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    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June&nbsp;3, 2010</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">Registration No.&nbsp;333-</TD>
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<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>THORATEC CORPORATION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>California</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>94-2340464</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction of
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. employer identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">incorporation or organization)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>6035 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton, California 94588</B><BR>
(Address of principal executive offices)</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>AMENDED AND RESTATED 2006 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN</B><BR>
(Full title of the Plan)
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Gerhard F. Burbach<BR>
Thoratec Corporation<BR>
6035 Stoneridge Drive<BR>
Pleasanton, California 94588</B><BR>
(Name and address of agent for service)</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>(925)&nbsp;847-8600</B><BR>
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of &#147;large
accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
</DIV>

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    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Large accelerated filer <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#254;</FONT></FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Accelerated filer <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Non-accelerated filer <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT><BR>
<FONT style="white-space: nowrap">(Do not check if a Smaller reporting company)</font>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Small reporting company <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT></TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="57%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
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    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="12%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>aggregate</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>offering price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>offering price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>of registration</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of securities to be registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount to be registered (2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>per share (3)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>(3)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>fee</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2006 Incentive Stock Plan, Common Stock, no par value</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">3,200,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$43.715</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$139,888,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$9,974.02</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 3pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Each share of Common Stock being registered hereunder, if issued prior to the occurrence of
certain events as set forth in the Rights Agreement (as defined herein), will include a preferred
share purchase right. Prior to the occurrence of certain events, such preferred share purchase
rights will not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the Common Stock.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416(a), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional Common
Stock that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction effected without the receipt of consideration, which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to
Rule 457(c) and (h)&nbsp;under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the price per share and aggregate
offering price are based upon the average of the high and low prices per share of Common Stock of
Thoratec Corporation on June&nbsp;1, 2010 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>







<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">










<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE<BR>
PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E OF FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Thoratec Corporation, a California
corporation (&#147;Thoratec&#148;), relating to 3,200,000 shares of its common stock, no par value per share
(the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), issuable to eligible directors, employees and consultants of Thoratec and its
affiliates under the Amended and Restated 2006 Incentive Stock Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;). On June&nbsp;15, 2006
and May&nbsp;22, 2008, Thoratec filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;)
Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration No.&nbsp;333-135047 and 333-151102, respectively) (the
&#147;Prior Registration Statements&#148;) relating to shares of Common Stock issuable to eligible directors,
employees and consultants of Thoratec and its affiliates under the Plan. The Prior Registration
Statements are currently effective. This Registration Statement relates to securities of the same
class as those to which the Prior Registration Statements relate and is submitted in accordance
with Section&nbsp;E of the General Instructions to Form S-8 regarding Registration of Additional
Securities. Pursuant to Section&nbsp;E of the General Instructions to Form S-8, the contents of the
Prior Registration Statements are incorporated herein by reference and made part of this
Registration Statement, except as amended hereby.</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents filed with the Commission by Thoratec are incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement:</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Thoratec&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January&nbsp;2, 2010,
including all material incorporated by reference therein;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Thoratec&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April&nbsp;3, 2010,
including all material incorporated by reference therein;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Thoratec&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;8, 2010;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Thoratec&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;26, 2010;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(e)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Thoratec&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;25, 2010;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(f)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of Thoratec&#146;s common stock contained in Thoratec&#146;s registration
statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;18, 1981, under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (&#147;Exchange Act&#148;), including any amendment or reports filed
for the purpose of updating that description; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">(g)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of Thoratec&#146;s Rights Agreement (the &#147;Rights Agreement&#148;) and Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights contained in Thoratec&#146;s registration statement on Form 8-A, filed
with the Commission on May&nbsp;3, 2002, under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or
reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents subsequently filed by Thoratec pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part
thereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that Thoratec is not
incorporating any information furnished in any Current Report on Form 8-K.</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any document, and any statement contained in a document, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any other
subsequently filed document that also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein, modifies or supersedes such document or statement. Any such document or statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a
part of this Registration Statement. Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in this
Registration Statement is qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents
incorporated by reference herein.</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>ITEM 8. EXHIBITS</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Latham &#038; Watkins LLP</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm &#151; Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Latham &#038; Watkins LLP (contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated 2006 Incentive Stock Plan (1)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Filed as an Exhibit to Thoratec&#146;s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;25, 2010 and
incorporated herein by reference.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">






<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">SIGNATURES
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pleasanton, State of
California, on this 3rd day of June, 2010.</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">THORATEC CORPORATION<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Gerhard F. Burbach
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Gerhard F. Burbach&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left"><I>President and Chief Executive Officer</I>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Gerhard F. Burbach and David A. Lehman, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to act for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which they, or any of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to be done in connection with this Registration Statement on Form S-8 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 any substitute or
substitutes for any or all of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">In accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of Thoratec Corporation and in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">

    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Gerhard F. Burbach
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Executive Officer,&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Gerhard F. Burbach
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">President and Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ David V. Smith
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Executive Vice President,&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">David V. Smith
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer and
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Principal Accounting Officer</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Neil F. Dimick
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director and Chairman of the&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Neil F. Dimick
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Board of Directors
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ J. Daniel Cole
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">J. Daniel Cole
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Steven H. Collis
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Steven H. Collis
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Elisha W. Finney
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Elisha W. Finney
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ D. Keith Grossman
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">D. Keith Grossman
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Paul A. LaViolette
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Paul A. LaViolette
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Daniel M. Mulvena
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Daniel M. Mulvena
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">June&nbsp;3, 2010</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">INDEX TO EXHIBITS
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Latham &#038; Watkins LLP</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm &#151; Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Latham &#038; Watkins (contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated 2006 Incentive Stock Plan (1)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Filed as an Exhibit to Thoratec&#146;s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;25, 2010 and
incorporated herein by reference.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

