-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FjdW/tzjB7gke3TYS8ho4yor22kE3/4BTLgHC/j9TIuWqE09hQdvxcYvD1Cs8HhD
 LL4HzWHJzWsIF4fCgWN4Dg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-017826.txt : 20050912
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-017826.hdr.sgml : 20050912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050912160428
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-017826
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:			SMITH PHILIP IRVING
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235464

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22229
		FILM NUMBER:		051080051

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9529747922

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17218 CEDARCREST DRIVE
		CITY:			EDEN 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>0001235464</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH PHILIP IRVING</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 - Corp Dev</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>13500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">20,000 shares of the NQ grant on 9/8/05 vest on 12/15/05.  The remaining balance of the NQ grant on 9/8/05 vests at 28% one year after date of grant and 2% a month thereafter, until fully vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition, Mr. Smith has other options totaling 90,000 at various prices and expiration dates.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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>Philip I. Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----