SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)
[X]  Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004 or

[ ]  Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from        to
                                                         -------   ------

                         Commission file number: 0-18793

                         -------------------------------

                                VITAL SIGNS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              New Jersey                                  11-2279807
    (State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)

                                 20 Campus Road
                            Totowa, New Jersey 07512
           (Address of principal executive office, including zip code)

                                  973-790-1330
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed
                               since last report)


         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                               Yes X    No
                                  ---     ---

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).


                               Yes X    No
                                  ---     ---

         Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

         At May 12, 2004 there were 12,812,253 shares of Common Stock, no par
value, outstanding.








                                VITAL SIGNS, INC.

                                      INDEX

                                     PART I.





                                                                                               PAGE NUMBER
                                                                                       

                 Financial information........................................................         1

Item 1.          Financial Statements

                 Independent Accountant's Report..............................................         2

                 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2004 (Unaudited)
                 and September 30, 2003.......................................................         3

                 Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months ended
                 March 31, 2004 and 2003 (Unaudited)..........................................         4

                 Consolidated Statements of Income for the Six Months ended
                 March 31, 2004 and 2003 (Unaudited)..........................................         5

                 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months
                 Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 (Unaudited)....................................         6

                 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).......................      7 - 11

Item 2.          Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
                 and Results of Operations....................................................      11 - 22

Item 3.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risks...................        22

Item 4.          Controls and Procedures......................................................        23

                                                   PART II.

Item 1.          Legal Proceedings............................................................      24 - 25

Item 2.          Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds....................................        26

Item 6.          Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.............................................        27

                 Signatures...................................................................        29

                 Exhibit 31.1.................................................................        30

                 Exhibit 31.2.................................................................        31

                 Exhibit 32.1.................................................................        32

                 Exhibit 32.2.................................................................        33



                                       1








                                     PART I.

                              Financial Information


Item 1.

Financial Statements


         Certain information and footnote disclosures required under generally
accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted from the following
consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Vital Signs, Inc. (the "registrant", the
"Company", "Vital Signs", "we", "us", or "our") believes that the disclosures
are adequate to assure that the information presented is not misleading in any
material respect. It is suggested that the following consolidated financial
statements be read in conjunction with the year-end consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto included in the registrant's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003.

         The results of operations for the interim periods presented herein are
not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal
year, or any other period.


                                       2









INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT


To the Board of Directors
Vital Signs, Inc.


We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Vital Signs,
Inc. and Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2004 and the related consolidated
statements of operations for the three months and six months ended March 31,
2004 and 2003, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months
ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility
of the Company's management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim
financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and
making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It
is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is the expression
of an opinion regarding the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.
Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should
be made to the consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to
be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America, the consolidated balance sheet of
Vital Signs, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2003 and the related
consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the
year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated November 5,
2003, except for the fourth paragraph of Note 16, as to which the date is
December 26, 2003, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated
financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2003 is fairly
stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet
from which it has been derived.


GOLDSTEIN GOLUB KESSLER LLP
New York, New York

April 22, 2004


                                       3









                       VITAL SIGNS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



                                                                                      MARCH 31,            SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                      ---------            -------------
                                                                                         2004                  2003
                                                                                         ----                  ----
                                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
                                                                                           -----------------------
                                                          ASSETS
                                                                                     (Unaudited)
                                                                                      ---------
                                                                                                        
Current Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents................................................           $ 66,990                $ 55,660
    Accounts receivable, less allowance for rebates and doubtful accounts of
        $8,573 and $7,075 respectively.......................................             28,020                  29,436
    Inventory................................................................             19,077                  21,857
    Prepaid expenses.........................................................              2,367                   3,239
    Other current assets.....................................................              3,007                   4,129
    Assets of discontinued business..........................................                 --                   2,104
                                                                                        --------                --------
         Total Current Assets................................................            119,461                 116,425

    Property, plant and equipment - net......................................             32,164                  32,306
    Goodwill ................................................................             69,506                  69,506
    Deferred income taxes....................................................              1,162                   1,519
    Other assets.............................................................              2,709                   3,322
                                                                                        --------                --------
          Total Assets.......................................................           $225,002                $223,078
                                                                                        ========                ========

                                           LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
    Accounts payable.........................................................           $  6,424                $  6,072
    Current portion of long-term debt........................................                 --                   1,690
    Accrued expenses.........................................................              5,907                   6,071
    Accrued income taxes ....................................................              1,020                   3,392
    Other current liabilities................................................                345                     228
    Liabilities of discontinued business.....................................                 --                     503
                                                                                        --------                --------
          Total Current Liabilities                                                       13,696                  17,956


Minority interest in subsidiary..............................................              3,154                   2,900

Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity
    Common stock - no par value; authorized 40,000,000 shares, issued and
         outstanding 12,812,253 and 12,915,566 shares, respectively..........             27,058                  30,467
    Accumulated other comprehensive income...................................              2,255                   1,827
    Retained earnings........................................................            178,839                 169,928
                                                                                        --------                --------
    Stockholders' equity.....................................................            208,152                 202,222
                                                                                        --------                --------
         Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity..........................           $225,002                $223,078
                                                                                        ========                ========


