May 19, 2013
Headquartered in Danvers, Massachusetts and founded in 1981, Abiomed Inc. (ABMD) is engaged in developing, manufacturing and marketing of medical products designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing heart. The company's strategy focuses on heart recovery as the goal for all acute cardiac attacks. Abiomed's products are designed to enable the heart to rest, heal and recover. The company's products can be used in a range of clinical settings, including by heart surgeons for patients in profound cardiogenic shock. Profound cardiogenic shock is starvation of the cells, or not enough blood flow to the organs as a result of an imbalance between oxygen supply and oxygen demand. Shock is a result of a weakened heart that is unable to pump blood as efficiently as it once did. Shock commonly occurs after a heart attack. The company's products can also be used by interventional cardiologists for patients who are in pre-shock or in need of prophylactic support in the cardiac catheterization lab (cath lab). The company has designed two FDA-approved products for heart recovery following acute events: the BVS 5000 biventricular support system (BVS) and the AB5000 circulatory support system (AB5000). There are two primary types of devices used in the cath lab and surgery suite for circulatory support for pre-shock and profound shock patients: intra-aortic balloons (IABs), an inflatable balloon inserted by a catheter that is used as an initial line of therapy in the cath lab or the surgery suite for patients with diminished heart function, and ventricular assist devices (VADs) that are mechanical devices which helps in the pumping function of the failing heart. To support the IAB, the company developed its iPulse multi-purpose console which also supports its AB5000 and BVS 5000 systems. The company also developed the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart for severe biventricular heart failure when chronic patients are ineligible for a heart transplant. In Europe, Abiomed offers the minimally invasive Impella Circulatory Support System.
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