<PAGE>   1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 1997

                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                                 DATASCOPE CORP.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                         13-2529596
(State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)                               Number)

                               14 Philips Parkway
                         Montvale, New Jersey 07465-9998

               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 DATASCOPE CORP.
                             1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>                <C>
         Lawrence Saper                   With a copy to:        Gerald Adler, Esq.
      Chairman of the Board                                  Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman &
President and Chief Executive Officer                                Goodman, LLP
         Datascope Corp.                                           919 Third Avenue
        14 Philips Parkway                                      New York, New York 10022
   Montvale, New Jersey 07465-9998                                  (212) 758-9500
          (201) 391-8100
</TABLE>

                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Proposed            Proposed
            Title of                                        Maximum              Maximum
           Securities                   Amount           Offering Price         Aggregate             Amount of
        to be Registered          to be Registered(1)     Per Share(2)      Offering Price(2)    Registration Fee(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                    <C>                <C>                  <C>
Common Stock,                       750,000 shares          $27.125           $20,343,750.00         $6,001.41
par value $.01 per share
====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416, this Registration Statement also covers such
     additional securities as may become issuable to prevent dilution resulting
     from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(h), on the basis of the average of the high and low
     sale prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as included on The NASDAQ
     National Market on December 18, 1997.

(3)  The Registration Fee has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) as
     follows: .000295 multiplied by 750,000 multiplied by $27.125, the average
     of the high and low sale prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as 
     included on The NASDAQ National Market on December 18, 1997.


                                     
<PAGE>   2
                                     PART II

                             INFORMATION REQUIRED IN
                           THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Explanatory Note

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed in connection with
issuance of additional shares of Common Stock of Datascope Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Registrant"), under the Datascope Corp. 1995 Stock Option
Plan constitutes a new registration statement. The contents of the Registration
Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-537 (filed on January 30, 1996) (the 
"Registration Statement"), and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement (filed on February 21, 1996) are incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS

                  The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
                  statement:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Exhibit Number            Description
                  --------------            -----------
<S>                                         <C>
                  4.1                       Datascope Corp. 1995 Stock Option Plan.

                  5.1                       Opinion of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP.

                  23.1                      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

                  23.2                      Consent of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP.
                                            (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                  24.1                      Power of Attorney (included in signature page to this
                                            registration statement).
</TABLE>


                                       -1-
<PAGE>   3
                                   SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Montvale, State of New Jersey, on this 19th day of
December, 1997.

                                 DATASCOPE CORP.


                                 By: /s/ Murray Pitkowsky
                                     ___________________________________________
                                       Murray Pitkowsky
                                       Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
                                       Officer and Secretary


                                       -2-
<PAGE>   4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Lawrence Saper and Murray
Pitkowsky, and each of them (with full power of each of them to act alone), his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution for him and on his behalf, and in his name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities to execute and sign any and all amendments or
post-effective amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents (with full power of each of them to act alone) full power and authority
to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done
in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof and the
Registrant hereby confers like authority on its behalf.

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Signature                                     Title                                    Date
              ---------                                     -----                                    ----
<S>                                        <C>                                                <C>
/s/        Lawrence Saper                  Chairman of the Board, President,
__________________________________          Chief Executive Officer and Director              December 19, 1997
           Lawrence Saper                       (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/       Murray Pitkowsky
__________________________________         Senior Vice President, Chief Financial             December 19, 1997
          Murray Pitkowsky                    Officer and Secretary 

/s/        Alan Abramson
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
           Alan Abramson

/s/      David Altschiller
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
         David Altschiller

/s/      William Asmundson
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
         William Asmundson

/s/     Joseph Grayzel, M.D.
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
        Joseph Grayzel, M.D.

/s/        George Heller
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
           George Heller

/s/          Arno Nash
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
             Arno Nash
</TABLE>


                                       -3-
<PAGE>   5
                                 DATASCOPE CORP.

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            EXHIBIT
             NUMBER          DESCRIPTION
             ------          -----------
<S>                          <C>
              4.1            Datascope Corp. 1995 Stock Option Plan.

              5.1            Opinion of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP.

              23.1           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

              23.2           Consent of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP
                             (included in Exhibit 5.1).

