<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096943</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TELEFLEX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TFX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251036</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRAVES JEFFREY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O C &amp; D TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1400 UNION MEETING ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLUE BELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19422</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>800.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3987.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock award granted pursuant to the Teleflex Incorporated 2000 Stock Compensation Plan.  Shares vest on October 28, 2011.  The reporting person has elected to defer receipt of the shares of common stock to be issued upon vesting of this award under the Teleflex Incorporated Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel V. Logue with POA for Jeffrey A. Graves</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2011-04-29
0
0000096943
TELEFLEX INC
TFX
0001251036
GRAVES JEFFREY A
C/O C & D TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
1400 UNION MEETING ROAD
BLUE BELL
PA
19422
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2011-04-29
4
A
0
800.
A
3987.
D
Restricted stock award granted pursuant to the Teleflex Incorporated 2000 Stock Compensation Plan.  Shares vest on October 28, 2011.  The reporting person has elected to defer receipt of the shares of common stock to be issued upon vesting of this award under the Teleflex Incorporated Deferred Compensation Plan.
Daniel V. Logue with POA for Jeffrey A. Graves
2011-05-02