</BODY>
</HTML>
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sv8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 3, 2010
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THORATEC CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California
94-2340464
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. employer identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
6035 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton, California 94588
(Address of principal executive offices)
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2006 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
(Full title of the Plan)
Gerhard F. Burbach
Thoratec Corporation
6035 Stoneridge Drive
Pleasanton, California 94588
(Name and address of agent for service)
(925) 847-8600
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large
accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a Smaller reporting company)
Small reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed
Proposed
maximum
maximum
aggregate
Amount
offering price
offering price
of registration
Title of securities to be registered (1)
Amount to be registered (2)
per share (3)
(3)
fee
2006 Incentive Stock Plan, Common Stock, no par value
3,200,000
$43.715
$139,888,000
$9,974.02
(1)
Each share of Common Stock being registered hereunder, if issued prior to the occurrence of
certain events as set forth in the Rights Agreement (as defined herein), will include a preferred
share purchase right. Prior to the occurrence of certain events, such preferred share purchase
rights will not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the Common Stock.
(2)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional Common
Stock that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction effected without the receipt of consideration, which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock.
(3)
Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to
Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the price per share and aggregate
offering price are based upon the average of the high and low prices per share of Common Stock of
Thoratec Corporation on June 1, 2010 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E OF FORM S-8
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Thoratec Corporation, a California
corporation ("Thoratec"), relating to 3,200,000 shares of its common stock, no par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), issuable to eligible directors, employees and consultants of Thoratec and its
affiliates under the Amended and Restated 2006 Incentive Stock Plan (the "Plan"). On June 15, 2006
and May 22, 2008, Thoratec filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-135047 and 333-151102, respectively) (the
"Prior Registration Statements") relating to shares of Common Stock issuable to eligible directors,
employees and consultants of Thoratec and its affiliates under the Plan. The Prior Registration
Statements are currently effective. This Registration Statement relates to securities of the same
class as those to which the Prior Registration Statements relate and is submitted in accordance
with Section E of the General Instructions to Form S-8 regarding Registration of Additional
Securities. Pursuant to Section E of the General Instructions to Form S-8, the contents of the
Prior Registration Statements are incorporated herein by reference and made part of this
Registration Statement, except as amended hereby.
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed with the Commission by Thoratec are incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement:
(a)
Thoratec's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010,
including all material incorporated by reference therein;
(b)
Thoratec's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 3, 2010,
including all material incorporated by reference therein;
(c)
Thoratec's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 8, 2010;
(d)
Thoratec's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 26, 2010;
(e)
Thoratec's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 25, 2010;
(f)
The description of Thoratec's common stock contained in Thoratec's registration
statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on May 18, 1981, under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), including any amendment or reports filed
for the purpose of updating that description; and
(g)
The description of Thoratec's Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") and Preferred
Stock Purchase Rights contained in Thoratec's registration statement on Form 8-A, filed
with the Commission on May 3, 2002, under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or
reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.
All documents subsequently filed by Thoratec pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part
thereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that Thoratec is not
incorporating any information furnished in any Current Report on Form 8-K.
Any document, and any statement contained in a document, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any other
subsequently filed document that also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein, modifies or supersedes such document or statement. Any such document or statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a
part of this Registration Statement. Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in this
Registration Statement is qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents
incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
5.1
Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2
Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration Statement on Form S-8)
99.1
Amended and Restated 2006 Incentive Stock Plan (1)
(1)
Filed as an Exhibit to Thoratec's Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 25, 2010 and
incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pleasanton, State of
California, on this 3rd day of June, 2010.
THORATEC CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Gerhard F. Burbach
Gerhard F. Burbach
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Gerhard F. Burbach and David A. Lehman, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to act for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which they, or any of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to be done in connection with this Registration Statement on Form S-8 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 any substitute or
substitutes for any or all of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
In accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of Thoratec Corporation and in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Gerhard F. Burbach
Chief Executive Officer,
Gerhard F. Burbach
President and Director
June 3, 2010
/s/ David V. Smith
Executive Vice President,
David V. Smith
Chief Financial Officer and
June 3, 2010
Principal Accounting Officer
/s/ Neil F. Dimick
Director and Chairman of the
Neil F. Dimick
Board of Directors
June 3, 2010
/s/ J. Daniel Cole
J. Daniel Cole
Director
June 3, 2010
/s/ Steven H. Collis
Steven H. Collis
Director
June 3, 2010
/s/ Elisha W. Finney
Elisha W. Finney
Director
June 3, 2010
/s/ D. Keith Grossman
D. Keith Grossman
Director
June 3, 2010
/s/ Paul A. LaViolette
Paul A. LaViolette
Director
June 3, 2010
/s/ Daniel M. Mulvena
Daniel M. Mulvena
Director
June 3, 2010
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
5.1
Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2
Consent of Latham & Watkins (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this Registration Statement on Form S-8)
99.1
Amended and Restated 2006 Incentive Stock Plan (1)
(1)
Filed as an Exhibit to Thoratec's Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 25, 2010 and
incorporated herein by reference.