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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 iZN7YI7HjGVYeGxHKUJmig==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-04-004346.txt : 20041203
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-04-004346.hdr.sgml : 20041203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041203141853
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-04-004346
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041203

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OSTEOTECH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874734
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISC HEALTH & ALLIED SERVICES, NEC [8090]
		IRS NUMBER:				133357370
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		51 JAMES WAY
		CITY:			EATONTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07724
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7325422800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		51 JAMES WAY
		CITY:			EATONTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07724

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATTON THOMAS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001310306

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19278
		FILM NUMBER:		041183128

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(212) 735-0784

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OSTEOTCH INC., 51 JAMES WAY
		CITY:			EATONTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07724
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874734</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OSTEOTECH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OSTE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310306</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PATTON THOMAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OSTEOTECH, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>51 JAMES WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EATONTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07724</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted under the Company's 2000 Stock Plan and qualified under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas M. Patton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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