-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KQcfUTBBLbIlt50bc3LoSwSrgu1+UyC6VRYxyJp/RugjyyNkEOjCkymVK2F5dqT+
 DY6i3kA61kmRel90T5fjgQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-001206.txt : 20030523
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-001206.hdr.sgml : 20030523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030523115210
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-001206
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030523

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TERMEER HENRI A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021038
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09585
		FILM NUMBER:		03717569

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GENZYME CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE KENDALL SQ
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172527500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE KENDALL SQUARE
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABIOMED INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000815094
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				042743260
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33 CHERRY HILL DR
		CITY:			DANVERS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01923
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5087775410

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			DANVERS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01923
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-05-21
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000815094</issuerCik><issuerName>ABIOMED INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABMD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001021038</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>TERMEER HENRI A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securi
tyTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>29551</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactio
nFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2307692</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Genzyme Corporation</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1997-07-01</value></
transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>7.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-06-30</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></d
irectOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.69</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2000-08-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>19.69</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-08-09</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-08-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityT
itle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.40</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2001-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>18.40</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footn
oteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.71</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>
false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>4.71</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-06</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This transaction is not a new addition, but is shown for histo
rical reporting purposes only.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Grant to reporting person of option to buy the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Table II, Column 7, under ABIOMED, Inc. 1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F3">This option becomes exercisable in annual 20% increments commencing on the date set forth in Table II, Column 6.</footnote><footnote id="F4">This option becomes exercisable in full on the date set forth in Table II, Column 6.</footnote><footnote id="F5">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes.  The reporting person is the Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme Corporation.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Charles B. Haaser (Attorney-in-fact)</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-23</signatureDate></ownerS
ignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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