Impella Cardiosystems

About Impella Cardiosystems

Impella CardioSystems, now operating as a standalone business within Johnson & Johnson MedTech, specializes in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of temporary ventricular support devices. The company's origin traces back to 1998 in Aachen, Germany, where it was founded by Dr. Thorsten Siess. Dr. Siess, a mechanical engineer, drew inspiration from airplane turbine technology to invent the Impella heart pump, a device significantly smaller and more powerful than existing technologies. The company was established five years after his initial university-based research to manufacture and commercialize the technology.

A pivotal moment in the company's history was its acquisition by Abiomed in 2005 for a combination of cash and stock. Under the leadership of Abiomed's CEO Michael R. Minogue, the Impella platform was further developed. A significant milestone occurred in November 2022, when Johnson & Johnson announced its acquisition of Abiomed for an enterprise value of approximately $16.6 billion. The acquisition was completed in December 2022, after which Abiomed began operating as a standalone business within Johnson & Johnson's MedTech segment.

The core of the business is the Impella heart pump, the world's smallest heart pump. This catheter-based, miniaturized ventricular assist device is inserted through a small incision, typically in the leg, and advanced to the heart. It works by drawing blood from the left ventricle and pumping it into the aorta, thereby assisting the heart's pumping function, allowing it to rest and recover while maintaining blood flow to vital organs. The product line includes various models such as the Impella 2.5, Impella CP, Impella 5.0, and Impella LD, each designed for specific clinical scenarios and providing different levels of blood flow support. The business generates revenue from the sale of these single-use heart pumps, which cost approximately $23,000 per unit, and related consumables and services. The company's clients are hospitals and medical centers where interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons perform procedures. The technology is indicated for patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), and for those suffering from cardiogenic shock following a heart attack or open-heart surgery.

The Impella platform has received a series of approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Impella 2.5 received its first market clearance in 2008. A significant approval came in 2015 for use during high-risk PCI procedures. In 2016, the FDA granted an expanded indication for several Impella models to treat cardiogenic shock. Subsequent approvals have extended the duration of use for certain models, further broadening their clinical application.