(See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)



                                       4









                       VITAL SIGNS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                                                       FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                March 31,
                                                                                       2004                   2003
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                                 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         
Net Revenues:
     Net sales.............................................................             $38,583                $33,038
     Service revenue.......................................................               8,054                  9,026
                                                                                        -------                -------
                                                                                         46,637                 42,064
Cost of goods sold and services performed:
     Cost of goods sold....................................................              18,933                 17,676
     Cost of services performed............................................               4,466                  4,674
                                                                                        -------                -------
                                                                                         23,399                 22,350

Gross profit...............................................................              23,238                 19,714

Operating expenses:
    Selling, general and administrative....................................              12,724                 12,544
    Research and development...............................................               2,033                  1,418
    Impairment charge for China operations.................................                 ---                    553
    Other expense - net....................................................                 151                    754
                                                                                        -------                -------
         Total operating expenses..........................................              14,908                 15,269

Operating Income...........................................................               8,330                  4,445

Other (income) expense.....................................................
    Interest (income)......................................................                (202)                  (155)
    Interest expense.......................................................                   1                    685
                                                                                        -------                -------
Total other (income) expense...............................................                (201)                   530

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and
    minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiary.................               8,531                  3,915
Provision for income taxes.................................................               3,001                  2,508
                                                                                        -------                -------
Income from continuing operations before minority interest in income of
    consolidated subsidiary................................................               5,530                  1,407
Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiary.....................                 116                     74
                                                                                        -------                -------
Income from continuing operations..........................................               5,414                  1,333

Discontinued Operations:
Loss from operations of Vital Pharma, net of income tax benefit of ($9) and
    ($1,325)...............................................................                 (17)                (2,555)
                                                                                        -------                -------
Net income (loss)..........................................................             $ 5,397                $(1,222)
                                                                                        =======                =======

Earnings (loss) per Common Share:
Basic
    Income per share from continuing operations............................             $  0.42                $  0.10
    Loss per share from discontinued operations............................             $  0.00                $ (0.19)
    Net earnings (loss)....................................................             $  0.42                $ (0.09)
Diluted
    Income per share from continuing operations............................             $  0.42                $  0.10
    Loss per share from discontinued operations............................             $  0.00                $ (0.19)
    Net earnings (loss)....................................................             $  0.42                $ (0.09)

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding........................              12,837                 12,945
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding......................              12,982                 13,024
Dividends paid per share...................................................             $  0.06                $  0.05

(see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)


                                       5








                       VITAL SIGNS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                                                        FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                March 31,
                                                                                       2004                   2003
                                                                                  ----------------------------------------
                                                                                  (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
                                                                                  ----------------------------------------
                                                                                                        
Net Revenues:
     Net sales.............................................................             $74,478                $68,093
     Service revenue.......................................................              16,007                 18,728
                                                                                        -------                -------
                                                                                         90,485                 86,821
Cost of goods sold and services performed:
     Cost of goods sold....................................................              36,438                 33,801
     Cost of services performed............................................               8,795                 10,091
                                                                                        -------                -------
                                                                                         45,233                 43,892

Gross profit...............................................................              45,252                 42,929

Operating expenses:
    Selling, general and administrative....................................              25,070                 24,635
    Research and development...............................................               3,539                  2,921
    Impairment charge for China operations.................................                  --                    553
    Other expense - net....................................................                 221                    586
                                                                                        -------                -------
         Total operating expenses..........................................              28,830                 28,695

Operating Income...........................................................              16,422                 14,234
Other (income) expense
    Interest (income)......................................................                (385)                  (289)
    Interest expense.......................................................                  25                    727
                                                                                        -------                -------
Total other (income) expense...............................................                (360)                   438

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and
    minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiary.................              16,782                 13,796
Provision for income taxes.................................................               5,890                  5,772
                                                                                        -------                -------
Income from continuing operations before minority interest in income of
    consolidated subsidiary................................................              10,892                  8,024
Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiary.....................                 254                    129
                                                                                        -------                -------
Income from continuing operations..........................................              10,638                  7,895

Discontinued Operations:
Loss from operations of Vital Pharma, net of income tax benefit of ($92) and
    ($1,500)...............................................................                (171)                (2,912)
                                                                                        -------                -------
Net income.................................................................             $10,467                $ 4,983
                                                                                        =======                =======

Earnings (loss) per Common Share:
Basic
    Income per share from continuing operations............................             $  0.83                $  0.61
    Loss per share from discontinued operations............................             $ (0.02)               $ (0.22)
    Net earnings...........................................................             $  0.81                $  0.39
Diluted
    Income per share from continuing operations............................             $  0.82                $  0.61
    Loss per share from discontinued operations............................             $ (0.02)               $ (0.23)
    Net earnings...........................................................             $  0.80                $  0.38

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding........................              12,873                 12,901
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding......................              13,013                 12,988
Dividends paid per share...................................................             $  0.12                $  0.10


