-----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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 tCSJ2jELpTBaGDtT9rN0ag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001231512-04-000001.txt : 20040129
<SEC-HEADER>0001231512-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040129170405
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001231512-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040129

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			I STAT CORPORATION /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882365
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				222542664
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		104 WINDSOR CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			EAST WINDSOR
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08520
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6094439300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		104 WINDSOR CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			EAST WINDSOR
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08520

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZELIN MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001231512

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19841
		FILM NUMBER:		04553289

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O I-STAT CORP
		STREET 2:		104 WINDSOR CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			EAST WINDSOR
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08520
		BUSINESS PHONE:		609 469 0329

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9104 TAMARRON DRIVE
		CITY:			PLAINSBORO
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08536
</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>2004-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882365</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>I STAT CORPORATION /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231512</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZELIN MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9104 TAMARRON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLAINSBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08536</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Chief Technology Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.15 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46329</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.15 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.32</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43629</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Sally B. Archer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----