-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P3gGmYqmp0tWE8zM2mrzc94G6dbHDg7OvPS1XgqwSRn9wmmu68cSEvJQNQwHHxOe
 tLCFcSuKzTFDyA7VSE6IAg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-059046.txt : 20041215
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-059046.hdr.sgml : 20041215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041215183205
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-059046
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041021
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VISTA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035181
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISC HEALTH & ALLIED SERVICES, NEC [8090]
		IRS NUMBER:				953645543
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 FARADAY AVENUE
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7606039120

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 FARADAY AVENUE
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HORNTHAL JAMES J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001054249

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22743
		FILM NUMBER:		041205991

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/0 PREVIEW TRAVEL INC
		STREET 2:		747 FRONT STREET
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154391200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PREVIEW TRAVEL INC
		STREET 2:		747 FRONT STREET
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd61180.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035181</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VISTA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001054249</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HORNTHAL JAMES J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VISTA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2101 FARADAY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARLSBAD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92008</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-10-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests and becomes exercisable with respect to 50% of the total number of underlying shares upon the completion of one year of service from the date of grant and with respect to additional 25% of the total number of underlying shares upon completion of each of the second and the third full years of service from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James J. Hornthal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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