(see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)


                                       6








                       VITAL SIGNS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                                                               FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                      March 31,
                                                                                             2004                   2003
                                                                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                                                              (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
                                                                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                                                                         
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
   Net income.....................................................................      $10,467                $ 4,983
   Add loss from discontinued operations..........................................          171                  2,912
                                                                                        -------                -------
   Income from continuing operations..............................................       10,638                  7,895
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by
 continuing operations
   Depreciation and amortization..................................................        2,104                  2,219
   Deferred income taxes..........................................................          356                    276
   Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiary.........................          254                    129
   Non cash loss on write off of China receivable.................................          ---                    553
   Increase in rebate allowance...................................................          ---                  3,300
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
   Decrease in accounts receivable................................................        1,765                  1,251
   Decrease (increase) in inventory...............................................        3,274                   (317)
   Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets .........................        2,075                  1,209
   Decrease (increase) in other assets ...........................................          614                   (185)
   (Decrease) increase in accounts payable........................................         (336)                   887
   Decrease in accrued expenses...................................................         (324)                  (997)
   (Decrease) increase in accrued income taxes ...................................       (2,372)                 1,231
   Increase in other liabilities..................................................          197                    839
                                                                                        -------                -------
Net cash provided by continuing operations........................................       18,245                 18,290
Net cash used in discontinued operations..........................................         (209)                  (193)
                                                                                        -------                -------
Net cash provided by operating activities.........................................       18,036                 18,097

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Net proceeds from sales of assets of Vital Pharma..............................          417                    ---
   Net proceeds from sale of Vital Pharma real estate.............................        1,222                    ---
   Acquisition of property, plant and equipment...................................       (1,156)                (1,717)
   Capitalized software costs.....................................................         (386)                  (268)
   Capitalized patent costs.......................................................          (75)                  (204)
   Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities...........................          ---                    109
                                                                                        -------                -------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities...............................           22                 (2,080)

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Dividends paid.................................................................       (1,556)                (1,169)
   Proceeds from exercise of stock options........................................          349                    331
   Purchase of common stock.......................................................       (3,778)                   ---
   Principal payments on long-term debt and notes payable.........................       (1,535)                  (232)
                                                                                        -------                -------
Net cash used in financing activities..............................................       (6,520)                (1,070)

Effect of foreign currency translation............................................         (208)                   521
                                                                                        -------                -------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents.........................................       11,330                 15,468
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period..................................       55,660                 29,303
                                                                                        -------                -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period........................................      $66,990                $44,771
                                                                                        =======                =======

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid during the six
months for:
   Interest.......................................................................      $    65                $    82
   Income taxes...................................................................      $ 5,414                $ 2,595

(See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)


                                       7







                       VITAL SIGNS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)

1.   The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2004, the consolidated
     statements of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2004
     and 2003, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months
     ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, have been prepared by Vital Signs, Inc. (the
     "registrant", the "Company", "Vital Signs", "we", "us", or "our") and are
     unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to
     present fairly the financial position at March 31, 2004 and the results of
     operations for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2004 and
     2003, and the cash flows for the six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003,
     have been made.

2.   See the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September
     30, 2003 (the "Form 10-K") for additional disclosures relating to the
     Company's consolidated financial statements.

3.   At March 31, 2004, the Company's inventory was comprised of raw materials
     of $11,600,000 and finished goods of $7,477,000. At September 30, 2003, the
     Company's inventory was comprised of raw materials of $12,570,000 and
     finished goods of $9,287,000.

4.   For Details of Legal Proceedings, see Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings".

5.   Net revenues consist of product sales and service revenues. For product
     sales, revenue is recognized in the same period as title to the product
     passes to the customer. For service revenue, revenue is recorded when the
     service is performed. A component of product sales is a deduction for
     rebates due on sales to distributors (see Footnote 10). A reconciliation of
     gross to net sales is provided below:




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Three Months Ended             Six Months Ended
(In thousands of Dollars)           March 31,                      March 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             2004              2003          2004           2003
                             ----              ----          ----           ----
                                                             
Gross sales               $ 51,165         $  46,893     $  99,249      $  93,019
Rebates                    (11,669)          (12,484)      (22,754)       (22,525)
Other deductions              (913)           (1,371)       (2,017)        (2,401)
                          --------          --------      --------       --------
Net sales                   38,583            33,038        74,478         68,093

Service revenues             8,054             9,026        16,007         18,728
                          --------          --------      --------       --------

Total net revenues        $ 46,637          $ 42,064      $ 90,485       $ 86,821
                          ========          ========      ========       ========

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



     Other deductions consist of discounts, returns and allowances for credits

6.   The Company has aggregated its business units into four reportable
     segments, anesthesia, respiratory/critical care, sleep and pharmaceutical
     technology services. There are no material intersegment sales. Anesthesia
     and Respiratory/Critical Care share certain manufacturing, sales and
     administration costs; therefore the operating profit, total assets, and
     capital expenditures are not specifically identifiable. However the Company
     has allocated these shared costs on a net sales




