-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IzGM/0gGCVNCWN+XkIbSreqsWW4xNC14u5yY00fnoPGimNyOGAWR9lD+xAiCJEA4
 Zzr0MLHMDWkAnp7WZQuTUA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-002404.txt : 20030627
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-002404.hdr.sgml : 20030627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030627080555
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-002404
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030625
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030627

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAILEY ANTHONY W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199676

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09585
		FILM NUMBER:		03759494

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ABIOMED INC
		STREET 2:		22 CHERRY HILL DR
		CITY:			DANVERS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01923

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 -2003-06-25
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000815094</issuerCik><issuerName>ABIOMED INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABMD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001199676</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BAILEY ANTHONY W</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, Business Development</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 
par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-27</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>353</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.875</value></conversionOrExercisePric
e><transactionDate><value>1997-03-10</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>5.875</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-03-10</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-03-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature
><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.813</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1998-07-01</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>6.813</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-07-01</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><
value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.688</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1999-07-01</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>6.688</value></transactionValue><trans
actionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-07-01</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.563</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2000-06-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><tr
ansactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>15.563</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-06-28</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-06-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecur
ity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></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><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F9"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></u
nderlyingSecurity><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="F7"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2002-06-25</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>6.75</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDat
e><value>2004-06-25</value><footnoteId id="F10"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-06-25</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></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></v
alue></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>5.11</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-06-25</value><footnoteId id="F11"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</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 historical reporting purposes only.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options were ful
ly exercisable on the date shown.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Original option grant becomes exercisable in annual 25% installments commencing on the date shown.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Thirty percent of this option will become exercisable on each of 7/1/01 and 7/1/02 and an additional 40 percent will become exercisable on 7/1/03.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Grant to reporting person of option to buy the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Table II, Column 7, under the ABIOMED, Inc. 1992 Combination Stock Option Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Grant to reporting person of option to buy the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Table II, Column 7, under the ABIOMED, Inc. 1998 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Grant to reporting person of option to buy the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Table II, Column 7, under the ABIOMED, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F8">Thirty percent of this option will become exercisable on each of 6/28/02 
and 6/28/03 and an additional 40 percent will become exercisable on 6/28/04.</footnote><footnote id="F9">Thirty percent of this option will become exercisable on each of 8/8/03 and 8/8/04 and an additional 40 percent will become exercisable on 8/8/05.</footnote><footnote id="F10">Thirty percent of this option will become exercisable on each of 6/25/04 and 6/25/05 and an additional 40 percent will become exercisable on 6/25/06.</footnote><footnote id="F11">Thirty percent of this option will become exercisable on each of 6/25/05 and 6/25/06 and an additional 40 percent will become exercisable on 6/25/07.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Anthony W. Bailey</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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