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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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 fSEN0lwRFDSnq2IKzoUPXg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-052921.txt : 20041115
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-052921.hdr.sgml : 20041115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041115183405
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-052921
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041115
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041115

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAWYER JOSEPH C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186464

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16723
		FILM NUMBER:		041147473

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 GRANDVIEW AVE
		STREET 2:		UNIT 701
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15211

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>rrd58098.xml
<DESCRIPTION>9 1 04 PHANTOM UNITS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000780434</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RESPIRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RESP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186464</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAWYER JOSEPH C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 GRANDVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>UNIT 701</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15211</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.24</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>477</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>54.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>477</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>477</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units were accrued under the Respironics Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dorita A. Pishko; Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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