                                       8








     basis to arrive at operating profit for the anesthesia and
     respiratory/critical care segments. Total assets and capital expenditures
     for anesthesia and respiratory/critical care have also been allocated on a
     net sales basis. Management evaluates performance on the basis of the gross
     profits and operating results of the four business segments. Summarized
     financial information concerning the Company's reportable segments is shown
     in the following table:




---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              RESPIRATORY/             PHARMACEUTICAL
                               CRITICAL                  TECHNOLOGY
                  ANESTHESIA     CARE         SLEEP       SERVICES         OTHER*     CONSOLIDATED
                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  
FOR THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31,
2004
Net revenues         $19,654     $10,969     $12,221      $3,793           $  --        $46,637
Gross profit          10,799       5,667       5,343       1,429              --         23,238
Operating income       4,913       2,746         428         243              --          8,330

2003
Net revenues         $17,599     $11,029     $12,136      $4,600           $(3,300)     $42,064
Gross profit           9,503       5,863       5,239       2,409            (3,300)      19,714
Operating income       3,457       2,166       1,279         843            (3,300)       4,445
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             RESPIRATORY/                   PHARMACEUTICAL
                                               CRITICAL                       TECHNOLOGY
                                 ANESTHESIA      CARE              SLEEP       SERVICES       OTHER *  CONSOLIDATED
                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      
FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31,
2004
Net revenues                      $ 38,152        $21,634         $23,177        $ 7,522         ---    $ 90,485
Gross profit                        20,131         11,747          10,369          3,005         ---      45,252
Operating income                     9,192          5,213           1,390            627         ---      16,422
Total assets                       108,942         61,775          35,836         18,449         ---     225,002
Capital expenditures                   410            232             219            295         ---       1,156

2003
Net revenues                      $ 34,613        $22,222         $23,420        $ 9,866     $(3,300)   $ 86,821
Gross profit                        18,845         12,311          10,418          4,655      (3,300)     42,929
Operating income                     8,388          5,385           2,028          1,733      (3,300)     14,234
Total assets                        97,311         62,475          34,702         20,114         ---     214,602
Capital expenditures                   996            640              59             22          --       1,717
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



(*)"Other" relates to an adjustment for the allowance for rebates in the three
     and six months ended March 31, 2003 in the anesthesia and
     respiratory/critical care business segments.




                                       9








7.   Other comprehensive income for the three months and six months ended March
     31, 2004 and 2003 consisted of:




     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           THREE MONTHS                          SIX MONTHS
     (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)                           ENDED MARCH 31,                       ENDED MARCH 31,
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2004                 2003              2004               2003
                                                    ----                 ----              ----               ----
                                                                                            
     Net income (loss)                             $ 5,397             $(1,222)          $10,467            $4,983
     Foreign currency translation                   (1,164)                (29)              448               900
     Other                                              --                  --                --                 2
                                                   -------             -------           -------            ------
     Comprehensive income                          $ 4,233             $(1,251)          $10,915            $5,885
                                                   =======             =======           =======            ======

     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



8.   During the second quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company's Breas subsidiary
     expensed $175,000 of discontinued product inventory, $94,000 of estimated
     costs for a field upgrade, and $94,000 to increase the reserve for service
     stock inventory.

9.   During the first quarter of fiscal 2004, included in selling, general and
     administrative expenses are $235,000 of expenses related to a special
     review performed by the Company's Audit Committee, and $139,000 of
     unamortized cost related to the prepayment of the Company's Industrial
     Revenue Bond of $1,500,000.

10.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company reviewed and adjusted
     its estimate for rebates due to distributors. As background, the Company's
     sales to distributors in the domestic anesthesia and respiratory/critical
     care business segments, which represented 24.3% of the Company's net sales
     during the second quarter of fiscal 2004, are made at the Company's
     established price. Each distributor subsequently provides the Company with
     documentation that the Company's products have been shipped to particular
     end-users (i.e. particular hospitals). In general, the end-user is
     entitled, on a case by case basis, to a price lower than the Company's
     established price. Accordingly, the Company owes the distributor a rebate -
     the difference between the established price and the lower price to which
     the end user is entitled - upon the Company's receipt of the documentation
     from the distributor. At the time that the distributor remits payment to
     the Company for the products purchased, the distributor deducts an amount
     for the related rebates. The allowance for rebates is recorded at the time
     the Company records the revenue for the product shipped to the distributor.
     The rebate is recorded as a sales allowance, as a reduction of net revenue.
     The Company had, for several years utilized a historical moving average to
     estimate the allowance for rebates. Based on the Company's review in the
     second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company concluded that the moving
     average estimate does not necessarily result in the appropriate liability
     due to the distributor. Accordingly, the Company changed its method of
     estimating rebate claims to record the allowance for rebates based upon the
     documentation provided by the distributor of the shipments to the end-user,
     as well as estimates for inventory not yet sold by the distributor,
     adjusting from estimate to actual at the time of remittance. As a result of
     its review of the rebate allowance, the Company recorded an additional
     allowance for rebates of $3,300,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2003 to
     assure that Vital Signs established an appropriate reserve for rebate
     claims.

