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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001140790</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZUG JAMES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FIVE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 520</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RADNOR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19087</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>3.875% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>61.32</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250000.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>250592.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4077.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250000.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the 3.875% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017 (the &quot;Notes&quot;) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Issuer on August 5, 2010 (the &quot;Prospectus Supplement&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">May 1, 2010, or earlier upon the occurrence of certain circumstances relating to (i) the trading price of the Issuer's common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;), (ii) the trading price of the Notes relative to the trading price of the underlying shares of Common Stock or (iii) specified corporate events, in each case, as described in the Prospectus Supplement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The second scheduled trading day immediately preceding August 1, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus Supplement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel V. Logue with POA for James W. Zug</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-08-27
0
0000096943
TELEFLEX INC
TFX
0001140790
ZUG JAMES W
FIVE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER
SUITE 520
RADNOR
PA
19087
1
0
0
0
3.875% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017
61.32
2010-08-27
4
P
0
250000.
250592.01
A
Common Stock
4077.
250000.
D
Subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the 3.875% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017 (the "Notes") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Issuer on August 5, 2010 (the "Prospectus Supplement").
May 1, 2010, or earlier upon the occurrence of certain circumstances relating to (i) the trading price of the Issuer's common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), (ii) the trading price of the Notes relative to the trading price of the underlying shares of Common Stock or (iii) specified corporate events, in each case, as described in the Prospectus Supplement.
The second scheduled trading day immediately preceding August 1, 2017.
Subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus Supplement.
Daniel V. Logue with POA for James W. Zug
2010-08-30