Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Rude Michael W
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/03/2006
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
STRYKER CORP [syk]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
2725 FAIRFIELD ROAD
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
VP of Human Resources
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

KALAMAZOO, MI 49002
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 1,200
D
 
Common Stock 465
I
By 401K Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Common Stock   (1) 10/26/2010 Common Stock 20,000 $ 22.59 D  
Common stock   (1) 09/19/2011 Common Stock 30,000 $ 23.3 D  
Common Stock   (1) 04/28/2012 Common Stock 30,000 $ 26.4 D  
Common Stock   (1) 10/13/2013 Common Stock 28,000 $ 38.83 D  
Common Stock   (1) 03/04/2014 Common Stock 25,000 $ 45.21 D  
Common Stock   (1) 04/21/2015 Common Stock 27,000 $ 48.27 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Rude Michael W
2725 FAIRFIELD ROAD
KALAMAZOO, MI 49002
      VP of Human Resources  

Signatures

Michael W. Rude 01/13/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Stock option granted under the 1998 Stryker Corporation Stock Option Plan, exercisable as to 20% each year on the anniversary date of the date of grant.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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