<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-06-038014
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060621
<FILING-DATE>20060622
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060622
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>JOHNSTON RICHARD M
<CIK>0001211913
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-51470
<FILM-NUMBER>06920194
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE SOUTH STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 2150
<CITY>BALTIMORE
<STATE>MD
<ZIP>21202
<PHONE>4108953800
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd122210.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSTON RICHARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SOUTH STREET, SUITE 2150</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</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>7.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable cumulatively at a rate of 33.33% per annum commencing on the earlier of (i) the anniversary of the date of grant (June 21) and (ii) the date on which the Company's annual meeting of stockholders is held that year, provided Mr. Johnston is a director immediately prior to such annual meeting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas J. Etergino as Attorney-in-Fact for Richard M. Johnston</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
