-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Wqc9InZGSxsme3cWDjIbA4bDsz8e8fR8lzAYdiQdstWusD4s9UI3+Q3+CAZNfjKm
 JjLlX/ckWW//ThGHs6shaA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-010462.txt : 20031112
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-010462.hdr.sgml : 20031111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031112082051
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-010462
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031112

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:		22 CHERRY HILL DR
		CITY:			DANVERS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01923
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9787775410

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		22 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			DANVERS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01923

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RABE EUGENE D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199634

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09585
		FILM NUMBER:		03990601

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ABIOMED INC
		STREET 2:		22 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			DANVERS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01923
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9787775410

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ABIOMED INC
		STREET 2:		22 CHERRY HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			DANVERS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01923
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-11-07</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000815094</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABIOMED INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABMD</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199634</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RABE EUGENE D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ABIOMED, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>22 CHERRY HILL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DANVERS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01923</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>SVP, Global Sales &amp; Services</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400</value>
<footnoteId id="F11"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>4.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>400</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400</value>
<footnoteId id="F11"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>8.66</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400</value>
<footnoteId id="F11"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1998-11-15</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2003-11-15</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>22200</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21800</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.313</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2000-12-14</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2005-12-14</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>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.25</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2001-08-12</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2006-08-12</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>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.75</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2002-05-27</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2007-05-27</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.813</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2000-07-01</value>
<footnoteId id="F5"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2008-07-01</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>35000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.688</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2001-07-01</value>
<footnoteId id="F6"></footnoteId>
</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>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.563</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2002-06-28</value>
<footnoteId id="F7"></footnoteId>
</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>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.12</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-06-22</value>
<footnoteId id="F8"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2011-06-22</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>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.75</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-06-25</value>
<footnoteId id="F9"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2012-06-25</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>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.11</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2005-06-25</value>
<footnoteId id="F10"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-06-25</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>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options were fully exercisable on the date shown.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Grant to reporting person of this 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="F3">Grant to reporting person of this 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="F4">Grant to reporting person of this 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="F5">The option becomes exercisable in annual 25% installments commencing on the date shown in Table II, Column 6.</footnote>
<footnote id="F6">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="F7">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="F8">Thirty percent of this option will become exercisable on each of 6/22/03 and 6/22/04 and an additional 40 percent will become exercisable on 6/22/05.</footnote>
<footnote id="F9">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="F10">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>
<footnote id="F11">Stock was acquired and sold pursuant to a Sales Plan compliant with the requirements of SEC Rule 10b5-1.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Eugene D. Rabe</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-10</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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