UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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Rule 13d-1(b)

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Rule 13d-1(c)

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Rule 13d-1(d)

CUSIP No. 053734109

1.

Names of Reporting Persons.
John B. Simpson PH.D. M.D.

2.

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

(a)

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(b)

x

3.

SEC Use Only

4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization
United States of America

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With:

5.

Sole Voting Power
867,179 (See Item 4(a) below)

6.

Shared Voting Power
1,377,300 (See Item 4(a) below)

7.

Sole Dispositive Power
867,179 (See Item 4(a) below)

8.

Shared Dispositive Power
1,377,300 (See Item 4(a) below)

9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
2,244,479 (See Item 4(a) below)

10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  o

11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
9.4% (See Item 4(b) below)

12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IN

Item 1.

(a)

Name of Issuer:
Avinger, Inc.

(b)

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:
400 Chesapeake Drive

Redwood City, CA 94063

Item 2.

(a)

Name of Person Filing:
John B. Simpson Ph.D. M.D.

(b)

Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
c/o Avinger, Inc.

400 Chesapeake Drive

Redwood City, CA 94063

(c)

Citizenship:
John B. Simpson is a U.S. citizen

(d)

Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

(e)

CUSIP Number:
053734109

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

Not applicable.

Item 4.

Ownership.

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:   

As of December 31, 2016 (i) 41 shares of Common Stock were held of record by Dr. Simpson, (ii) 867,138 shares subject to options to purchase Common Stock that were fully exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2016 were held of record by Dr. Simpson, (iii) 1,074,130 shares of Common Stock were held of record by the Simpson Family Trust Dated 1/12/90, for which Dr. Simpson and his spouse serve as trustees, (iv) 222,220 shares subject to warrants to purchase Common Stock were held of record by the Simpson Family Trust Dated 1/12/90, for which Dr. Simpson and his spouse serve as trustees, (v) 47,618 shares of Common Stock were held of record by Dr. Simpson’s spouse and (vi) 33,332 shares subject to warrants to purchase Common Stock were held of record by Dr. Simpson’s spouse. Additionally, Dr. Simpson is the record owner of 30,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer that were issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit, none of which will be issued within 60 days.

(b)

Percent of class:   

9.4%

The ownership percentage above is calculated based on 23,776,033 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2016, as reported by the issuer to the reporting person.

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote   

867,179

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote    

1,377,300

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of   

867,179

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of   

1,377,300

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following o.

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not applicable.

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

Not applicable.

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not applicable.

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not applicable.

Item 10.

Certifications.

Not applicable.

This Schedule 13G is not filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or Rule 13d-1(c).

/s/ John B. Simpson

John B. Simpson