8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):    April 6, 2005

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota	0-8672	41-1276891
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

One Lillehei Plaza, St. Paul, MN	55117
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (651) 483-2000

Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On April 6, 2005, the Registrant issued a press release concerning the closing of the acquisition of the business of Velocimed LLC. A copy of which is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits:

99.1 Press release issued by the Company concerning the closing of the acquisition of the business of Velocimed LLC.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
Dated:    April 7, 2005	By:		/s/   Kevin T. O’Malley
		Kevin T. O’Malley Vice President and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated April 7, 2005 announcing the closing of the acquisition of the business of Velocimed LLC

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

St. Jude Medical Completes Acquisition of Velocimed

ST. PAUL, MN, April 6, 2005 -- St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced today it has completed the acquisition of the business of Velocimed, LLC (Velocimed), a privately owned company that develops, manufactures, and markets specialty interventional cardiology devices. The transaction was announced on February 15, 2005. The Company is paying $74 million in cash with further contingent payments due upon achievement of regulatory and other milestones, the earliest of which would be paid in March 2007. In conjunction with the completion of this transaction, St. Jude Medical expects to record a special charge of approximately $13.8 million in the second quarter related to purchased in-process research and development.

Any statements made regarding St. Jude Medical’s anticipated future product launches, regulatory approvals, revenues, earnings, market shares, and potential clinical success are forward-looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as those described in the Financial Section of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (see page 17). Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (www.sjm.com) is dedicated to the design, manufacture and distribution of innovative medical devices of the highest quality, offering physicians, patients and payers outstanding clinical performance and demonstrated economic value.