Our Story
Abiomed was founded in 1981 for the purpose of developing the world's first artificial heart. This interactive timeline shows how Abiomed’s mission evolved to focus on native heart recovery. Through its history, Abiomed has been dedicated to bringing the most advanced and innovative technology to patients and physicians.
2022
- Abiomed acquired by Johnson & Johnson
- Abiomed surpasses 250,000 patients treated with Impella®
- U.S. FDA grants 510(k) clearance for Impella Low Profile Sheath
- Physicians treat the first patient in the world with Impella BTR™
- All post-approval studies for Impella heart pumps completed successfully
- Physicians treat first patient Impella 5.5® in Japan
2021
- First patient enrolls in the PROTECT IV randomized controlled trial
- Abiomed surpasses 200,000 patients treated with Impella
- U.S. FDA grants breakthrough device designation to Impella ECP™, the world’s smallest heart pump
- U.S. FDA grants the highest level of approval to the Impella RP® with SmartAssist® for right heart failure
- Abiomed acquires preCARDIA to improve outcomes for heart failure patients
2020
- Abiomed acquires Breethe™ and its OXY-1 System and treats first patients with ECMO technology above left
- Physicians treat first patients with the 9 French Impella ECP™ above right
- Abiomed surpasses 150,000 patients treated with Impella®
- U.S. FDA grants EUA for Impella to provide therapy to certain COVID-19 patients
- U.S. FDA approves data streaming from the Impella console, setting the stage for artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms
2019
- First U.S. patients are treated with Impella 5.5® with SmartAssist®
- 1,000th patient treated with Impella in Japan
- First patient enrolles in STEMI DTU™ pivotal randomized controlled trial
2018
- Abiomed surpasses 100,000 patients treated with Impella
- German physicians treat first patient with Impella 5.5 with SmartAssist
- SmartAssist technology receives regulatory approval
- Abiomed launches Women's Initiative for Heart Recovery
- U.S. FDA grants approval for expanded indications for Impella
- Investigators announce successful STEMI DTU pilot randomized controlled trial results
2017
- Abiomed celebrates the grand opening of its newly-expanded headquarters in Danvers, MA
- Abiomed surpasses 50,000 patients treated with Impella
- First patient enrolls in STEMI DTU pilot randomized controlled trial
- U.S. FDA grants PMA approval for Impella RP® for right heart failure
- Physicians treat first patient with Impella in Japan
2016
- Entire family of Abiomed Impella left side heart pumps receive U.S. FDA PMA approval to enable heart recovery in cardiogenic shock
- The Impella 2.5® and Impella 5.0® heart pumps receive regulatory approval in Japan
- U.S. FDA grants expanded PMA approval to Impella CP® for high-risk PCI procedures
2015
- U.S. FDA grants PMA approval to Impella 2.5® for elective and urgent high-risk procedures
2014
- Abiomed announces the acquisition of ECP, a medical device company based in Berlin, Germany
- Abiomed surpasses 20,000 patients supported with Impella
2013
- RECOVER RIGHT clinical trial begins in the U.S. for the Impella RP heart pump
2012
- PROTECT II randomized controlled trial outcomes publish in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association
- Impella CP® heart pump receives U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance
2011
- New Automated Impella® Controller (AIC) is available
- Abiomed achieves non-GAAP profitability
- RECOVER I clinical trial outcomes publish in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
2009
- AB Portable Driver receives U.S. FDA approval and first patient is discharged on AB5000™
- Impella 5.0® and Impella LD® heart pumps receive U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance
2008
- Impella 2.5® heart pump receives U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance
- Abiomed completes PROTECT I clinical trial
2005
- Abiomed acquires Impella CardioSystems in Aachen, Germany
2004
- Under new CEO, Mike Minogue, Abiomed transitions to heart recovery focus
- AB5000™ receives U.S. FDA approval for bridge-to-recovery
2001
- Physicians treat first AbioCor patient with the first totally implantable artificial heart
1992
-
BVS 5000® becomes the first ventricular assist device ever U.S. FDA-approved for bridge-to-recovery
- The mechanical engineering student Thorsten Sieß, the inventor of the Impella heart pump, begins his research work on blood pumps at the Helmholtz Institute in Aachen
1991
- Abiomed celebrates 10th anniversary
1987
- Abiomed begins trading on NASDAQ under ABMD; $1.5M revenue first year close
1981
- Abiomed is founded to develop the first artificial heart
NPS-2602