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  <TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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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="5"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1"
  NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><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="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Date of report (Date of
  earliest event reported): November 13, 2002 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>ArthroCare Corporation </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Delaware</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>0-27422</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94-3180312</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>of
  incorporation)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Commission&nbsp;File Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(I.R.S. Employer</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Identification
  No.)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>680 Vaqueros Avenue </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Sunnyvale, California 94085 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>(408) 736-0224 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Registrant&#146;s telephone
  number, including area code) </B></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 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;Change in Fiscal Year. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">On November 13, 2002, the Board of Directors of ArthroCare Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;) approved a change in the Company&#146;s fiscal year. Previously, the
  Company maintained a 52/53 week cycle ending on a Saturday and the Company added a 53</FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><SUP>rd</SUP></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><SUP></SUP> week to every
  fifth or sixth fiscal year. Effective for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company&#146;s fiscal quarters will conform to calendar periods ending each March 31, June 30 and September 30 and the Company&#146;s fiscal year will end on December
  31 of each year. As a result, the Company&#146;s current quarter and fiscal year will end on December 31, 2002. There will be no transition period. </FONT></DIV>
  
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   <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>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date: November 22, 2002</FONT></DIV> </TD>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">ARTHROCARE CORPORATION</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD HEIGHT="16"> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/ Fernando Sanchez&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD> </TR>
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  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Name: Fernando Sanchez</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Title: Senior Vice President, Operations
  and</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8327}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ARTHROCARE CORP", "cik": "0001005010", "assigned-sic": "3845", "irs-number": "943180312", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27422", "film-number": "02840387"}, "business-address": {"street1": "680 VAQUEROS AVE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94085", "phone": "4087360224"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "680 VAQUEROS AVE", "city": "SUNNVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94085"}}
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
  Date of report (Date of
  earliest event reported): November 13, 2002
  ArthroCare Corporation
  (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  Delaware
  0-27422
  94-3180312
  (State or other jurisdiction
  of
  incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
  Identification
  No.)
  680 Vaqueros Avenue
  Sunnyvale, California 94085
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  (408) 736-0224
  (Registrant's telephone
  number, including area code)
  Item 8.  Change in Fiscal Year.
  On November 13, 2002, the Board of Directors of ArthroCare Corporation (the "Company") approved a change in the Company's fiscal year. Previously, the
  Company maintained a 52/53 week cycle ending on a Saturday and the Company added a 53
  rd
  week to every
  fifth or sixth fiscal year. Effective for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company's fiscal quarters will conform to calendar periods ending each March 31, June 30 and September 30 and the Company's fiscal year will end on December
  31 of each year. As a result, the Company's current quarter and fiscal year will end on December 31, 2002. There will be no transition period.
  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.
  Date: November 22, 2002
  ARTHROCARE CORPORATION
  By:
  /s/ Fernando Sanchez
  Name: Fernando Sanchez
  Title: Senior Vice President, Operations
  and
  Chief Financial Officer