              24             Power of Attorney (included in signature page to this
                             registration statement).
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10461}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DATASCOPE CORP", "cik": "0000027096", "assigned-sic": "3845", "irs-number": "132529596", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-42753", "film-number": "97741490"}, "business-address": {"street1": "14 PHILLIPS PKWY", "city": "MONTVALE", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07645-9998", "phone": "2013918100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "14 PHILIPS PARKWAY", "city": "MONTVALE", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07645"}}
1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 1997

                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 DATASCOPE CORP.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                         13-2529596
(State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)                               Number)

                               14 Philips Parkway
                         Montvale, New Jersey 07465-9998

               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 DATASCOPE CORP.
                             1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
Lawrence Saper                   With a copy to:        Gerald Adler, Esq.
      Chairman of the Board                                  Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman &
President and Chief Executive Officer                                Goodman, LLP
         Datascope Corp.                                           919 Third Avenue
        14 Philips Parkway                                      New York, New York 10022
   Montvale, New Jersey 07465-9998                                  (212) 758-9500
          (201) 391-8100
(Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed            Proposed
            Title of                                        Maximum              Maximum
           Securities                   Amount           Offering Price         Aggregate             Amount of
        to be Registered          to be Registered(1)     Per Share(2)      Offering Price(2)    Registration Fee(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,                       750,000 shares          $27.125           $20,343,750.00         $6,001.41
par value $.01 per share
====================================================================================================================
(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416, this Registration Statement also covers such
     additional securities as may become issuable to prevent dilution resulting
     from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(h), on the basis of the average of the high and low
     sale prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as included on The NASDAQ
     National Market on December 18, 1997.

(3)  The Registration Fee has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) as
     follows: .000295 multiplied by 750,000 multiplied by $27.125, the average
     of the high and low sale prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as 
     included on The NASDAQ National Market on December 18, 1997.
2
                                     PART II

                             INFORMATION REQUIRED IN
                           THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Explanatory Note

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed in connection with
issuance of additional shares of Common Stock of Datascope Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Registrant"), under the Datascope Corp. 1995 Stock Option
Plan constitutes a new registration statement. The contents of the Registration
Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-537 (filed on January 30, 1996) (the 
"Registration Statement"), and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement (filed on February 21, 1996) are incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS

                  The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
                  statement:
Exhibit Number            Description
                  --------------            -----------
4.1                       Datascope Corp. 1995 Stock Option Plan.

                  5.1                       Opinion of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP.

                  23.1                      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

                  23.2                      Consent of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP.
                                            (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                  24.1                      Power of Attorney (included in signature page to this
                                            registration statement).
-1-
3
                                   SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Montvale, State of New Jersey, on this 19th day of
December, 1997.

                                 DATASCOPE CORP.

                                 By: /s/ Murray Pitkowsky
                                     ___________________________________________
                                       Murray Pitkowsky
                                       Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
                                       Officer and Secretary

                                       -2-
4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Lawrence Saper and Murray
Pitkowsky, and each of them (with full power of each of them to act alone), his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution for him and on his behalf, and in his name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities to execute and sign any and all amendments or
post-effective amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents (with full power of each of them to act alone) full power and authority
to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done
in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof and the
Registrant hereby confers like authority on its behalf.

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                                     Title                                    Date
              ---------                                     -----                                    ----
/s/        Lawrence Saper                  Chairman of the Board, President,
__________________________________          Chief Executive Officer and Director              December 19, 1997
           Lawrence Saper                       (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/       Murray Pitkowsky
__________________________________         Senior Vice President, Chief Financial             December 19, 1997
          Murray Pitkowsky                    Officer and Secretary 

/s/        Alan Abramson
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
           Alan Abramson

/s/      David Altschiller
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
         David Altschiller

/s/      William Asmundson
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
         William Asmundson

/s/     Joseph Grayzel, M.D.
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
        Joseph Grayzel, M.D.

/s/        George Heller
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
           George Heller

/s/          Arno Nash
__________________________________                        Director                            December 19, 1997
             Arno Nash
-3-
5
                                 DATASCOPE CORP.

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
             NUMBER          DESCRIPTION
             ------          -----------
4.1            Datascope Corp. 1995 Stock Option Plan.

              5.1            Opinion of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP.

              23.1           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

              23.2           Consent of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP
                             (included in Exhibit 5.1).

              24             Power of Attorney (included in signature page to this
                             registration statement).