-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 V06LSB6Cu7I3TCqGaYiT8eS5q41fQvpRqSPCin5OOpnIrtWpKdAu+EKxbFh9suZT
 6u0rv4zMVPVdHedtxHpFIg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-001821.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-001821.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602171039
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-001821
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030529
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VITAL SIGNS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000865846
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				112279807
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 CAMPUS RD
		CITY:			TOTOWA
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07512
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2017901330

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 CAMPUS RD
		CITY:			TOTOWA
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07512

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERSHAD DAVID J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001097397

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18793
		FILM NUMBER:		03728583

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MILBERG WEISS BERSHAD HYNES & LERACH
		STREET 2:		ONE PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, 49TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10119-0165
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 594 5300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 STONEBRIDGE ROAD
		CITY:			MONTCLAIR
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07042
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-29</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000865846</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VITAL SIGNS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VITL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001097397</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERSHAD DAVID J</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>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>25.52</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-29</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-05-29</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>5000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">50% of the options are exercisable immediately and an additional 25% of the options are exercisable on each of the first and second anniversary of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Laura R. Kuntz, Esq., Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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