-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 R2P6BuhRtRTOW//NXNJ8PH/u/i/GJ0SF14v2wP/G8ASD3vCo5HfMflImny8ActuL
 SAevZPRl6fu+qqb+GlrwPg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000064670-03-000086.txt : 20030902
<SEC-HEADER>0000064670-03-000086.hdr.sgml : 20030901
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030902193250
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000064670-03-000086
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030828
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEDTRONIC INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064670
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				410793183
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		710 MEDTRONIC PKWY
		STREET 2:		MS LC300
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55432
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7635144000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAWKINS WILLIAM A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106508

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07707
		FILM NUMBER:		03877380

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MEDTRONIC INC
		STREET 2:		710 MEDTRONIC PKWY, MS LC 310
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55432-5604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7635144000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MEDTRONIC INC
		STREET 2:		710 MEDTRONIC PKWY, MS LC310
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55432-5604
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-28</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064670</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDTRONIC INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106508</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAWKINS WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MEDTRONIC INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>710 MEDTRONIC PKWY, MS LC310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55432-5604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP &amp; Pres, Vascular</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60668</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60800.841</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These units vest 50% after 3 years and 50% after 4 year and are not payable until on or after retirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These units are payable on or after retirement or other termination of employment.  The officer also directly holds 22,739 shares, plus holds 400 shares in an IRA account, 125.171 shares in a 401(k) account, and 453.97 shares in an ESOP account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol E. Malkinson, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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