<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123313</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KYPHON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KYPH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188681</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEATHERMAN ELIZABETH H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG, PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>466 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>59134</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0.01</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14149791</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Warburg, Pincus Ventures, L.P.</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Warrant (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.01</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>59134</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-05-22</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-05</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>59158</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Warburg, Pincus Ventures, L.P.</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person is a general partner of Warburg, Pincus &amp; Co. and a managing director of Warburg Pincus LLC and disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The listed security was acquired in connection with the 10% Convertible Promissory Notes issued to Warburg, Pincus Ventures, L.P.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The warrant was exercised on a cashless basis pursuant to a net exercise provision contained in the warrant instrument.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>David J. Saul, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



