<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-09-09</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000350907</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THORATEC CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>THOR</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000097745</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THERMO ELECTRON CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>81 WYMAN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 9046</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02454</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-09</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>1000000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>16.83</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>6685544.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: John A. Piccione, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-09-09
0
0000350907
THORATEC CORP
THOR
0000097745
THERMO ELECTRON CORP
81 WYMAN STREET
P.O. BOX 9046
WALTHAM
MA
02454
0
0
1
0
Common Stock
2003-09-09
4
S
0
1000000
16.83
D
6685544.00
D
By: John A. Piccione, Assistant Secretary
2003-09-11