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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,
 Szd+KqluaxFX2Dvtst+Tw7VpDSHd9XEFNu6DdrUR82y/bjBSPQ6ZKRUV6xVJsGZw
 cIjNLMp5IHo5r0FYWKTVbw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-039521.txt : 20040809
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-039521.hdr.sgml : 20040809
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040809191535
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-039521
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040805
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040809

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LINDHOLM RANDY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001231449

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30959
		FILM NUMBER:		04962729

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		16 BENJAMIN COURT
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94566
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9253980549

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>rrd50176.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231449</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LINDHOLM RANDY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>967 N. SHORELINE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOUNTAIN VIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94043</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>3.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>105000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest at the rate of 2.0833% per month on each monthly anniversary of 8/5/2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Randy Lindholm, by Richard De Young, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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