-----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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 CSVmzM1r6uHoagOOTGDdFw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000006284-03-000168.txt : 20031001
<SEC-HEADER>0000006284-03-000168.hdr.sgml : 20031001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031001092600
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000006284-03-000168
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031001

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANALOGIC CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000006284
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS [3825]
		IRS NUMBER:				042454372
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 CENTENNIAL DR
		CITY:			PEABODY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01960
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9789773000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GORDON BERNARD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237302

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-06715
		FILM NUMBER:		03919070

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 CENTENNIAL DRIVE
		CITY:			PEABODY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01960
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9789773000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 CENTENNIAL DRIVE
		CITY:			PEABODY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01960
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000006284</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANALOGIC CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>alog</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237302</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORDON BERNARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8 CENTENNIAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PEABODY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01960</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.761</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2191392</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by the Unitrust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15623</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust 11/18/82</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All shares involved in this transaction were sold by the Bernard Gordon Charitable Remainder Unitrust dated December 19, 1986 (the &quot;Unitrust&quot;) of which Mr. Gordon is a co-trustee.  The Unitrust has filed today a separate Form 4 covering this same transaction and shares.  Mr. Gordon is required to make this filing under applicable SEC regulations.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julian Soshnick, by Power of Attorney for Bernard M. Gordon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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