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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001397461-10-000003.txt : 20100106
<SEC-HEADER>0001397461-10-000003.hdr.sgml : 20100106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100106174455
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001397461-10-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SyntheMed, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000889428
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				141745197
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 MIDDLESEX ESSEX TURNPIKE, SUITE 210
		CITY:			ISELIN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7324041117

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 MIDDLESEX ESSEX TURNPIKE, SUITE 210
		CITY:			ISELIN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08830

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIFE MEDICAL SCIENCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRANKEL BARRY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252877

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20580
		FILM NUMBER:		10512747

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LIFE MEDICAL SCIENCES INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 219
		CITY:			LITTLE SILVER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07739
</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>2009-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000889428</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SyntheMed, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>symd</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252877</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRANKEL BARRY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SYNTHEMED, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 MIDDLESEX ESSEX TURNPIKE, SUITE 210</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ISELIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66450</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the portion of the reporting person's quarterly board fees for the fourth quarter of 2009 which, in accordance with approval by the Board of Directors, is payable in shares of common stock, based on the fair market value of the shares on the last trading day of the quarter, as reflected by the closing price ($.20) on that date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barry R. Frankel, by Keith Moskowitz, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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