EXHIBIT 23.1

              CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

  We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to
the use of our report dated January 17, 2000, in Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement (Form S-1 No. 333-95815) and related Prospectus of
ORATEC Interventions, Inc. for the registration of 4,600,000 shares of its
common stock.

                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Palo Alto, California

March 2, 2000