11.  In fiscal 2003, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) performed, in their
     normal course, a routine examination of the Company's 1997, 1998 and 1999
     Federal tax returns. As a result of views expressed by the IRS, the Company
     increased its tax provision in the second quarter of fiscal 2003 by
     $1,081,000, and increased interest expense by $650,000 ($429,000 after tax)
     for the related interest due. On October 6, 2003, the Company finalized the
     IRS tax audit for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999.



                                       10








12.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company concluded that it
     would be unable to collect its remaining receivable under normal terms from
     its China distributor, and provided a reserve against the receivable
     balance of $553,000. In May 2003, the Company retained counsel in China to
     commence certain legal actions against its distributor in China to collect
     its receivable. In September 2003, the Company received and recognized as
     income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 $420,000 in cash from this
     distributor and also received the right to receive certain inventory. The
     Company has not received the inventory and continues to litigate for the
     return of its inventory.

13.  In the second quarter of fiscal 2003, income from continuing operations
     included $322,000 of expenses relating to costs for a public offering that
     was discontinued due to market conditions.

14.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company had received several
     non-binding bids for its Vital Pharma business. Based on the non-binding
     bids received, the Company reduced the amount of its investment in Vital
     Pharma, which is included in discontinued operations, and expensed
     $3,300,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2003, and subsequently in the
     third quarter of fiscal 2003 expensed an additional $2,033,000. In October
     2003, the Company sold Vital Pharma to ProClinical, Inc. for $500,000 in
     cash and a three-year note receivable from ProClinical for $2,000,000. No
     gain or loss was recorded on the transaction.

15.  In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
     of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 148, "Accounting for
     Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of SFAS
     No. 123". SFAS No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a
     voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for
     stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the
     disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based
     Compensation", to require prominent disclosures in annual and interim
     financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based
     employee compensation and the effect in measuring compensation expense. The
     disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148 are effective for periods beginning
     after December 15, 2002.

     The Company has elected, in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123,
     as amended by SFAS No. 148, to apply the current accounting rules under APB
     Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its stock
     options and, accordingly, has presented the disclosure-only information as
     required by SFAS No. 123. If the Company had elected to recognize
     compensation cost based on the fair value of the options granted at the
     grant date as prescribed by SFAS No. 123, the Company's net income and net
     income per common share for the three months and six months ended March 31,
     2004 and 2003 would approximate the pro forma amounts indicated in the
     table below (dollars in thousands):



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   THREE MONTH PERIOD         SIX MONTH PERIOD
                                                                     ENDED MARCH 31,           ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                                   -------------------       -------------------
                                                                   2004           2003       2004           2003
                                                                   ----           ----       ----           ----
                                                                                                
     Net income (loss)- as reported............................... $5,397       $ (1,222)  $10,467          $4,983
     Net income (loss)- pro forma.................................  5,097         (1,376)    9,869           4,676
     Basic net income (loss) per common share - as reported.......    .42           (.09)      .81             .39
     Diluted net income (loss) per common share - as reported.....    .42           (.09)      .80             .38
     Basic net income (loss) per common share - Pro forma.........    .40           (.11)      .77             .36
     Diluted net income (loss) per common share - Pro forma.......    .39           (.11)      .76             .36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                       11








     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
     the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average
     assumptions used for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2004
     and 2003, respectively: expected volatility of 50% and 50%, respectively,
     risk-free interest rate of 3.7% and 5.2%, respectively, dividend yield rate
     of .7% and .5%, respectively, and all options have expected lives of 5
     years.

16.  In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
     FASB Interpretation ("FIN") 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest
     Entities--an Interpretation of ARB No. 51. This interpretation provides
     guidance related to identifying variable interest entities (previously
     known as special purpose entities or SPEs) and determining whether such
     entities should be consolidated. Certain disclosures are required if it is
     reasonably possible that a company will consolidate or disclose information
     about a variable interest entity when it initially applies FIN 46. This
     interpretation was effective for the Company's second quarter ended March
     31, 2004. The Company has no investment in or contractual relationship or
     other business relationship with a variable interest entity and therefore
     the adoption of FIN 46 will not have any impact on the Company's results of
     operations and financial condition.

     The Company does not believe that any other recently issued but not yet
     effective accounting standards will have a material effect on the Company's
     financial position or results of operations.

Item 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL
CONDITION

Forward Looking Statements

         This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains, and from time to time we
expect to make, certain forward-looking statements regarding our business,
financial condition and results of operations. The forward-looking statements
are typically identified by the words "anticipates", "believes", "expects",
"intends", "forecasts", "plans", "future", "strategy", or words of similar
import. In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"), we intend to
caution investors that there are important factors that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from those projected in our forward-looking
statements, whether written or oral, made herein or that may be made from time
to time by or on behalf of us. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking
statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ
materially from such statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly release
the results of any revisions to our forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.

