Exhibit 5.1


[HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & MCAULIFFE LLP
            LETTERHEAD]


June 11, 2002

                                                             Main (213) 689-0200
                                                              Fax (213) 614-1868

                                                                      23347-0001


ICU Medical, Inc.
951 Calle Amanecer
San Clemente, CA 92673

RE:      REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to ICU Medical, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") which the Company proposes to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on June 11, 2002 for the purpose of registering under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 6,750,000 shares of its Common Stock,
par value $0.10 (the "Shares"), issuable on the exercise of options granted or
to be granted under the Company's 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan").

         We have assumed the authenticity of all records, documents and
instruments submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the
legal capacity of natural persons and the conformity to the originals of all
records, documents and instruments submitted to us as copies.

         In furnishing our opinion, we have examined the following records,
documents and instruments:

                  (a) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
         amended, certified by the Delaware Secretary of State as of June 10,
         2002, and certified to us by an officer of the Company as being
         complete and in full force as of the date of this opinion;

                  (b) The Bylaws of the Company certified to us by an officer of
         the Company as being complete and in full force and effect as of the
         date of this opinion;

                  (c) A Certificate of an officer of the Company (i) attaching
         records certified to us as constituting all records of proceedings and
         actions of the Board of Directors, including any committee thereof, and
         stockholders of the Company relating to the Shares, and (ii) certifying
         as to certain factual matters;

                  (d) The Registration Statement;

                  (e) Advice from Mellon Investor Services, L.L.C., the
         Company's transfer agent, as to the number of shares of the Company's
         Common Stock that were outstanding on June 7, 2002.

                  This opinion is limited to the federal law of the United
States of America and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and
we disclaim any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. We further
disclaim any opinion as to any other statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, order
or other promulgation of any other jurisdiction or any regional or local
governmental body or as to any related judicial or administrative opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing and our examination of such questions of law
as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion, and
assuming that (i) the Registration Statement becomes and remains effective
during the period when the Shares are offered and issued, (ii) the Shares are



                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


issued in accordance with the Plan, (iii) appropriate certificates evidencing
the Shares are executed and delivered by the Company, and (iv) all applicable
securities laws are complied with, it is our opinion that when issued by the
Company, in the manner provided in the Plan, the Shares will be legally issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

         This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the Registration
Statement and is solely for your benefit. This opinion may not be relied upon by
you for any other purpose, or relied upon by any other person, firm, corporation
or other entity for any purpose, without our prior written consent. We disclaim
any obligation to advise you of any change of law that occurs, or any facts of
which we may become aware, after the date of this opinion.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                         Very truly yours,


                                         /s/ Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP