Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

FORM 4

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Fernando Anthony C. J.	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ASENSUS SURGICAL, INC. [ ASXC ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director                    _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below)    _____ Other (specify below) President and CEO
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) C/O ASENSUS SURGICAL, INC., 1 TW ALEXANDER DRIVE, SUITE 160	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 2/4/2022
(Street) DURHAM, NC 27703 (City)        (State)        (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	2/4/2022		M		906380	A	$0.00	1232619	D
Common Stock	2/4/2022		F(1)		409502	D	$0.80	823117	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options	$0.80	2/4/2022		A		578000		(2)	2/4/2029	Common Stock	578000	$0.00	578000	D
Restricted Stock Units (3)	$0.00	2/4/2022		A		486900		(4)	(4)	Common Stock	486900	$0.00	486900	D
Restricted Stock Units (5)	$0.00	2/4/2022		A		486900		(6)	(6)	Common Stock	486900	$0.00	486900	D
Restricted Stock Units (5)	$0.00	2/4/2022		A		280899		(7)	(7)	Common Stock	280899	$0.00	280899	D
Restricted Stock Units (3)	$0.00	2/4/2022		M			80000	(8)	(8)	Common Stock	80000	$0.00	80000	D
Restricted Stock Units (5)	$0.00	2/4/2022		M			8975	(9)	(9)	Common Stock	8975	$0.00	0	D
Restricted Stock Units (5)	$0.00	2/4/2022		M			53333	(10)	(10)	Common Stock	53333	$0.00	53333	D
Restricted Stock Units (5)	$0.00	2/4/2022		M			234086	(11)	(11)	Common Stock	234086	$0.00	468170	D
Restricted Stock Units (3)	$0.00	2/4/2022		M			234086	(12)	(12)	Common Stock	234086	$0.00	468170	D
Restricted Stock Units (5)	$0.00	2/4/2022		M			295900	(13)	(13)	Common Stock	295900	$0.00	0	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	This transaction represents the payment of a tax liability on the lapse of forfeiture restrictions on a derivative security and acquisition of the underlying shares.
(2)	Vests one-third annually on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to acceleration as set forth in the Registrant's Amended and Restated Incentive Compensation Plan ("Plan") and the Reporting Person's Employment Agreement with the Registrant ("Employment Agreement").
(3)	Each performance-based restricted stock unit ("PRSU") represents the right to receive one share of the Registrant's common stock.
(4)	PRSU award with time-based vesting in three installments on the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, and performance-based vesting only if a designated corporate goal is achieved.
(5)	Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents the right to receive one share of the Registrant's common stock.
(6)	Forfeiture restrictions will lapse on the RSUs in three installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, as long as the Reporting Person remains in continuous service during the vesting period, subject to acceleration as set forth in the Plan and the Reporting Person's Employment Agreement.
(7)	Represents a discretionary retention bonus. Forfeiture restrictions will lapse on the RSUs on the first anniversary of the date of grant, as long as the Reporting Person remains in continuous service during the vesting period.
(8)	Lapse of forfeiture restrictions on one-third of a PRSU award granted on June 8, 2020 upon the achievement of time and performance goals. Forfeiture restrictions will lapse on the remaining PRSUs on February 4, 2023, as long as the Reporting Person provides continuous service during the vesting period, subject to acceleration as set forth in the Registrant's Plan and the Reporting Person's Employment Agreement.
(9)	Lapse of forfeiture restrictions on one-third of a RSU award granted on February 6, 2019.
(10)	Lapse of forfeiture restrictions on one-third of a RSU award granted on June 8, 2020. Forfeiture restrictions will lapse on the remaining RSUs on February 4, 2023, as long as the Reporting Person remains in continuous service during the vesting period, subject to acceleration as set forth in the Registrant's Plan and the Reporting Person's Employment Agreement.
(11)	Lapse of forfeiture restrictions on the first one-third of an award of RSUs from this grant made on February 8, 2021. The remaining RSUs will vest in two equal installments on February 4, 2023 and 2024, as long as the Reporting Person provides continuous service to the Company during the vesting period, and subject to acceleration as set forth in the Registrant's Incentive Compensation Plan and the Reporting Person's Employment Agreement.
(12)	Lapse of forfeiture restrictions on one-third of a PRSU award granted on February 8, 2021 upon the achievement of time and performance goals. Forfeiture restrictions will lapse on the remaining PRSUs in two equal installments on each of February 4, 2023 and 2024, as long as the Reporting Person provides continuous service during the vesting period, subject to acceleration as set forth in the Registrant's Plan and the Reporting Person's Employment Agreement.
(13)	Lapse of forfeiture restrictions on a discretionary retention award made on February 8, 2021.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Fernando Anthony C. J. C/O ASENSUS SURGICAL, INC. 1 TW ALEXANDER DRIVE, SUITE 160 DURHAM, NC 27703	X		President and CEO

Signatures
/s/Joshua Weingard, as Attorney-in-Fact for Anthony Fernando		2/7/2022
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date