-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CjJSG8GdTXhhQ2J0mvTDAcDjjDHKRpm9MKy0mLqIwjdGTwpiSyIk2UC7+2oMkbDd
 HxgME/bB3A0PMTHqi2+6Jw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001424411-09-000052.txt : 20090428
<SEC-HEADER>0001424411-09-000052.hdr.sgml : 20090428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090428212703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001424411-09-000052
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090427
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090428

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SANCHETI MOHAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001360583

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50988
		FILM NUMBER:		09777195

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5799 FONTANOSA WAY
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95138 1510

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001040666
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				943216535
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5799 FONTANOSO WAY
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95138-1015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408-360-7200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5799 FONTANOSO WAY
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95138-1015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001040666</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VNUS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001360583</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SANCHETI MOHAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5799 FONTANOSO WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95138</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP of Manufacturing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25862</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sale reported in this Form 4 was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Cindee Van Vleck, Attorney-in-Fact for Mohan Sancheti</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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