-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Eb9aVmStoUmHhU1gWMzeEEXrK75REACMPVqxUt7gbH5V7jLtQOHh6xRYDnMxfwcW
 hFDn0MOtMrdFfD5Ee0yvrw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001424411-08-000015.txt : 20080527
<SEC-HEADER>0001424411-08-000015.hdr.sgml : 20080526
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080527210736
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001424411-08-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080527
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080527

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001040666
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				943216535
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5799 FONTANOSO WAY
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95138-1015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408-360-7200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5799 FONTANOSO WAY
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95138-1015

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBSON LORI
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001286097

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50988
		FILM NUMBER:		08862177

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 BATTERY STREET STE 600
		STREET 2:		C/O BAY CITY CAPITAL
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001040666</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VNUS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001286097</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBSON LORI</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5799 FONTANOSO WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95138</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% of the shares subject to the option vest and become exercisable every three (3) months measured from May 23, 2008, such that 100% of the shares subject to the option will be fully vested and exercisable on May 23, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person is entitled to receive one (1) share of common stock for each one (1) restricted stock unit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">25% of the restricted stock units vest every three (3) months measured from May 23, 2008, such that 100% of the restricted stock units will be fully vested on May 23, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Cindee Van Vleck, Attorney-in-Fact for Lori Robson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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