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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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000937488-05-000001.txt : 20050113
<SEC-HEADER>0000937488-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050113164730
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000937488-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050113
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATRION CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000701288
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				630821819
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLENTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			ALLEN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9723909800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLENTOWN PARKWAY
		CITY:			ALLEN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALATENN RESOURCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JACOBSON RICHARD O
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000937488

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10763
		FILM NUMBER:		05528578

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLENTOWN PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		C/O ATRION
		CITY:			ALLEN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9723909800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLENTOWN PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		C/O ATRION
		CITY:			ALLEN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75002
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000701288</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATRION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000937488</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JACOBSON RICHARD O</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE ALLENTOWN PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O ATRION</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALLEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7180</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person also directly owns 8,000 stock options for the purchase of Atrion Corporation common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/Jeffery Strickland, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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