-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001085535-09-000001.txt : 20090106
<SEC-HEADER>0001085535-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090106121703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001085535-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATRION CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000701288
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				630821819
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1203

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLENTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			ALLEN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9723909800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLENTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			ALLEN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALATENN RESOURCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STUPP JOHN P JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001085535
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32982
		FILM NUMBER:		09508945

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLENTOWN PKWY
		CITY:			ALLEN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9723909800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		STUPP JOHN P JR
		STREET 2:		120 SOUTH CENTRAL AVE STE 1650
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000701288</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATRION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001085535</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STUPP JOHN P JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>STUPP JOHN P JR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>120 SOUTH CENTRAL AVE STE 1650</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>74.15</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>97.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>74.15</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>148.71</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0.81</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>0.81</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>149.52</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividend Equivalents credited as Stock Units under the Atrion Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated (the Deferred Compensation Plan).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In accordance with the Deferred Compensation Plan, the reported Stock Units were credited to the reporting persons Stock Unit Account in connection with the reporting persons election to defer a portion of the reporting persons compensation as a member of the Board of Directors.  These Stock Units vest 25% on January 2, 2009, 25% on April 1, 2009, 25% on July 1, 2009 and 25% on October 1, 2009, provided the reporting person is serving on such date as a member of the Board of Directors.  In January of the year following the year in which service as a director ceases for any reason, vested Stock Units will convert to shares of common stock, without further consideration, on a one for one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">In January of the year following the year in which service as a director ceases for any reason, these Stock Units will convert to shares of common stock, without further consideration, on a one for one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Stock Units will not expire</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Does not include 12,000 stock options for the purchase of Atrion Corporation Common Shares held by the reporting person, which were previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The reporting person also directly owns 16,896 shares of Atrion Corporation Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The reporting person also indirectly owns 135,000 shares held by Stupp Bros., Inc. as to which shares Mr. Stupp shares voting power and investment power as a director and executive officer and as a voting trustee of a voting trust which owns 100% of the voting stock of Stupp Bros., Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffery Strickland, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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