FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Burbach Gerhard F   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol THORATEC CORP [THOR] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 6035 STONERIDGE DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 10/16/2013 (Street) PLEASANTON, CA 94588 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 10/16/2013(3)   M   8,870 A $ 23.62 165,177 D   Common Stock 10/16/2013(3)   S   8,870 D $ 39.0042 (4) 156,307 D   Common Stock 10/17/2013(3)   M   730 A $ 23.62 157,037 D   Common Stock 10/17/2013(3)   S   730 D $ 39 156,307 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 23.62

10/16/2013(3)

M

8,870

01/17/2007(2)

01/17/2016

Common Stock

8,870

$ 0 (1)

322,834

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 23.62

10/17/2013(3)

M

730

01/17/2007(2)

01/17/2016

Common Stock

730

$ 0 (1)

322,104

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Burbach Gerhard F 6035 STONERIDGE DRIVE PLEASANTON, CA 94588	X		Chief Executive Officer

Signatures

/s/Gerhard F. Burbach		10/17/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Options were granted pursuant to the Company's equity incentive plan with no payments received for the options.
(2)	Options vest in four equal annual installments commencing one year after the grant date.
(3)	Options exercised and shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to a Sales Plan established by the Reporting Person on September 9, 2013, which Sales Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(4)	This transaction was executed in multiple trades in prices ranging from $39.00 to $39.04. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the Issuer, or a stockholder of the Issuer, information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.

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