SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549
                                 --------------
                                 SCHEDULE 13D/A
                                 (RULE 13D-101)

             INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
            TO RULE 13D-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
                                  RULE 13D-2(a)

                                (Amendment No.3)

                               NOVOSTE CORPORATION
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                                (Name of Issuer)
                     COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)
                                    67010C100
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                              Marc Weingarten, Esq.
                            SCHULTE, ROTH & ZABEL LLP
                                919 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022
                                 (212) 756-2000
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
                                 April 30, 2003
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box
|_|. NOTE. Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and
five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. SEE Rule 13d-7 for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.
--------
1 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
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on 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 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).


                               (page 1 of 5 pages)





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CUSIP No. 67010C100                       13D         Page 2 of 5 Pages
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=======================================================================
     1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
        I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

                                                     JANA PARTNERS LLC
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     2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*    (a) |_|

                                                             (b) |_|
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     3  SEC USE ONLY
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     4  SOURCE OF FUNDS*
                                    WC
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     5  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
        PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)                            |_|
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     6  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                        DELAWARE
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 NUMBER OF         7      SOLE VOTING POWER
   SHARES
BENEFICIALLY                    2,130,920
  OWNED BY
    EACH
 REPORTING
PERSON WITH    --------------------------------------------------------
                   8      SHARED VOTING POWER
                                   -0-
               --------------------------------------------------------
                   9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                               2,130,920
               --------------------------------------------------------
                  10      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                  -0-
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     11  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                               2,130,920
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     12  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
         CERTAIN SHARES*                                         |_|
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     13  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
                                 13.03%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
     14        TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
                                   IA
================================================================================


                      SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!*





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CUSIP No. 67010C100                       13D         Page 3 of 5 Pages
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The following constitutes Amendment #3 to the Schedule 13D filed by the
undersigned (the "Schedule 13D").


Item 3.           Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
                  -------------------------------------------------

The aggregate purchase price of the 2,130,920 Shares of Common Stock owned
beneficially by JANA Partners LLC is $11,222,039. Such Shares of Common Stock
were acquired with investment funds in accounts under management.


Item 5.           Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
                  ------------------------------------

(a) The aggregate percentage of Shares of Common Stock reported owned
beneficially by the Reporting Person is based upon 16,351,953 Shares
outstanding, which is the total number of Shares of Common Stock outstanding as
reported in the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002.

As of the close of business on April 30, 2002, JANA Partners LLC beneficially
owned 2,130,920 Shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 13.03% of the
Shares outstanding.

(b) The Reporting Person has sole voting and dispositive powers with respect to
the Shares reported herein, which powers are exercised by the Principals. All of
such Shares were acquired in open-market transactions.

(c) Schedule A annexed hereto lists all transactions in the Issuer's Common
Stock in the last sixty days by the Reporting Person.

(d) No person other than the Reporting Person is known to have the right to
receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from
the sale of, such Shares of the Common Stock.

(e) Not applicable.


Item 7.           Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
                  --------------------------------

                                 None.





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CUSIP No. 67010C100                       13D         Page 4 of 5 Pages
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                                   SIGNATURES


After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, the
undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.


Dated:   May 2, 2003                         JANA PARTNERS LLC


                                           By:  /s/ Barry S. Rosenstein

                                                    -------------------
                                                    Barry S. Rosenstein
                                                    Managing Partner



                                           By:  /s/ Gary Claar

                                                    -------------------
                                                    Gary Claar
                                                    Managing Director





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CUSIP No. 67010C100                       13D         Page 5 of 5 Pages
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                                   SCHEDULE A

               Transactions in the Shares During the Past 60 Days
               --------------------------------------------------
 Shares of Common Stock           Price Per                 Date of
       Purchased (Sold)            Share($)             Purchase (Sale)
       -----------                ---------             --------------

                                JANA PARTNERS LLC
                             -----------------------


             300                    7.74900                 03/19/03
          29,700                    8.39990                 04/08/03
         500,000                    7.58000                 04/30/03