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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-04</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000856982</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MMSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184932</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARNETT GREG L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1600 WEST MERIT PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH JORDAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84095</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>1</isOther>
        <otherText>Controller</otherText>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock, no par value</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-08-04</value>
        </transactionDate>

        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-08-04</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>304</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>3.68</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2991</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock, no par value(1)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-08-04</value>
        </transactionDate>

        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-08-04</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>304</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>27.50</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2685</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-qualified stock options (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>3.68</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-09-30</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2004-03-31</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3125</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3125</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-qualified stock options (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>3.68</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-08-04</value>
        </transactionDate>

        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-08-04</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>304</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>3.68</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-02-12</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-02-12</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>304</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>12196</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-qualified stock options (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>13.528</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-12-07</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-12-07</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>12500</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>12500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-qualified stock options (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>17.32</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-02-06</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-02-06</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>10000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>10000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>
<remarks>(1) Nature of beneficial ownership: by 401(k) Plan a/o 12/31/02 per recent plan statement timely distributed
(2) Becomes exercisable in equal installments of 20% commencing 02/12/02
(3) Becomes exercisable in equal installments of 20% commencing 12/07/02
(4) Becomes exercisable in equal installments of 20% commencing 02/06/04</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Greg Barnett</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

