-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 KIMGmCfdXDaf4EWib1BS6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-017827.txt : 20050912
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-017827.hdr.sgml : 20050912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050912160515
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-017827
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050908
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050912
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050912

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VITAL IMAGES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912888
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				421321776
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3300 FERNBROOK LANE N
		STREET 2:		#200
		CITY:			PLYMOUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55447-5341
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7638524100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3300 FERNBROOK LANE N
		STREET 2:		#200
		CITY:			PLYMOUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55447-5341

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CANAKES STEVEN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216656

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22229
		FILM NUMBER:		051080056

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10750 SPOON RIDGE
		CITY:			EDAN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55347
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912888</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VITAL IMAGES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216656</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CANAKES STEVEN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5850 OPUS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55343</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP - Global Sales</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock (restricted stock award)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The restricted stock award vests as to 25% of the number of shares subject to the award per year, beginning one year after the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven P Canakes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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