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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NwX4shc2JlFe2GJlCrCWJZkq8t0u4fKId4sU1ZqQcB3mISsnUIE7Z7wPW0FGnEAO
 pV2WT2hvUloFhxGRIR1AsA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-059403.txt : 20041216
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-059403.hdr.sgml : 20041216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041216194249
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-059403
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sampson Howard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001296331

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22743
		FILM NUMBER:		041209611

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(760) 603-9120

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VISTA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		2101 FARADAY AVENUE
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd61631.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001296331</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sampson Howard</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO and Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This stock option was issued in consideration of the cancellation of stock options held by Reporting Person to purchase shares in a subsidiary of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option becomes exercisable in equal monthly installments over 3 year period from January 19, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Howard Sampson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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