         We wish to ensure that any forward-looking statements are accompanied
by meaningful cautionary statements in order to comply with the terms of the
safe harbor provided by the Reform Act. Accordingly, we have set forth in
Exhibit 99.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2003 a list of important factors, certain of which are outside of management's
control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in forward-looking statements or predictions made herein and from time
to time by us. Reference is made to such Exhibit 99.1 for a list of such risk
factors.


                                       12








Results of Operations

         The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the
percentage increase or decrease of certain items included in the Company's
consolidated statement of income.




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               INCREASE FROM PRIOR PERIOD  INCREASE FROM PRIOR PERIOD
                                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED           SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                     MARCH 31, 2004              MARCH 31, 2004
                                                      COMPARED WITH               COMPARED WITH
                                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED           SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                     MARCH 31, 2003              MARCH 31, 2003
                                              --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
Net revenues..................................              10.9%                        4.2%
Gross profit..................................              17.9%                        5.4%
Total operating expenses......................              (2.4)%                       0.5%
Income from continuing operations.............             306.2%                       34.7%
Net income....................................             541.7%                      110.1%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








                                       13







Comparison of Results for the Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2004 to the
Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2003.

         Net Revenue. Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004
increased by 10.9% (an increase of 7.7% excluding the favorable effect of
foreign exchange) to $46.6 million as compared to $42.1 million in the
comparable period last year. Of our total revenues, $33.4 million (or 71.7%)
were derived from domestic sales and $13.2 million (or 28.3%) were derived from
international sales. The following are the net revenues by business segment for
the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the three months ended March
31, 2003.




                           REVENUE BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
                                                             MARCH 31
                                                  -------------------------------------       PERCENT
Dollars in Thousands                                 2004                2003                 CHANGE
------------------------------------------------------------------    ----------             ---------

                                                                                    
Anesthesia                                         $19,654             $17,599               11.7%
Respiratory/Critical Care                           10,969              11,029               (0.5)%
Sleep                                               12,221              12,136                0.7%
Pharmaceutical Technology Services                   3,793               4,600              (17.5%)
Rebate allowance adjustment                             --              (3,300)                 --
                                                  ----------------    -----------------    ----------------
                                                   $46,637             $42,064               10.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         The rebate allowance of $3.3 million relates to our anesthesia and
         respiratory/critical care segments. Refer to Footnote 10 of the Notes
         to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the rebate
         allowance.

         Sales of anesthesia products increased 11.7% from $17.6 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $19.7 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2004. The increase is due to an 85.2% increase in sales of
Limb-[th]'TM', a patented anesthesia circuit, to $1,921,000, a 16.9% increase
in sales of anesthesia circuits to $6,167,000, and a 23.6% increase in sales by
the Company's Thomas Medical subsidiary to $5,000,000. Domestic sales of
anesthesia products increased 11.2%, from $16,081,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 2003 to $17,886,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
International sales of anesthesia products increased 16.5%, from $1,518,000 for
the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $1,768,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 2004.

         Sales of respiratory/critical care products decreased 0.5%, from $11.0
million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $10.9 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2004, as an 8.4% decline in domestic sales offset a 22.0%
increase in international sales. Domestic sales of respiratory/critical care
products decreased from $8,177,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to
$7,490,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004, primarily due to volume
declines. International sales of respiratory/critical care products increased
21.9%, from $2,852,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $3,479,000
for the three months ended March 31, 2004 which resulted from increased volume
levels.


         Net revenues in the sleep business segment increased 0.7% (a decrease
of 8.5% excluding foreign exchange) from $12.1 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2003 to $12.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
The growth in our sleep segment, which includes sleep diagnostic services and
therapy products, was due primarily to increased revenue of 3.2% in our Breas
subsidiary, our sleep ventilation business, resulting principally from favorable
exchange rates. Excluding the effect




                                       14







of favorable exchange rates, Breas revenues declined 10.9%. This decline is due
primarily to a volume decrease in our personal ventilator business, as well as
the phase out of certain distributed product lines, as Breas focuses its
strategy on self-manufactured equipment. Also included in this segment is Sleep
Services of America, our sleep diagnostics and therapy company, whose revenues
decreased by 3.7%, as the business continues to close sleep labs that are not
returning an appropriate margin. In the sleep labs which remain open, revenue
increased 16.5%. Pre-tax margins in our SSA business improved to 14.7% in the
second quarter of fiscal 2004, as compared to 9.0% in the comparable period
last year.

         Service revenues in the Pharmaceutical Technology Services segment
decreased 17.5%, from $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to
$3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, as our larger
pharmaceutical customers reduced their external resource usage with regards to
21 CFR Part 11 FDA regulatory compliance needs.

         Cost of Goods Sold and Services Performed. Cost of goods sold and
services performed increased 4.7% from $22.4 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2004 to $23.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

         Cost of goods sold increased 7.1%, from $17.7 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2003 to $18.9 million for the three months ended March
31, 2004. The $1,257,000 increase results primarily from the corresponding
increase in sales volume in our anesthesia segment, resulting in an increase in
cost of goods sold of approximately $1.0 million, an increase of approximately
$670,000 at our Breas subsidiary due to foreign exchange rate changes and
$363,000 relating to additional inventory provisions at Breas. See Footnote 8 of
the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. These increases are
partially offset by sales volume decreases at Breas of approximately $380,000
and cost savings programs of approximately $396,000 at our New Jersey and
Colorado manufacturing plants.

