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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                [STRADLLING, YOCCA, CARLSON & RAUTH LETTERHEAD]

                                November 14, 1996

Gish Biomedical, Inc.
2681 Kelvin Avenue
Irvine, California  92714

                  RE:      Registration Statement on Form S-3

Gentlemen:

         At your request, we have examined the form of Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), being filed by Gish Biomedical, Inc., a
California corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 15, 1996, in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 240,240 shares of Common Stock, no par
value, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The shares of Common Stock may be
offered for resale from time to time by and for the account of the stockholder
of the Company named in the Registration Statement.

         We have reviewed the corporate action of the Company in connection with
this matter and have examined such documents, corporate records and other
instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion. Based
upon the foregoing and such issues of law as we deem relevant, it is our opinion
that the 240,240 shares of Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement
have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and
nonassessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the
Prospectus, which is a part of the Registration Statement, and any amendment
thereto.

                                          Respectfully Submitted,

                                          STRADLING, YOCCA, CARLSON & RAUTH