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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FW7KY0W9zMhi0uLGP4QVQjKktW/+4knoyC5t4UDYdZIP3eYlwjiXTjUDjmODBhm1
 GFf4ks/CR8/Ez5yLnyWFag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-019483.txt : 20030820
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-019483.hdr.sgml : 20030820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030820115250
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-019483
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030820

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:		03857402

	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>rrd16526.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 CASHLESS EXERCISE
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-20</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>1 PEACH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALPOLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02081</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>15.00</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6949</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTrans
action><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>39.885</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1849</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><v
alue>2003-08-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>15.00</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-11-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-11-25</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></ownershipNature></derivativeTransactio
n></derivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Dorita A. Pishko - Atty in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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