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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 eWH+C5PPb91Q2iekWZIZaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-007130.txt : 20030508
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-007130.hdr.sgml : 20030508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030508103206
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-007130
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030429
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COTTER DOUGLAS A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186459

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16723
		FILM NUMBER:		03687354

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 PEACH ST
		CITY:			WALNOLE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02081

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RESPIRONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000780434
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				251304989
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1010 MURRY RIDGE LANE
		CITY:			MURRYSVILLE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15668-8525
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7243875200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1010 MURRY RIDGE LANE
		CITY:			MURRYSVILLE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15668-8525
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd8495.xml
<DESCRIPTION>AMENDED FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://www.RRDnetfiler.com/XSL/SEC_Form_4.xsl"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-04-29</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000780434</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RESPIRONICS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>RESP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
<rptOwnerCik>0001186459</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COTTER DOUGLAS A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-04-29</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>5100</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>7.938</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>6949</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-04-29</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>5100</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>37.71</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>1849</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.938</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-04-29</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>5100</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>7.938</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2000-11-23</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2009-11-23</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>5100</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>5100</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Amended to reflect the accurate number of securities benefically owned.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Amending transaction completed on 4/29/2003; previously filed on 5/1/2003.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Dorita A. Pishko; Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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