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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-21</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 Counsel &amp; Sec'y</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option / (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>63.93</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14935.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>63.93</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14935.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14935.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable for one-third of the shares on each of February 21, 2007, 2008 and 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sherrie L. Hedrick with POA for Laurence G. Miller</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-02-21
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 & Sec'y
Stock Option / (Right to Buy)
63.93
2006-02-21
4
A
0
14935.
63.93
A
2016-02-21
Common Stock
14935.
14935.
D
Exercisable for one-third of the shares on each of February 21, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Sherrie L. Hedrick with POA for Laurence G. Miller
2006-02-22