8-K

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          Date of Report: June 27, 2006
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        (Date of earliest event reported)


                                  ABIOMED, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                                     04-2743260
       (State or other Jurisdiction                 (IRS Employer Identification
              of Incorporation)                             Number)

                                     0-20584
                            (Commission File Number)

                              22 Cherry Hill Drive
                                Danvers, MA 01923
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

                                 (978) 777-5410
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
      (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
      (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)





Item 8.01 Other Events

Attached and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.01 is a copy of a
press release of ABIOMED, Inc. dated June 27, 2006, announcing conditional
approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its Investigational
Device Exemption (IDE) for the IMPELLA 5.0 unique, catheter-based Circulatory
Support Systems. Clinical trials in the U.S. are to begin immediately.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

99.01 Press release dated June 27, 2006





                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                  ABIOMED, Inc.



                                  By:    /s/ Daniel J. Sutherby
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Daniel J. Sutherby
                                         Chief Financial Officer



Date:  June 28, 2006

EX-99.01

                                                                   Exhibit 99.01

 FDA Approves Abiomed's IDE for IMPELLA 5.0 Minimally Invasive Cardiac Support
 Systems; Advanced Medical Technology Indicated for Use with Low Cardiac Output
                             after Cardiac Surgery

    DANVERS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2006--Abiomed, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ABMD) today announced conditional approval by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) of its Investigational Device Exemption
(IDE) for the IMPELLA 5.0 unique, catheter-based Circulatory Support
Systems. Clinical trials in the U.S. are to begin immediately. The
IMPELLA(R) RECOVER 5.0 devices are already available in Europe under
CE Mark approval and have been used to treat more than 250 patients in
Europe in need of cardiac support resulting from postcardiotomy
cardiogenic shock, myocarditis, low cardiac output post-acute
myocardial infarction, or post-coronary intervention procedures, or as
a bridge to other circulatory support devices, including Abiomed's
AB5000(TM) and BVS(R) 5000 Circulatory Support Systems.
    The pilot study in the United States for the IMPELLA 5.0 will
enroll up to 20 patients at seven U.S. sites including: the University
of Maryland, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lankenau Hospital in
Philadelphia, Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Jersey, New York
Presbyterian Hospital, Texas Heart Institute and Penn State Milton S.
Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania. The study will include
postcardiotomy patients who have been weaned from heart-lung machines
and whose hearts require added support to maintain good blood flow.
The study will enroll those patients that would typically need more
flow and hemodynamic support than provided by an Intra-Aortic Balloon
Pump (IABP).
    "The IMPELLA micro-VAD technology is likely a window into the
future where heart assist is headed. We look forward to evaluating the
safety of this device in patients whose hearts are weakened after
heart surgery. Because of the small size, they are assembled on a
catheter that can be placed through an artery and into the heart,"
said Bartley Griffith, M.D., Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Heart & Lung
Transplantation at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and
Principal Investigator of the study.
    "We are excited to receive this approval for the IMPELLA 5.0 as we
believe this technology will provide surgeons with a potent, minimally
invasive, circulatory support system. Abiomed's results with the
IMPELLA 5.0 in Europe have been excellent and we look forward to
ultimately bringing this technology to the United States through this
study," said Michael R. Minogue, Chairman, CEO and President of
Abiomed.

    ABOUT THE IMPELLA 5.0

    The IMPELLA 5.0 technology consists of catheters that can be
introduced percutaneously through a cut-down and surgically. Other
IMPELLA devices currently available in Europe under CE Mark approval
include the IMPELLA(R) 2.5, and the IMPELLA(R) RD.
    The IMPELLA 5.0 Pumps can achieve flows of up to 5.0 liters per
minute, and actively unload the ventricle, reducing myocardial
workload and oxygen consumption while increasing cardiac output and
coronary and end-organ perfusion.
    IMPELLA 5.0 devices have been the subject of more than 10 clinical
papers reporting European experiences. Recent studies have shown that
the IMPELLA 5.0 can provide effective and adequate support for
high-risk surgery patients, as well as patients presenting with
marginal cardiac output as well as severe cardiogenic shock.
    The IMPELLA 5.0 Support Systems are intended to be used for up to
seven days as left ventricular cardiac assist devices. The systems are
comprised of the IMPELLA mobile console, the IMPELLA bearing purger
and the IMPELLA 5.0 catheter based rotary blood pumps.

    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) 5.0 and 2.5 are investigational devices
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.

    CONTACT: Abiomed, Inc.
             Daniel Sutherby, 978-646-1812
             Chief Financial Officer
             ir@abiomed.com
             or
             Liza Heapes, 978-646-1668
             Media Relations
             mediarelations@abiomed.com