8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                        --------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 1, 1997

                             VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                     1-7598                 94-2359345
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission             (IRS Employer 
       incorporation)              File Number)          Identification No.)

3050 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA                               94304-1000
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (415) 493-4000

                                  Inapplicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Item 5. Other Events.

               On October 1, 1997, Varian Associates, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Registrant"), offered to purchase the radiotherapy service
and support operation of GE Medical Systems, a division of General Electric
Company. A copy of the Registrant's press release announcing this event is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.
        
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

               (c) Exhibits.



Exhibit Number        Exhibit
- --------------        -------
                   
99                    Press Release of Varian Associates, Inc. issued on October 2,
                      1997.



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                                   SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                     VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.
                                         (Registrant)

Date:  October 2, 1997               By:/s/ Joseph B. Phair
                                       -----------------------
                                     Joseph B. Phair
                                     Vice President, General
                                     Counsel and Secretary

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number        Exhibit
- --------------        -------
                   
99                    Press Release of Varian Associates, Inc. issued on
                      October 2, 1997.

EX-99

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Exhibit Number 99:
                                                        FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                       Laurie Alire 415.424.5781
                                                     laurie.alire@grc.varian.com

                                                           For Immediate Release
                                                                 October 2, 1997

VARIAN OFFERS TO PURCHASE GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS'
RADIOTHERAPY SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS

        Palo Alto, Calif. - Varian Associates, Inc., today announced that it has
offered to purchase GE Medical Systems' radiotherapy service and support
operation for an undisclosed amount of cash. Completion of the transaction is
expected around the end of the current calendar year.

        Radiotherapy involves the use of medical linear accelerators and other
associated equipment to plan and deliver precisely focused doses of radiation to
treat tumors and other maladies. Along with surgery and chemotherapy, it is a
major means of treating cancer and because it can be accomplished on an
out-patient basis - is often the most cost effective treatment mode.

        The proposed purchase includes all of GE Medical Systems' worldwide
radiotherapy service and customer support activities for an installed base of
over 400 medical linear accelerator systems and some 340 treatment planning
products at hospital and clinics around the globe. Approximately 160 GE Medical
Systems radiotherapy service professionals, technical support personnel, and
support staff will join Varian on completion of the transaction.


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        Varian said all GE Medical Systems radiotherapy customers will be
contacted directly with additional details about the change in ownership. The
company emphasized that customers can expect a continuation of ongoing support
with no disruption in service. During the transition period customers can
continue to reach their service and support representatives and order parts
through their existing telephone and facsimile numbers.

        "This acquisition will significantly broaden our international
radiotherapy support, particularly in Europe," said Varian Executive Vice
President Richard M. Levy, who heads the company's health care business. "The
addition of these skilled service and technical specialists to Varian's current,
well-established service capability will, over time, result in significant
benefits to both Varian and GE Medical Systems-equipped radiotherapy customers."

        According to Timothy E. Guertin, president of Varian Oncology Systems,
Keith Krugman, vice president of customer support, will head the transition team
that is being organized to guide the transfer of the GE Medical Systems
operations to Varian.

                                    ## ## ##

Varian Associates, Inc., based in Palo Alto, California, is a $1.6 billion,
diversified, high-technology company with core businesses in health care
systems, analytical instruments, and semiconductor equipment. Press
announcements and other information about Varian are available on the World Wide
Web at the URL http://www.varian.com.