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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001307351</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Miller Laurence G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>155 S. LIMERICK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LIMERICK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19468-1699</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr.VP, General</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Counsel &amp; Secretary</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1800.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1800.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>47.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">A restricted stock award was granted to Mr.  Miller by the
Issuer on November 8, 2004, subject to Mr.  Miller's
commencing his employment duties on or about November 15,
2004.  Mr. Miller commenced such duties on November 15,
2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">A stock option to purchase 25,000 shares at $47.50 per
share was granted to Mr.  Miller by the Issuer on November
8,2004, subject to Mr.  Miller's commencing his employment
duties on or about November 15,2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Such stock option is exercisable to the extent of one-third
of the total shares subject to the option on each of
November 15, 2005, November 15, 2006 and November 15, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joan W. Schwartz with POA for Laurence G. Miller</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-11-15
0
0000096943
TELEFLEX INC
TFX
0001307351
Miller Laurence G
155 S. LIMERICK ROAD
LIMERICK
PA
19468-1699
0
1
0
0
Sr.VP, General
Counsel & Secretary
Common Stock
2004-11-15
4
A
0
1800.
0.00
A
1800.
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
47.50
2004-11-15
4
A
0
25000.
0.00
A
2014-11-08
Common Stock
25000.
25000.
D
A restricted stock award was granted to Mr.  Miller by the
Issuer on November 8, 2004, subject to Mr.  Miller's
commencing his employment duties on or about November 15,
2004.  Mr. Miller commenced such duties on November 15,
2004.
A stock option to purchase 25,000 shares at $47.50 per
share was granted to Mr.  Miller by the Issuer on November
8,2004, subject to Mr.  Miller's commencing his employment
duties on or about November 15,2004.
Such stock option is exercisable to the extent of one-third
of the total shares subject to the option on each of
November 15, 2005, November 15, 2006 and November 15, 2007.
Joan W. Schwartz with POA for Laurence G. Miller
2004-11-16