Abiomed announces partnership with Opsens to utilize sensor technology for
Impella

This news release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States .

DANVERS, MA, Jan. 27 /CNW Telbec/ - Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD)("Abiomed"), a leading provider of breakthrough heart support technologies designed for heart recovery, today announced a strategic partnership with Opsens (TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE:OPS) ("Opsens"), a leading developer of fiber optic sensors. Through this partnership, Opsens' breakthrough sensor technology will be integrated into the Impella(R) catheter to provide robust blood pressure measurements that can be used to enhance Impella's performance and ease-of-use.

Impella, the World's Smallest Heart Pump, has supported more than 1,600 patients in the U.S. and more than 3,000 patients worldwide. Over the past fiscal year 2010, product enhancements to the Impella have included a new introducer sheath and a quick set-up software and kit, which have allowed customers to reduce the Impella set-up time from 11 minutes to 2 minutes.

Through this latest enhancement, Opsens' fiber optic sensors will be integrated into the Impella catheter and will allow for further improvements in set-up time, as well as provide a high-quality pressure monitoring capability that can eventually be used to help automate the control and operation of the Impella pump. Unlike current fiber optic sensors used on other cardiac assist devices today such as certain Intra-Aortic Balloons (IABs), Opsens' fiber optic sensor is designed to provide longer-term accuracy and reliability.

"This partnership with Opsens further demonstrates Abiomed's commitment to continue enhancing and updating Impella technology and providing better results for customers," said David M. Weber, Chief Operating Officer of Abiomed. "By integrating Opsens' technology into our Impella platform, we can provide our customers with even more calculated control and insight during their high-risk and emergent procedures."

About Abiomed (www.abiomed.com)

Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, Abiomed, Inc., is a leading provider of medical devices that provide circulatory support to acute heart failure patients across the continuum of care in heart recovery. Our products are designed to enable the heart to rest, heal and recover by improving blood flow and/or performing the pumping of the heart. For additional information please visit: www.abiomed.com.

About Opsens (www.opsens.com)

Opsens is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of fiber optic sensors and associated signal conditioners based on proprietary patented and patent pending technologies. Opsens' sensors provide long-term accuracy and reliability in the harshest environments. Opsens provides sensors to measure pressure, temperature, strain and displacement to original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and end-users in the oil and gas, medical, high-power transformers, and laboratory fields. Opsens provides complete technical support, including installation, training, after-sales service, for its fiber optics systems that are regulated by the ISO 9001-2008 norm.

This news release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States .

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements of Opsens to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the said forward-looking statements.

For further information: Pierre Carrier, President and CEO, Opsens Inc, [phone]; Louis Laflamme, CA, CFO, Opsens Inc, [phone]