EXHIBIT A Separation Date Release (to be signed on the separation date)

Exhibit 10.4

September 16, 2015

Bernard Hausen, M.D., Ph.D.

Cardica, Inc.

900 Saginaw Drive

Redwood City, CA 94063

Dear Bernard:

As you know, you have announced your intent to retire from Cardica, Inc. (the “Company”). This letter agreement sets forth the substance of the transition and separation agreement (the “Agreement”) that the Company is offering to you in connection with your retirement.

1.     SEPARATION DATE. You will remain an employee with the Company until December 31, 2015 (“Separation Date”). As of the Separation Date, your resignation from all positions that you hold at the Company, including your position on the Board of Directors (the “Board”), will become effective.

2.     TRANSITION PERIOD.

a.     Duties. Between now and the Separation Date (the “Transition Period”), you will continue to perform the duties assigned to you by the Board of Directors (the “Board”). During the Transition Period, you must continue to comply with all of the Company’s policies and procedures and with all of your statutory and contractual obligations to the Company (including, without limitation, your obligations under your Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement).

b.     Compensation/Benefits. During the Transition Period, your base salary will remain the same, and you will continue to be eligible for the Company’s standard benefits, subject to the terms and conditions applicable to such plans and programs, including the Company’s 2009 Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan and the FY 2016 bonus terms approved by the Board in July 2015. Your Company equity awards will continue to vest under the existing terms and conditions set forth in the governing plan documents and equity agreements.

3.     SEPARATION BENEFITS. If you sign the Separation Date Release attached hereto as Exhibit A on the Separation Date, and allow that release to become effective, then the Company will provide you with the following severance benefits:

a.     The Company shall pay you, as severance, twelve (12) months of your base salary in effect as of the Separation Date, subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings (the “Severance”). The Severance will be paid in equal installments on the Company’s regular payroll schedule over the twelve (12) month period following the Separation Date; provided, however, that no payments will be made prior to the 60th day following the Separation Date. On the 60th day following the Separation Date, the Company will pay you in a lump sum the Severance that you would have received on or prior to such date under the standard payroll schedule but for the delay waiting for the 60^th day, with the balance of the Severance being paid as originally scheduled.

b.     Provided you timely elect continued coverage under COBRA, the Company shall reimburse you for the COBRA premiums to continue your health insurance coverage (including coverage for eligible dependents, if applicable) (“COBRA Premiums”) through the period (the “COBRA Premium Period”) starting on the Separation Date and ending on the earliest to occur of: (i) eighteen (18) months following the Separation Date; (ii) the date you become eligible for group health insurance coverage through a new employer; or (iii) the date you cease to be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage for any reason. You must timely pay your premiums, and then provide the Company with proof of same, to obtain reimbursement for your COBRA premiums under this Section 3(ii). In the event you become covered under another employer's group health plan or otherwise cease to be eligible for COBRA during the COBRA Premium Period, you must immediately notify the Company of such event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot pay the COBRA Premiums without a substantial risk of violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company instead shall pay you, on the first day of each calendar month, a fully taxable cash payment equal to the applicable COBRA premiums for that month (including premiums for any dependents), subject to applicable tax withholdings (such amount, the “Special Cash Payment”), for the remainder of the COBRA Premium Period. You may, but are not obligated to, use such Special Cash Payments toward the cost of COBRA premiums.

c.     The vesting of your equity awards will accelerate immediately prior to your separation such that all such awards shall be deemed vested and exercisable as of the Separation Date (the “Accelerated Vesting”).

You acknowledge and agree that the severance benefits set forth above exceed any severance benefits that you would be eligible to receive under your Benefits Agreement or other arrangements with the Company, other than the Company’s 2009 Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan, and that your receipt of the benefits set forth herein extinguishes any right to any severance benefits under the Benefits Agreement or any other Company agreement, arrangement or Company plan, other than the Company’s 2009 Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan.

4.     OTHER COMPENSATION OR BENEFITS. You acknowledge that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, you will not receive any additional compensation, severance, or benefits after the Separation Date.

5.     EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS. You agree that, within ten (10) days after the Separation Date, you will submit your final documented expense reimbursement statement reflecting all business expenses you incurred through the Separation Date, if any, for which you seek reimbursement. The Company will reimburse you for these expenses pursuant to its regular business practice.

6.     RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY. On the Separation Date, you agree to return to the Company all Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company property within your possession, custody or control, including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records, business plans and forecasts, financial information, specifications, computer-recorded information, tangible property (including, but not limited to), credit cards, entry cards, identification badges, and keys; and, any materials of any kind that contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company (and all reproductions thereof). Your timely return of all such Company documents and other property is a condition precedent to your receipt of the benefits provided under this Agreement.

7.     PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS. You acknowledge and agree to abide by your continuing obligations under your Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement.

8.     NONDISPARAGEMENT. You agree not to disparage the Company, its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, and agents, in any manner likely to be harmful to its or their business, business reputation or personal reputation, and the Company agrees (through its officers and directors) not to disparage you in any manner likely to be harmful to your personal or business reputation; provided, however, that both you and the Company you will respond accurately and fully to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by legal process.

9.     NO ADMISSIONS. You understand and agree that the promises and payments in consideration of this Agreement shall not be construed to be an admission of any liability or obligation by the Company to you or to any other person, and that the Company makes no such admission.

