-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PnD7xNyTUAo2u5I7krvOnpF8AoSd4nRbj0Whepw1xRAaNk9j0cxdCrHlngk8S/bV
 6H18p0LHrHb/t+N4JEGIkQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000930413-08-006335.txt : 20081103
<SEC-HEADER>0000930413-08-006335.hdr.sgml : 20081103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081103194037
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000930413-08-006335
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081103

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:			CHANIN ALEX J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001278374

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18793
		FILM NUMBER:		081158898

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C.O VITAL SIGNS INC
		STREET 2:		20 CAMPUS RD
		CITY:			TOTOWA
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07512
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c55502_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000865846</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VITAL SIGNS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VITL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001278374</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHANIN ALEX J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VITAL SIGNS, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20 CAMPUS RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOTOWA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07512</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-07-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>52.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>52.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) dated July 23, 2008 by and among General Electric
 Company, Tonic Acquisition Corp and Vital Signs, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;), at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger
 Agreement), each outstanding option to purchase the Company's common stock (&quot;Company Stock Option&quot;), whether or not then
 vested or exercisable, was cancelled and terminated and converted into the right to receive an amount of cash equal to the
 excess of $74.50, without interest (the &quot;Merger Consideration&quot;), over the exercise price of such Company Stock Option,
 multiplied by the number of shares of common stock covered by such Company Stock Option less applicable taxes required to be
 withheld.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options were reported in the Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These options vest in 25 percent installments beginning one year from the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These options vest in four equal annual installments starting on May 8, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alex Chanin, By: Laura R. Kuntz, Esq., Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----