-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EWnLWBlOxvaQsK0BBG55UzVhqVESKanRDCk17+sQGCCDA/yTPL7E7oW36kiaJnSN
 aM1z8cLXYlVDYrCJHLBuWg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903423-08-000616.txt : 20080804
<SEC-HEADER>0000903423-08-000616.hdr.sgml : 20080804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080804163504
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903423-08-000616
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080731
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080804
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080804

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERIS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000815065
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				341482024
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5960 HEISLEY RD
		CITY:			MENTOR
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44060
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4403542600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5960 HEISLEY ROAD
		CITY:			MENTOR
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44060

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Breeden Richard C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001300622

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14643
		FILM NUMBER:		08988474

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312-442-7632

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 SOUTH WACKER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1800
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>breedenf-4_0804ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000815065</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STERIS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300622</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Breeden Richard C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BREEDEN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 NORTHFIELD STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, No Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1097</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1097</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, No Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1097</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2194</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, No Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5067321</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2744</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-07-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, No Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2744</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2744</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the governing documents of Breeden Partners L.P., Breeden Partners (California) L.P., Breeden Partners
 (California) II L.P., Breeden Partners Holdco Ltd. and Breeden Partners (Cayman) Ltd. (the &quot;Funds&quot;), any profits realized
 with respect to this grant will be apportioned among the Funds.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These 1,097 Common Shares are restricted.  The restrictions on these 1,097 Common Shares lapse on February 2, 2009.  Pursuant
 to the Funds' governing documents, any profits realized with respect to this grant will be apportioned among the Funds.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Richard C. Breeden is the managing member of Breeden Capital Partners LLC, managing member and chairman and chief executive
 officer of Breeden Capital Management LLC and the Key Principal of Breeden Partners (Cayman) Ltd. Breeden Capital Partners
 LLC is in turn the general partner of Breeden Partners L.P., Breeden Partners (California) L.P. and Breeden Partners
 (California) II L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Mr. Breeden in his capacity as
 managing member, as well as chairman and chief executive officer of Breeden Capital Management LLC, may be deemed to be the
 indirect beneficial owner of the Common Shares owned by Breeden Partners L.P., Breeden Partners (California) L.P., Breeden
 Partners (California) II L.P., Breeden Partners Holdco Ltd. and Breeden Partners (Cayman) Ltd.; however, he disclaims
 beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Pursuant to the Funds' governing documents, any profits realized with respect to these stock options will be apportioned
 among the Funds.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard C. Breeden</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----