<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123313</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KYPHON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KYPH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001140407</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TAYLOR ARTHUR T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>KYPHON INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1221 CROSSMAN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14425</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Total includes 401 shares purchased in February 2005; 444 shares purchased in August 2005; 391 shares purchased in February 2006; 743 shares purchased in August 2006 and 446 shares purchased February 2007 by the Reporting Person under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Kyphon Inc. Common Stock.  There is no exercise price or expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Restricted Stock Units granted on this date vest over a period of three years in three equal installments on each subsequent anniversary of the grant date beginning August 10, 2008.  Vested shares are delivered to the Reporting Person on each vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David M. Shaw, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
