UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)                JULY 1, 2003


                              TELEFLEX INCORPORATED
             (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

             DELAWARE                       1-5353               23-1147939
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  (State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
of Incorporation or Organization)                            Identification No.)


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630 WEST GERMANTOWN PIKE, SUITE 450,
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PENNSYLVANIA, PENNSYLVANIA                         19462
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code             (610) 834-6301


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                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)

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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

      On July 1, 2003, Teleflex Incorporated issued a press release announcing
that, as of June 30, 2003, it had consummated the acquisition of substantially
all of the assets of Genzyme Corporation's cardiothoracic devices business in
exchange for $32.4 million in cash and approximately $8 million in assumed trade
obligations. The foregoing summary is subject to the full text of the press
release, which is attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated
herein by reference.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

      (c) Exhibits.

            99.1 Press Release dated July 1, 2003.

                                    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.

Date:  July 1, 2003                     TELEFLEX INCORPORATED

                                        By:  /s/ Harold L. Zuber, Jr.
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                                              Name:  Harold L. Zuber, Jr.
                                              Title: Chief Financial Officer and
                                                     Executive Vice President

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

      99.1  Press Release dated July 1, 2003