Abiomed (Booth 2653) is showcasing its Impella 2.5, a minimally invasive, catheter-based cardiac assist device designed to unload the left ventricle, reduce myocardial workload and oxygen consumption and increase cardiac output and coronary and end-organ perfusion. The Impella 2.5 can be inserted into the left ventricle in a cath lab via a standard guidewire through the femoral artery, into the ascending aorta, across the valve and into the left ventricle. The tip of the catheter contains a ‘pigtail' that crosses the patient's heart valve and rests in the left ventricle, generating flows up to 2.5 L/min.