-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J21qFfrpxdZJz/7BMhhpW4G8mAiKb6pZPRaddA6JTp8IbqaZ+r4Ey15oBAVi7DEk
 BMn+TFlTy25X+eGEX9tEEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000096943-03-000002.txt : 20030624
<SEC-HEADER>0000096943-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030624
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030624104751
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000096943-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030623
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030624

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TELEFLEX INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000096943
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				231147939
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1227

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		630 W GERMANTOWN PK STE 450
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			PLYMOUTH MEETING
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19462
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2158346301

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 SOUTH LIMERICK
		CITY:			LIMERICK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19468

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLACK  JEFFREY P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218472

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05353
		FILM NUMBER:		03754314

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TELEFLEX INC
		STREET 2:		155 SOUTH LIMERICK RD
		CITY:			LIMERICK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19468
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6109482813

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1813 SAXON LANE
		CITY:			MAPLE GLEN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f4forjpb.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096943</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TELEFLEX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TFX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218472</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLACK  JEFFREY P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>W</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1685.00</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0.00</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>52289.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In addition By VIP Trustee owns 6,271.9038 shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joan W. Schwartz for Reporting Person as POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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