10.     RELEASE OF CLAIMS.

a.     General Release. In exchange for the consideration under this Agreement to which you would not otherwise be entitled, you hereby generally and completely release the Company and its directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, agents, attorneys, predecessors, successors, parent or subsidiary entities, insurers, affiliates and assigns from any and all claims, liabilities and obligations, both known and unknown, that arise out of or are in any way related to events, acts, conduct, or omissions prior to or on the date you sign this Agreement.

b.     Scope of Release. This general release includes, but is not limited to: (i) all claims arising out of or in any way related to your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment; (ii) all claims related to your compensation or benefits from the Company, including salary, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock, stock options or any other ownership interests in the Company; (iii) all claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination or breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (iv) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation, emotional distress and discharge in violation of public policy; and (v) all federal, state, and local statutory claims, including claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys’ fees, or other claims arising under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”) (as amended), or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (as amended).

c.     Excluded Claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you are not hereby releasing the Company from any of the following claims: (i) any rights or claims for indemnification you may have pursuant to any written indemnification agreement with the Company to which you are a party, the charter, bylaws, or operating agreements of the Company, or under applicable law; (ii) any rights that cannot be waived as a matter of law; or (iii) any claims arising from the breach of this Agreement. In addition, nothing in this Agreement prevents you from filing, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, except that you hereby waive your right to any monetary benefits in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding.

11.     ADEA WAIVER. You acknowledge that you are knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights you may have under the ADEA. You also acknowledge that the consideration given for such waiver is in addition to anything of value to which you were already entitled. You further acknowledge that you have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA, that: (a) your waiver does not apply to any rights or claims that arise after the date you sign this Agreement; (b) you should consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement; (c) you have twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement (although you may choose to voluntarily sign it sooner); (d) you have seven (7) days following the date you sign this Agreement to revoke (in a written revocation sent to me); and (e) this Agreement will not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which will be the eighth day after you sign this Agreement.

12.     SECTION 1542 WAIVER. In granting the release herein, which includes claims that may be unknown to you at present, you acknowledge that you have read and understand Section 1542 of the California Civil Code: “A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.” You hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the releases granted herein, including but not limited to the release of unknown and unsuspected claims granted in this Agreement.

13.     MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement, including Exhibit A, constitutes the complete, final and exclusive embodiment of the entire agreement between you and the Company with regard to its subject matter. It is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes any other such promises, warranties or representations. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. This Agreement will bind the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of both you and the Company, and inure to the benefit of both you and the Company, their heirs, successors and assigns. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this determination will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and the provision in question will be modified so as to be rendered enforceable. This Agreement will be deemed to have been entered into and will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California as applied to contracts made and to be performed entirely within California. Any ambiguity in this Agreement shall not be construed against either party as the drafter. Any waiver of a breach of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any successive breach. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and facsimile signatures will suffice as original signatures.

If this Agreement is acceptable to you, please sign below and return the original to me.

We wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

By:/s/ Robert Y. Newell

Robert Y. Newell

Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer

I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE FULLY TO THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT:

EXHIBIT A 

Separation Date Release

(to be signed on the separation date)

In exchange for the severance benefits to be provided to me by Cardica, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to the Separation Agreement between the Company and me (the “Separation Agreement”), I hereby provide the following Separation Date Release.

In exchange for the consideration to which I would not otherwise be entitled, I hereby generally and completely release the Company and its directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, agents, attorneys, predecessors, successors, parent or subsidiary entities, insurers, affiliates and assigns from any and all claims, liabilities and obligations, both known and unknown, that arise out of or are in any way related to events, acts, conduct, or omissions prior to or on the date I sign this Separation Date Release.

This general release includes, but is not limited to: (1) all claims arising out of or in any way related to my employment with the Company or the termination of that employment; (2) all claims related to my compensation or benefits from the Company, including salary, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock, stock options or any other ownership interests in the Company; (3) all claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination or breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (4) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation, emotional distress and discharge in violation of public policy; and (5) all federal, state, and local statutory claims, including claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys’ fees, or other claims arising under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”) (as amended), or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (as amended).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I am not hereby releasing the Company from any of the following claims: (a) any rights or claims for indemnification I may have pursuant to any written indemnification agreement with the Company to which I am a party, the charter, bylaws, or operating agreements of the Company, or under applicable law; (b) any rights that cannot be waived as a matter of law; or (c) any claims arising from the breach of this Separation Date Release. In addition, nothing in this Separation Date Release prevents me from filing, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, except that I hereby waive my right to any monetary benefits in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding.

I acknowledge that I am are knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights I may have under the ADEA. I also acknowledge that the consideration given for this waiver is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA, that: (a) this waiver does not apply to any rights or claims that arise after the date I sign this Separation Date Release; (b) I should consult with an attorney prior to signing this Separation Date Release; (c) I have had twenty-one (21) days to consider this Separation Date Release; (d) I have seven (7) days following the date I sign this Separation Date Release to revoke (in a written revocation sent to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer); and (e) this Separation Date Release will not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which will be the eighth day after I sign this Separation Date Release.

In granting the release herein, which includes claims which may be unknown to me at present, I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of the California Civil Code: “A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.” I hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the releases granted herein, including but not limited to the release of unknown and unsuspected claims granted in this Separation Date Release.

I hereby represent that to date: (i) I have been paid all compensation owed and have been paid for all hours worked; (ii) I have received all the leave and leave benefits and protections for which I am eligible pursuant to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, the California Family Rights Act, or otherwise; and (iii) I have not suffered any on-the-job injury for which I have not already filed a workers’ compensation claim.