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Abiomed Expands Product Portfolio with Acquisition of Cardiopulmonary Support Technology (ECMO) to Improve Outcomes for Patients

Thursday, April 30, 2020

DANVERS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD), maker of the Impella heart pump, has acquired Breethe, developer of a novel extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system that will complement and expand Abiomed’s product portfolio to more comprehensively serve the needs of patients whose lungs can no longer provide sufficient oxygenation, including patients suffering from cardiogenic shock or respiratory failure such as due to ARDS, H1N1, SARS, or COVID-19. ECMO has also been utilized as a primary method of oxygenation and hemodynamic support for pediatric patients.

Patients who require ECMO therapy have a severe and life-threatening illness that stops their lungs from working properly. The system is connected to patients through tubes (cannulae) and is an external respiratory assistance device that takes venous blood, removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen, much like a human lung. Oxygenated blood is then sent back to the patient. Each year, more than 20,000 patients receive ECMO therapy in the United States.

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