-----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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 1YDD8S+IzMhkmuXJyBKNqg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-021279.txt : 20041112
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-021279.hdr.sgml : 20041111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041112153054
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-021279
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041112

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KINETIC CONCEPTS INC /TX/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000831967
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FURNITURE & FIXTURES [2590]
		IRS NUMBER:				741891727
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8023 VANTAGE DR
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78230
		BUSINESS PHONE:		210.524.9000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P0 B0X 659508
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78265-9508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOLLENS RONALD W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222340

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09913
		FILM NUMBER:		041138950

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GUIDANT CORP
		STREET 2:		111 MONUMENT CIRCLE #2900
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204-5129
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3179712022

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GUIDANT CORP
		STREET 2:		111 MONUMENT CIRCLE #2900
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204-5129
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000831967</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KINETIC CONCEPTS INC /TX/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222340</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOLLENS RONALD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KINETIC CONCEPTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8023 VANTAGE DR.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN ANTONIO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78230</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>970</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6970</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>61.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>809</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-11-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>809</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>809</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">N/A.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option vests in one-twelfth installments every three months over a period of three years beginning on February 9, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dennis E. Noll, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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