UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                               (AMENDMENT NO. 3)*

                            RITA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  COMMON STOCK
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    76774E103
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                DECEMBER 31, 2003
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

[ ]      Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ]      Rule 13d-1(c)
[X]      Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).





                                                                                   
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CUSIP NO. 76774E103                                                                   PAGE 2 OF 6 PAGES
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1.        NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
          IRS IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                   Apax Partners, Inc. 13-2647531
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2.        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)                      (a) [ ]
                                                                                                   (b) [ ]
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3.        SEC USE ONLY

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4.        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                   New York
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   NUMBER OF            5.         SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES                                 0
 BENEFICIALLY           --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY            6.         SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH                                  1,963,635*
   REPORTING            --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  PERSON WITH           7.         SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                            0
                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        8.         SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                            1,963,635*
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9.        AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                   1,963,635*
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10.       CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
          (See Instructions)                                                                           [ ]
                   N/A
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11.       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
                   10.9%
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12.       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
                   CO
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*See Rider A



                                                               Page 3 of 6 Pages

Item 1.  (a) Name of Issuer:
                  Rita Medical Systems Inc.

         (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                  967 North Shoreline Boulevard
                  Mountain View, CA  94043

Item 2.  (a) Name of Person Filing:
                  Apax Partners, Inc.

         (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
                  445 Park Avenue, 11th Floor
                  New York, NY 10022

         (c) Citizenship:
                  New York

         (d) Title of Class of Securities:
                  Common Stock

         (e) CUSIP Number:
                  76774E103

Item 3.  If this statement is filed pursuant to ss.ss.240.13d-1(b) or
         240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
         (a) [ ]  Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act.
         (b) [ ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act.
         (c) [ ]  Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act.
         (d) [ ]  Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
                  Investment Company Act of 1940.
         (e) [ ]  An investment adviser in accordance with
                  ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
         (f) [ ]  An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
                  ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
         (g) [ ]  A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
                  ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
         (h) [ ]  A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the
                  Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
         (i) [ ]  A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                  investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
                  Company Act of 1940.
         (j) [ ]  Group, in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).




                                                               Page 4 of 6 Pages

Item 4.  Ownership.

         (a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,963,635*

         (b) Percent of class: 10.9%

         (c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
            (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 0
            (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 1,963,635*
            (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0
            (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
                  1,963,635*
         *See Rider A

Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof
the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five
percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].
         Not applicable

Item 6.  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
         Not applicable.

Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
         Not applicable.

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group.
         Not applicable.

Item 10. Certification.
         Not applicable.




                                                               Page 5 of 6 Pages


                                    SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


February 3, 2004                             /s/ George M. Jenkins
------------------                           -----------------------------------
(Date)                                       (Signature)


                                             George M. Jenkins / Vice President
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             (Name/Title)

The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the
statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed
on behalf of a person by his authorized representative (other than an executive
officer or general partner of the filing person), evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See ss.240.13d-7 for other
parties for whom copies are to be sent.

Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal
criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)






                                                               Page 6 of 6 Pages

                                     Rider A

As of December 31, 2003, Apax Partners, Inc. ("Apax") may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 1,607,489 shares of common stock (8.92%) owned by APA
Excelsior V, L.P., a Delaware Limited Partnership, 336,623 shares of common
stock (1.87%) owned by The P/A Fund III, L.P., a Pennsylvania Limited
Partnership and 19,523 shares of common stock (0.11%) owned by Patricof Private
Investment Club II, L.P. a Delaware Limited Partnership. Each of such entities
is managed or advised by Apax and, as such, Apax may be deemed to have shared
voting and dispositive power with the General Partners of each Partnership with
respect to an aggregate of 1,963,635 shares of common stock.