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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">UNITED STATES</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in">Washington,
D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-indent: -0.2in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-indent: -0.2in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in"><B>Current
Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act</B> <B>of 1934</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in"><B>Date
of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 1, 2012</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 24pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in"><B>THORATEC
CORPORATION</B></P>



<HR SIZE="1" STYLE="color: Black">

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in"><I>(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in">California</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
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    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; text-align: center">000-49798</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; text-align: center">94-2340464</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(IRS Employer Identification</I></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>Number)</I></P></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>6035 Stoneridge Drive</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Pleasanton, California 94588</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in"><I>(Address
of principal executive offices including zip code)</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.4in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in"><B>(925)
847-8600</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number,
including area code)</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Not Applicable</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">________________</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 7%; font-family: Wingdings">o</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 93%">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</TD>
    <TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Item 2.02 Results of Operations and
Financial Condition</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">On May 1, 2012, Thoratec Corporation (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;)
issued a press release announcing its first quarter ended March 31, 2012 results, the text of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including
the exhibit, is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and shall not be deemed &ldquo;filed&rdquo; for the purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section. Furthermore, the information
in the Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibit, shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings
of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>(c) Exhibits</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%; padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline">No.</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 95%; padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Exhibit</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt">Press Release, dated May 1, 2012, regarding results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Signature</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.2in">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.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 55%">Dated as of May 1, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 42%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font-weight: bold">THORATEC CORPORATION</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">/s/ Gerhard F. Burbach</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Gerhard F. Burbach</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font-style: italic">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-style: italic">&nbsp;President and Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">EXHIBIT INDEX</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 8%; padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 92%; padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Description</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 2.35pt; padding-left: 2.35pt">Press Release, dated May 1, 2012, regarding results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v311362_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15238}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "THORATEC CORP", "cik": "0000350907", "assigned-sic": "3845", "irs-number": "942340464", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "0102"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-49798", "film-number": "12800685"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6035 STONERIDGE DR", "city": "PLEASANTON", "state": "CA", "zip": "94588", "phone": "9258478600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6035 STONERIDGE DR", "city": "PLEASANTON", "state": "CA", "zip": "94588"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "THORATEC CARDIOSYSTEMS INC", "date-changed": "20010220"}, {"former-conformed-name": "THORATEC LABORATORIES CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}]}
UNITED STATES
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): May 1, 2012
THORATEC
CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California
(State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
000-49798
94-2340464
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification
Number)
6035 Stoneridge Drive
Pleasanton, California 94588
(Address
of principal executive offices including zip code)
(925)
847-8600
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)
________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and
Financial Condition
On May 1, 2012, Thoratec Corporation (the "Company")
issued a press release announcing its first quarter ended March 31, 2012 results, the text of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including
the exhibit, is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section. Furthermore, the information
in the Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibit, shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings
of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
No.
Exhibit
99.1
Press Release, dated May 1, 2012, regarding results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.
Signature
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.
Dated as of May 1, 2012
THORATEC CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Gerhard F. Burbach
Gerhard F. Burbach
President and Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release, dated May 1, 2012, regarding results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.