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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,
 G0M1mnIX8NGsF874cX3LRHnRvUsG9L7O2bKkXEXunnUS/x1LYj/VH7iSpjCmJKcY
 ZwcEnMhq3TnC32mjELmEzw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001291348-04-000003.txt : 20040521
<SEC-HEADER>0001291348-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040521
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040521162312
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001291348-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040518
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040521

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sutcliffe Peter Chandler
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001291348

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23678
		FILM NUMBER:		04824463

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		978-692-1239

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 BLAKE'S HILL ROAD
		CITY:			WESTFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01886

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOSPHERE MEDICAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919015
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				043216867
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1050 HINGHAM STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7816817900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1050 HINGHAM STREET
		CITY:			ROCKLAND
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02370

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BIOSEPRA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940215
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000919015</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOSPHERE MEDICAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSMD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001291348</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sutcliffe Peter Chandler</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20 BLAKE'S HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01886</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Manufacturing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1061</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11861</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>1061 shares purchased through the stock purchase plan on 4/16/2004 @ $2.51 each.  Additional vested option shares are 10,800.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter Sutcliffe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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