-----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,
 A5PW/KCmj4Db+uJ9ru2EnYYh01jRXdIQcRSbgEHHCP+h7hp5a+/9AkX8v8CDJbw1
 YeeQoIC4NjvUUQKClXpwiw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000096943-04-000005.txt : 20040120
<SEC-HEADER>0000096943-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040120103418
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000096943-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040120

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:			1226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 SOUTH LIMERICK ROAD
		STREET 2:		CORPORATE OFFICES
		CITY:			LIMERICK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19468
		BUSINESS PHONE:		610 948-5100

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JACOBS C JEFFREY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218485

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05353
		FILM NUMBER:		04531349

	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:		108 SHIERY COURT
		CITY:			GILBERTSVILLE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19525
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f5forcjj.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218485</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JACOBS C JEFFREY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>155 S. LIMERICK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LIMERICK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19468</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Treasurer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>559.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10.169</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3080.718</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By VIP Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>


    <derivativeTable>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Total number of shares of Common Stock held by Reporting
Person indirectly by VIP Trustee (401-k) is based on a plan
statement dated as of December 31, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joan W. Schwartz for Reporting Person by POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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