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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,
 WMQbA04G+bJhZrK3uMGVVMXZlc8TnxGcWN8GOGVwxzf/W8C9xmm+fvWd+B2P31hk
 Cv3GZD4T9QUpjhc+3WOg8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950103-06-001494.txt : 20060609
<SEC-HEADER>0000950103-06-001494.hdr.sgml : 20060609
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060609152433
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950103-06-001494
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060609
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060609

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALSTED SCOTT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204322

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30959
		FILM NUMBER:		06896932

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 SAND HILL RD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 4 STE 250
		CITY:			MENIO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025

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>dp02803_4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALSTED SCOTT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MORGAN STANLEY VENTURE PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3000 SAND HILL RD.,   BLDG 4,  SUITE 250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to purchase (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.81</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27810</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.81</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>27810</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27810</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option shall vest and become exercisable, assuming continued service on the Board throughout such period, as of the earlier
 of (a) the one year anniversary of the date of the option and (b) the date immediately preceding the date of the annual
 meeting of the Company's stockholders for the year following the year of grant of the option.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Scott S. Halsted</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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