed from the Cardiac and Vascular Surgery Associates (CVSA) Group, a private medical practice specializing in cardiothoracic surgery with St. Francis Hospital and The Indiana Heart Hospital, both in Indianapolis. During his 20-year tenure at CVSA, and more than 10 years using Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs), Dr. Raess worked extensively with Abiomed technology, having supported more than 50 patients on Abiomed's BVS(R) 5000 Biventricular Support System and the AB5000(TM) Circulatory Support System. He has shown very high recovery rates (87%) utilizing the AB5000 technology, having recovered the native heart function for seven out of eight patients with such illnesses as viral myocarditis and acute myocardial infarction (AMI or heart attack).

"Dr. Raess brings strong medical expertise and credibility, as well as excellent customer knowledge to help Abiomed establish heart recovery as the standard of care for acute events," said Michael R. Minogue, Chairman, CEO and President of Abiomed. "He will play a key leadership role in providing our global customers with clinical education, recovery protocols and administrative guidelines. We are very excited to have him on the team."

"The use of ventricular assist devices to recover the native heart function has made great strides recently, especially the addition of the AB5000 to Abiomed's product portfolio. We're seeing that hospitals with established protocols for cardiogenic shock have improved outcomes for patients. These standing orders affect the timing-to-implant, patient management and timing-to-explant so that patients in acute heart failure who may recover their hearts are given ample opportunity to do so," said Dr. Raess. "I am excited to be a part of this Company and be able to share the experience I have gained to help save more patients."

Dr. Raess received his M.D. degree from the Ohio Sate University College of Medicine and completed his residency at Indiana University School of Medicine, where he was also an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Raess holds the distinction of being a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Raess has consulted for the company over the years beginning with the initial clinical trials for the BVS 5000 in 1989, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

ABOUT ABIOMED

Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, Abiomed, Inc. 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(TM) Circulatory Support System and the BVS(R) 5000 Biventricular Support System for the temporary support of all patients with failing but potentially recoverable hearts. In Europe, Abiomed offers the IMPELLA(R) RECOVER(R) minimally invasive cardiovascular support systems under CE Mark approval. The IMPELLA(R) 2.5 is an investigational device limited by Federal Law solely to investigational use in the United States. Other IMPELLA devices are not yet available for sale in the United States. The Company's AbioCor(R) 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.

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.