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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EXQTGBee5Oean5Nf/2HbHZDeCxYLnyHiz4Os5KRq3mKqzIEb2FMi4f702UX3jpzI
 irj2wfmbULyOLY+1nYn1pQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-014766.txt : 20030722
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-014766.hdr.sgml : 20030722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030722104243
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-014766
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NIERENBERG DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001040899

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-33001
		FILM NUMBER:		03795681

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19605 N E 8TH STREET
		CITY:			CAMAS
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3606048600

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATUS MEDICAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000878526
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				770154833
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1501 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
		CITY:			SAN CARLOS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94070
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508020400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1501 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
		CITY:			SAN CARLOS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94070
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd13619.xml
<DESCRIPTION>D. NIERENBERG FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-21</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000878526</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATUS MEDICAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BABY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001040899</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIERENBERG DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Non Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>4.65</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-18</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>10000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>4.65</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2003-08-18</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-07-18</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Represents an option in which 1/12th of the shares underlying the option become vested and exercisable each month after the vesting commencement date defined in the Option Agreement.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>David Nierenberg</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


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