AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 22, 1997
REGISTRATION NO. 333-

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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CARDIOTHORACIC SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

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Delaware 94-3228757
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(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

10600 North Tantau Avenue
Cupertino, California 95014
(Address, including zip code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

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INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
(Full titles of the plans)

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CardioThoracic Systems, Inc.
10600 North Tantau Avenue
Cupertino, California 95014
(408) 342-1700
(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

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Copies to:
Christopher J. Ozburn, Esq.
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
650 PAGE MILL ROAD
PALO ALTO, CA 94304-1050
(415) 493-9300

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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

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Title of Proposed Proposed
Securities Amount Maximum Maximum Amount of
to be to be Offering Price Aggregate Registration
Registered(1) Registered Per Share Offering Price Fee
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Incentive Stock Plan

Common Stock, $.001 par value 600,000 shares(2) $5.1562(3) $3,093,750 $912.65

TOTAL $913.00
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(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "Act"), this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate
amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee
benefit plans described herein.

(2) The shares covered by this Registration Statement represent shares of
Common Stock which have become available for issuance under the
Registrant's Incentive Stock Plan as a result of an amendment approved
by the stockholders at the Registrant's Annual Meeting held on May 27,
1997 increasing the number of shares for issuance thereunder from
1,600,000 to 2,200,000.

(3) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Act solely for the
purpose of calculating the total registration fee. The calculation is
based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as
reported on the Nasdaq National Market on December 16, 1997 because the
price at which the options to be granted in the future may be exercised
is not currently determinable.

STATEMENT UNDER GENERAL INSTRUCTION E REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES

Unless as noted herein, the contents of the Registrant's Form S-8
Registration Statement (File No. 333-12173) are incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8. EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number Document
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5.1 Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
Corporation, as to the legality of securities being registered.

23.1 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., Independent Accountants.

23.2 Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
Corporation (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

24.1 Power of Attorney (see page II-3).

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cupertino, State of California, on
December 22, 1997.

CardioThoracic Systems, Inc.

By: /s/ RICHARD M. FERRARI
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Richard M. Ferrari
President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Richard M. Ferrari and Steve M. Van
Dick, jointly and severally, as his attorney-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to
this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the said
attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
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/s/ RICHARD M. FERRARI President, Chief Executive Officer December 22, 1997
- ------------------------- and Director (Principal Executive
Richard M. Ferrari Officer)*

/s/ STEVE M. VAN DICK Vice President of Finance and December 22, 1997
- ------------------------- Administration and Chief Financial
Steve M. Van Dick Officer (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)

/s/ CHARLES S. TAYLOR Vice President, Chief Technical December 22, 1997
- ------------------------- Officer and Director*
Charles S. Taylor

/s/ ROBERT C. BELLAS, JR. Director* December 22, 1997
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Robert C. Bellas, Jr.

/s/ THOMAS J. FOGARTY, M.D. Director* December 22, 1997
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Thomas J. Fogarty, M.D.

/s/ JACK W. LASERSOHN Director* December 22, 1997
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Jack W. Lasersohn

/s/ THOMAS C. MCCONNELL Director* December 22, 1997
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Thomas C. McConnell

/s/ PHILIP M. YOUNG Director* December 22, 1997
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Philip M. Young

/s/ JOSEPH A. CIFFOLILLO Director* December 22, 1997
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Joseph A. Ciffolillo

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* The Incentive Stock Plan, as amended, being registered pursuant to this
Registration Statement is subject to administration by the Board of Directors
of the Registrant.

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