-----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,
 GHsMuuIfQJiElP4EnHS+6TxqXXOPHueCMcjyOpfI1BcK7ULyAYPRM0cZqN6M0xYM
 O7S3lhNWxiFj5DEjrZvCrw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000911420-04-000398.txt : 20040924
<SEC-HEADER>0000911420-04-000398.hdr.sgml : 20040924
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040924154753
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000911420-04-000398
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040924
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040924

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FALK MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014026

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30959
		FILM NUMBER:		041045065

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		830 THIRD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		830 THIRD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056421
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				943199149
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		967 N SHORELINE BLVD
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94013
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6503858500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		967 NORTH SHORELINE BLVD
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>p923723_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001056421</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RITA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001014026</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FALK MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 NORTH CLEMATIS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WEST PALM BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>308963</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>308963</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On the date hereof, the Reporting Person has a direct beneficial ownership interest in 308,963 shares of common stock, par
value $.001 per share (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) of Rita Medical Systems, Inc. [RITA].</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On the date hereof, the Reporting Person has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 32,120 shares of Common Stock,
which are directly beneficially owned by the Mikaela Falk Trust, which the Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially
own by virtue of the fact that the Reporting Person's wife, Annie Falk, is Trustee of the Mikaela Falk Trust. The Reporting
Person disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to these shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that
the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On the date hereof, the Reporting Person has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 32,120 shares of Common Stock,
which are directly beneficially owned by the Gianna Falk Trust, which the Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own
by virtue of the fact that the Reporting Person's wife, Annie Falk, is Trustee of the Gianna Falk Trust. The Reporting
Person disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to these shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that
the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On the date hereof, the Reporting Person has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 2,733 shares of Common Stock, which
are directly beneficially owned by Commonwealth Associates, L.P. (&quot;Commonwealth&quot;), which the Reporting Person may be deemed
to beneficially own by virtue of the fact that the Reporting Person is the Chairman and principal member of Commonwealth
Associates Group Holdings, LLC (&quot;CAGH&quot;) (the sole member of Commonwealth Management, LLC (&quot;Commonwealth Management&quot;)) and a
managing member of Commonwealth Management (the general partner of Commonwealth). The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial
ownership with respect to these shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the
beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">On the date hereof, the Reporting Person has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 4,201,470 shares of Common Stock,
which are directly beneficially owned by ComVest Venture Partners, L.P. (&quot;ComVest&quot;), which the Reporting Person may be
deemed to beneficially own by virtue of the fact that the Reporting Person is the Chairman and principal member of CAGH (the
sole member of ComVest Management LLC, the general partner of ComVest). The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership
with respect to these shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial
owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">On the date hereof, the Reporting Person has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 59,046 shares of Common Stock,
which are directly beneficially owned by CAGH, which the Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own by virtue of the
fact that the Reporting Person is the Chairman and principal member of CAGH. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial
ownership with respect to these shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the
beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael S. Falk</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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