December 23, 1999 Via EDGAR Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Corporate Finance Attention: Mr. Russell Mancuso Judiciary Plaza 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549-0306 ORATEC Interventions, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1, SEC File No. 000-26745 ---------------------------------------------------------- Dear Mr. Mancuso: On behalf of ORATEC Interventions, Inc. (the "Company"), we hereby withdraw the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, SEC File No. 000-26745, which was filed with the SEC on July 16, 1999 (the "8-A") in connection with the Company's proposed initial public offering. The Company decided not to proceed with the initial public offering and has withdrawn the Registration Statement on Form S-1 which was filed on July 9, 1999, and amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement which was filed on August 16, 1999. If you have any questions related to the foregoing, please feel free to call the undersigned at 650-233-8552 or Mark B. Weeks at 650-233-8352. Sincerely, VENTURE LAW GROUP A Professional Corporation /s/ Brooke Campbell Brooke Campbell cc: Mark B. Weeks