8-K

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

                                    FORM 8-K

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934



        Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): August 31, 2004


                           Commission File No. 0-11178
                                               -------


                           UTAH MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
                           ---------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                UTAH                                    87-0342734
   -------------------------------                 ------------------
   (State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)


                               7043 South 300 West
                               Midvale, Utah 84047
                               -------------------
                     Address of principal executive offices


Registrant's telephone number:      (801) 566-1200
                                    --------------





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                             ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

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On August 31, 2004, Utah Medical Products, Inc. issued a press release
disclosing recent U.S. sales activity and share repurchases. A copy of the press
release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1

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                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                     UTAH MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
                                     ---------------------------
                                     REGISTRANT


Date:    8/31/04                     By:    /s/ Kevin L. Cornwell
      -------------                         --------------------------
                                            Kevin L. Cornwell
                                            CEO


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Index
Number      Description
- ------      -----------

99.1        Press release issued August 31, 2004: UTMD Discloses Recent U.S.
            Sales Activity and Share Repurchases.

EX-99.1

                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

Salt Lake City, Utah - On August 10, 2004, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration
(FDA) announced that it would seek an injunction against Utah Medical Products,
Inc. (Nasdaq: UTMD) until it has corrected alleged "deviations" from the Quality
System Regulation (QSR). UTMD has responded with its own press releases of
August 10, 11 and 16.

There remain no restrictions on UTMD's ability to manufacture and distribute its
proven safe and effective devices.

However, the FDA Press Release has caused significant disruption to UTMD's
business, in part because of inappropriate activities of UTMD competitors
incorrectly telling customers that the company has been, or is about to be, shut
down.

In subsequent correspondence with the Secretary of HHS and the FDA, UTMD has
objected to the FDA Press Release and comments to the news media since there are
no violations until properly proven in a Court of law. There neither has been,
nor is there now, any FDA issue about the safety or effectiveness of UTMD's
devices manufactured through the efforts of nearly 200 employees utilizing
manufacturing processes which haven't significantly changed in over 10 years.
There is objective evidence that millions of UTMD's products used each year have
consistently met and continue to meet predetermined specifications. Throughout
that same span of time, UTMD has maintained a quality system certified per ISO
9001, and more recently ISO 13485. Yet statements made in the Press Release and
media quotes by an FDA representative wrongly characterized UTMD's practices and
devices. These unproven statements have been and are harmful to UTMD's business
and reputation.

UTMD has asked that the FDA stop making statements for which the proof is to be
established through a judicial process which we respect. We hope the government
shares in this respect. The proper and fair forum to determine whether FDA
allegations are supportable is through the judicial process and not through the
powerful and damaging access to the press that has been used by the FDA. The
safety and effectiveness of UTMD devices historically and since the 2001
inspection is confirmed by the fact that the FDA has not applied any of its vast
array of administrative authorities to question clinical use.

Thankfully, many customers are well aware of the safety and effectiveness of
UTMD's devices and this continuous long term proven result could not have been
accomplished if UTMD's quality systems were inadequate.

The nature of UTMD's U.S. hospital business is fast response, where about 90% of
orders are shipped within two days of receipt. Hence, UTMD operates on a low
backlog and any interruptions to its business are immediately felt. Although it
is not clear what longer term changes may take place, UTMD is pleased to report
to shareholders that in the three weeks since the FDA Press Release the total
dollar value of orders has remained about normal. Going forward, the ten percent
discount announced on August 20 as a U.S. direct customer Reward Program may
have a significant effect on net sales, unless UTMD gains additional business as
a result of it.





UTMD reminds customers that orders can be placed conveniently by calling
Customer Service at (800) 533-4984, sending a fax to (801) 566-2062, or
accessing on-line at www.order.utahmed.com.

On August 30, UTMD filed a formal Answer to the FDA Complaint in which it has
denied all of FDA's allegations of regulatory violations. The Answer is
available for public review by contacting the U.S. District Court. The FDA has
raised no evidence to contradict that UTMD devices are safe and effective for
their intended purpose, and no evidence to support that failure to comply with
any regulation "decreases the level of assurance that its products are safe and
effective." This latter allegation by the FDA to the media but not in the
lawsuit is false and misleading absent clear evidence of support. Although UTMD
respects the role of the FDA, it remains committed to seeking the fair and
honest treatment from the government that it has been denied for the last three
years.

UTMD's normal practice is to avoid announcing interim results or activities, but
the current situation after the August 10 FDA Press Release is unusual. In
August through the first week following the FDA Press Release, UTMD repurchased
176,200 of its shares, about 4% of shares outstanding, in the open market at an
average cost including commissions of $17.48 per share. Although no shares have
been repurchased by the Company since August 17, UTMD's board of directors
remains committed to enhancing shareholder value by repurchasing shares when the
shares appear to be undervalued.

Unless UTMD determines that it needs further interim reports to ensure proper
fair disclosure to investors, the Company does not anticipate additional
announcements of its performance prior to the next regular release of financial
results for 3Q 2004, which should take place on or about October 19.

Utah Medical Products, Inc., with particular interest in health care for women
and their babies, develops, manufactures, assembles and markets a broad range of
well-established, proven safe and effective, disposable and reusable specialty
medical devices.