         Cost of services performed decreased 4.5%, from $4.7 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2003 to $4.5 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2004, resulting primarily from reduced sales volumes in our
Pharmaceutical Technology Services segment and at Sleep Services of America, our
sleep diagnostics company, where the business continues to close sleep labs that
are not returning an appropriate margin.

         Gross Profit. Our gross profit increased 17.9%, from $19.7 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $23.2 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2004. Our overall gross profit margin was 49.8% for the three
months ended March 31, 2004, an increase from the 46.9% achieved in the three
months ended March 31, 2003, due to the effect of the rebate adjustment of
$3,300,000 described in Footnote 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements. For gross profit information related to our four segments, refer to
Footnote 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Gross Profit as a
percent of gross revenues was 60.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2004,
slightly higher than 60.0% recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2003.
For a reconciliation of gross revenues to net revenues, refer to Footnote 5 of
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

         Operating Expenses

         Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and
administrative expenses increased 1.4%, from $12.5 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2003 to $12.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
The $200,000 increase was primarily due to an increase of approximately $350,000
at our Breas subsidiary due to foreign exchange rate changes, increased business
insurance costs of $125,000 and increased legal expense of $123,000. These
increases were partially offset by cost savings at our Breas and Stelex
subsidiaries of approximately $400,000.


                                   15






         Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses
increased by approximately $615,000, or 43.4%, from $1.4 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2003 to $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31,
2004 as the Company invests in the development of new Sleep CPAP and ventilation
equipment and patient interfaces for our Breas subsidiary.

         Impairment charge for China operations. During the second quarter of
fiscal 2003, the Company concluded that it would be unable to collect its
remaining receivable under normal terms from its China distributor, and provided
a reserve against the receivable balance of $553,000. In May 2003, the Company
retained counsel in China to commence certain legal actions against its
distributor in China to collect its receivable. In September 2003, the Company
received and recognized as income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 $420,000
in cash from this distributor and also received the right to receive certain
inventory. The company has not received the inventory and continues to litigate
for the return of its inventory.

         Other (Income) Expense--Net. Other expense included in operating
expenses, decreased by $603,000 from $754,000 for the three months ended March
31, 2004 to $151,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Included in the
three months ended March 31, 2003 were $322,000 of costs for a public offering
that was discontinued due to market conditions, $205,000 for the closing cost
of the Breas U.K. sales offices and $29,000 for the closing of redundant
Stelex offices and higher donations cost.

         Other Items

         Interest Income and Expense. Interest income increased 30.3%, from
$155,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $202,000 during the three
months ended March 31, 2004, resulting from the increase in the level of cash
and cash equivalents being invested. Interest expense decreased 99.9%, from
$685,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $1,000 during the three
months ended March 31, 2004. Interest expense for the three months ended March
31, 2003 included $650,000 of interest relating to past taxes due resulting from
an Internal Revenue Service examination and interest of $35,000 on our IRB loan,
which was paid off in December 2003. Refer to Footnote 11 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

         Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income tax expense for
the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $3.0 million and $2.5
million, respectively, reflecting effective tax rates of 35.2% and 64.1% for
these periods, respectively. Included in the provision for the three months
ended March 31, 2003 is an additional provision of $1.1 million resulting from
an examination by the Internal Revenue Service of the Company's 1997, 1998 and
1999 Federal income tax returns. The effective tax rate excluding this item was
36.4%. Refer to Footnote 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

         Discontinued Operations. On October 30, 2003 the Company sold the
assets of its Vital Pharma subsidiary to Pro-Clinical, Inc. The Company received
$500,000 in cash and a three-year note receivable from ProClinical in the
principal amount of $2,000,000. The note is secured by a first lien against all
of the assets sold. No gain or further loss was recorded on the sale. On
December 29, 2003 the Company sold certain related real estate. The Company has
accounted for these sales on a cost recovery basis. The net loss (after applying
the tax benefit) from discontinued operation was approximately $17,000 for the
three months ended March 31, 2004 and approximately $2,555,000 for the three
months ended March 31, 2003. Refer to Footnote 14 of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.



                                       16









Comparison of Results for the Six-month Period Ended March 31, 2004 to the
Six-month Period Ended March 31, 2003

         Net Revenue. Net revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2004
increased by 4.2% (an increase of 1.2% excluding the favorable effect of foreign
exchange) to $90.5 million as compared to $86.8 million in the comparable period
last year. Of our total revenues, $65.9 million (or 72.8%) were derived from
domestic sales and $24.6 million (or 27.2%) were derived from international
sales. Following are the net revenues by business segment for the six months
ended March 31, 2004 compared to the six months ended March 31, 2003.





