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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001194674-06-000001.txt : 20061117
<SEC-HEADER>0001194674-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20061117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061117182721
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001194674-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061117

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000893160
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				942976937
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1910 INNOVATION PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85755
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-227-2155

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1910 INNOVATION PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85755

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON TIM B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194674

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20931
		FILM NUMBER:		061228043

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1910 INNOVATION PARK DR.
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85737
</SEC-HEADER>
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<SEQUENCE>1
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                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <value></value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <value></value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-15</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock Options vest 20% after 12 months and 1/60th of the shares vest the last day of each month thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nicholas Malden as Attorney in fact for Tim Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----