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<PERIOD>20041026
<ITEMS>8.01
<FILING-DATE>20041028
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041027
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DANAHER CORP /DE/
<CIK>0000313616
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3823
<IRS-NUMBER>591995548
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
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<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08089
<FILM-NUMBER>041100511
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<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE N.W., 12TH FLOOR
<CITY>WASHINGTON
<STATE>DC
<ZIP>20006
<PHONE>2028280850
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
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<STREET1>2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. N.W., 12TH FLOOR
<CITY>WASHINGTON
<STATE>DC
<ZIP>20006
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<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>DMG INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19850221
</FORMER-COMPANY>
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<TYPE>8-K
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<TEXT>
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<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON,
DC 20549</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Date of report (Date of
earliest event reported) <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">October 26, 2004</font></b></font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Danaher Corporation</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact Name of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">  <font style="letter-spacing:-.15pt;">of Incorporation)</font></font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">001-08089</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">59-1995548</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Commission File Number)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="58%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:58.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">2099 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., 12<sup>th</sup> Floor, Washington, D.C.</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:42.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">20006-1813</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="58%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:58.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:42.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Zip Code)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">202-828-0850</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Not applicable</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">(Former Name or Former Address,
if Changed Since Last Report)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Check the appropriate box
below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing
obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (<i><font style="font-style:italic;">see </font></i>General Instruction A.2. below):</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160; Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160; Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>

<div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 9.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">

<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.15pt;">ITEM 8.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; OTHER
EVENTS</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin-left:0in;margin-right:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As
reported in Danaher&#146;s Corporation&#146;s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended July 2, 2004 and October 1, 2004, respectively, in
June&nbsp;2004 a federal jury returned a liability finding against a subsidiary
of the Company in a patent infringement action relating to sighting technology
for infrared thermometers, finding that the subsidiary willfully infringed two
patents and awarding the plaintiff approximately $8 million in damages.&nbsp;
On October 26, 2004, the judge entered an order trebling the awarded damages
and requiring the subsidiary to pay plaintiff&#146;s legal fees.&nbsp; The Company
believes it has meritorious grounds to seek reversal of the order and intends
to vigorously pursue all available means to achieve reversal.&#160; The purchase agreement pursuant to which the
Company acquired the subsidiary in 2002 provides indemnification for the
Company with respect to these matters and management does not expect these
matters to have a material adverse effect on the Company&#146;s consolidated results
of operations or financial condition.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SIGNATURE</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Pursuant to the requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="53%" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:214.3pt;width:53.14%;">
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  <td width="100%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:100.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">DANAHER CORPORATION</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="10%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:10.86%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="89%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:89.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="10%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:10.86%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="89%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:89.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Patrick W. Allender</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="10%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:10.86%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="13%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:13.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="75%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:75.8%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Patrick W. Allender</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="10%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:10.86%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:13.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="75%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:75.8%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  and Secretary</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:&#160;&#160; October 27, 2004</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

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