<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-06-022992
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060406
<FILING-DATE>20060407
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060407
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AtriCure, Inc.
<CIK>0001323885
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3841
<IRS-NUMBER>341940305
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6033 SCHUMACHER PARK DRIVE
<CITY>WEST CHESTER
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45069
<PHONE>513-755-4107
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6033 SCHUMACHER PARK DRIVE
<CITY>WEST CHESTER
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45069
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ROBARDS KAREN P
<CIK>0001141903
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-51470
<FILM-NUMBER>06748457
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>800 SCUDDERS MILL RD
<CITY>PLAINSBORO
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>08536
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd113953.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001323885</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AtriCure, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001141903</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBARDS KAREN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>173 RIVERSIDE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-04-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable cumulatively at a rate of 25% per annum commencing on April 6, 2007 (one year from the date of grant).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas J. Etergino as Attorney-in-Fact for Karen P. Robards</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
