-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001044321-10-000180.txt : 20101021
<SEC-HEADER>0001044321-10-000180.hdr.sgml : 20101021
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101021153447
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001044321-10-000180
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101019
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101021
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101021

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WORLD HEART CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024520
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4750 WILEY POST WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 120
		CITY:			SALT LAKE CITY
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		801-355-6255

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4750 WILEY POST WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 120
		CITY:			SALT LAKE CITY
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARXE AUSTIN W & GREENHOUSE DAVID M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001044321

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28882
		FILM NUMBER:		101135061

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUNDS
		STREET 2:		527 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 2600
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122076500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUNDS
		STREET 2:		527 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 2600
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</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>2010-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WORLD HEART CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WHRT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARXE AUSTIN W &amp; GREENHOUSE DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUNDS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>527 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 2600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2461825</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6309079</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnership</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2461825</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.125</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-10-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-10-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2461825</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2461825</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) and David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting and investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Fund III QP, L.P (QP), Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. (Cayman), Special Situations Private Equity Fund, LP (PE) and Special Situations Life Sciences Fund, L.P.  (LS).  2,178,712 shares of Common Stock are owned by QP, 790,719 shares of CS are owned by Cayman, 790,718 shares of CS are owned by PE and 1,221,596 shares of CS are owned by LS.  Marxe individually owns 1,015,286 shares of CS and Greenhouse individually owns 312,048 shares of CS.  The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned by QP, Cayman, PE, LS, Marxe and Greenhouse are limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) and David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting and investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Fund III QP, L.P (QP), Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. (Cayman), Special Situations Private Equity Fund, LP (PE) and Special Situations Life Sciences Fund, L.P.  (LS).  543,326 Warrants are owned by QP, 196,721 Warrants are owned by Cayman, 196,721 Warrants are owned by PE, 936,673 Warrants owned by LS, Marxe individually owns 468,384 Warrants and Greenhouse individually owns 120,000 Warrants.  The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Warrants owned by QP, Cayman, PE, LS, Marxe and Greenhouse are limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Austin W. Marxe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David M. Greenhouse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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