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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>Form 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>Current Report </B></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>January 27, 2003 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date of Report </FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Date of earliest event reported) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000"><B>RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
  </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Delaware </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>000-30959</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>94-3199149</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Commission File Number)</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>967 N. Shoreline Blvd. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Mountain View, CA 94043 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Address of principal executive offices, with zip code) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>(650) 314-3400 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Registrant&#146;s telephone number,
  including area code) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Events and Required FD Disclosure. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B></B>The information that is set forth in the Registrant&#146;s Press Release dated January 27, 2003, is incorporated herein by
  reference. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. </B></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B></B>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000"><B></B>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits: </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">99.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Press Release of RITA Medical Systems, Inc. dated January 27, 2003. </FONT></DIV>
   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">2 </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>SIGNATURES </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">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. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="47%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>RITA Medical Systems, Inc.</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="47%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date: January 27, 2003</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="right" WIDTH="4%"> <DIV ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="47%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B<SMALL>ARRY</SMALL> C<SMALL>HESKIN</SMALL></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="96%" COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD> </TR>
  
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="47%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Barry Cheskin</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">President and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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   <P></P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">3 </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Exhibit Number</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="44" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Description</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="65" COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="right" WIDTH="7%"> <DIV ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press Release of RITA Medical Systems, Inc. dated January 27, 2003.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0001056421", "assigned-sic": "3845", "irs-number": "943199149", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-30959", "film-number": "03525667"}, "business-address": {"street1": "967 N SHORELINE BLVD", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94013", "phone": "6503858500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "967 NORTH SHORELINE BLVD", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94043"}}
text: Form 8-K
  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
  January 27, 2003
  Date of Report
  (Date of earliest event reported)
  RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  000-30959
  94-3199149
  (Commission File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  967 N. Shoreline Blvd.
  Mountain View, CA 94043
  (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
  (650) 314-3400
  (Registrant's telephone number,
  including area code)
  Item 5.    Other Events and Required FD Disclosure.
  The information that is set forth in the Registrant's Press Release dated January 27, 2003, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  Item 7.    Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  (a)    Not applicable.
  (b)    Not applicable.
  (c)    Exhibits:
  99.1        Press Release of RITA Medical Systems, Inc. dated January 27, 2003.
  2
  SIGNATURES
  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.
  RITA Medical Systems, Inc.
  Date: January 27, 2003
  By:
  /s/    B
  ARRY
  C
  HESKIN
  Barry Cheskin
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  3
  RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  Exhibit Number
  Description
  99.1
  Press Release of RITA Medical Systems, Inc. dated January 27, 2003.