-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 a4YCPhOoy1sRFtutEYstgw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-06-000938.txt : 20060123
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-06-000938.hdr.sgml : 20060123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060123130133
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-06-000938
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NASH ARNO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229737

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-06516
		FILM NUMBER:		06542831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DATASCOPE
		STREET 2:		14 PHILIPS PARKWAY
		CITY:			MONTVALE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07645

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 PHILIPS PARKWAY
		CITY:			MONTVALE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07645

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DATASCOPE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000027096
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				132529596
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 PHILLIPS PKWY
		CITY:			MONTVALE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07645-9998
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2013918100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 PHILIPS PARKWAY
		CITY:			MONTVALE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07645
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000027096</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DATASCOPE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DSCP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229737</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NASH ARNO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DATASCOPE CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14 PHILIPS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTVALE, N.J.</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07645</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock par value $.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.976</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>40.176</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks>Retired from Datascope Corp.'s Board of Directors effective January 15, 2006.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arno Nash</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----