                           REVENUE BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             FOR THE SIX-MONTHS ENDED
                                                    MARCH 31,
                                      -------------------------------------       PERCENT
                                           2004                 2003               CHANGE
                                      ----------------    -----------------    -------------
                                                                          
Anesthesia                                $38,152            $34,613               10.2%
Respiratory/Critical Care                  21,634             22,222               (2.6%)
Sleep                                      23,177             23,420               (1.0)%
Pharmaceutical Technology Services          7,522              9,866              (23.8)%
Rebate allowance adjustment                    --             (3,300)              N/A
                                      ----------------    -----------------    -------------
                                          $90,485            $86,821                4.2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



          The rebate allowance of $3.3 million relates to our anesthesia and
         respiratory/critical care segments. Refer to Footnote 10 of the Notes
         to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the rebate
         allowance.

         Sales of anesthesia products increased 10.2% from $34.6 million for
the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $38.2 million for the six months ended
March 31, 2004. This increase was due to volume growth in anesthesia circuits
including our Limb-[theta]'TM', a patented anesthesia circuit, which increased
68.8% to $3.5 million and volume increases in our Thomas Medical Products
subsidiary, which increased 28% to $9.2 million. Domestic sales of anesthesia
products increased 8.9%, from $32.1 million to $35.0 million. International
sales of anesthesia products increased 27.5%, from $2.5 million to $3.2 million.

          Sales of respiratory/critical care products decreased 2.6%, from $22.2
million for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $21.6 million for the six
months ended March 31, 2004. This was due primarily to lower domestic sales
volumes, with domestic sales declining 12.6%, from $17.1 million to $14.9
million. International sales of respiratory/critical care products increased
30.4% from $5.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $6.7 million
for the six months ended March 31, 2004 reflecting higher sales volume.

         Our sleep segment revenues decreased 1.0% (a decrease of 10.8%
excluding favorable foreign exchange), from $23.4 million for the six months
ended March 31, 2003 to $23.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004.
Sleep Services of America's revenues decreased 4.2% from $8.9 million for the
six months ended March 31, 2003 to $8.5 million for the six months ended March
31, 2004 as the business continues to close sleep labs that are not returning an
appropriate margin. In the sleep labs which remain open, revenue increased
16.5%. Pre-tax margins in our SSA business improved to 16.2% in the second
quarter of fiscal 2004, as compared to 8.0% in the comparable period last
year. Revenues at our Breas subsidiary increased 0.9% (a decrease of 14.2%
excluding




                                       17







favorable foreign exchange) from $14.6 million for the six months ended March
31, 2003 to $14.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004.

Service revenues in the Pharmaceutical Technology Services segment decreased
23.8%, from $9.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $7.5 million
for the six months ended March 31, 2004, in the second quarter of fiscal 2004,
as our larger pharmaceutical customers reduce their external resource usage with
regards to 21 CFR Part 11 FDA regulatory compliance needs.

         Cost of Goods Sold and Services Performed. Cost of goods sold and
services performed increased 3.1% from $43.9 million for the six months ended
March 31, 2003 to $45.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004.

         Cost of goods sold increased 7.8%, from $33.8 million for the six
months ended March 31, 2003 to $36.4 million for the six months ended March 31,
2004. The $2.6 million increase results primarily the corresponding increase in
sales volume in our anesthesia segment, resulting in an increase in cost of
goods sold of approximately $2.1 million, an increase of approximately $1.3
million at our Breas subsidiary due to foreign exchange rate changes and
$363,000 relating to additional inventory provisions at Breas. See Footnote 8 of
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. These increases are partially
offset by sales volume decreases at Breas of approximately $880,000 and cost
savings programs of approximately $280,000 at our New Jersey and Colorado
manufacturing plants.

         Cost of services performed decreased 12.8%, from $10.1 million for the
six months ended March 31, 2003 to $8.8 million for the six months ended March
31, 2004, resulting primarily from reduced sales volumes in our Pharmaceutical
Technology Services segment and at Sleep Services of America, our sleep
diagnostics company, where the business continues to close sleep labs that are
not returning an appropriate margin.

         Gross Profit. Our gross profit increased 5.4%, from $42.9 million for
the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $45.3 million for the six months ended
March 31, 2004. Our overall gross profit margin was 50.0% for the six months
ended March 31, 2004 and 49.4% for the six months ended March 31, 2003. For
gross profit information related to our four segments, refer to Footnote 6 of
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Gross Profit as a percent of
gross revenues was 60.8% for the six months ended March 31, 2004, slightly
higher than 60.7% recorded for the six months ended March 31, 2003. For a
reconciliation of gross revenues to net revenues, refer to Footnote 5 of the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

         Operating Expenses

         Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and
administrative expenses increased 1.8%, from $24.6 million for the six months
ended March 31, 2003 to $25.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2004.
The $500,000 increase is primarily due to an increase of $750,000 at our Breas
subsidiary for unfavorable foreign exchange rate changes, increased business
insurance costs of $300,000 and increased legal expense of $250,000. These
increases were partially offset by cost savings at our Breas and Stelex
subsidiaries of approximately $900,000.

         Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses
increased by approximately $600,000, or 21.2%, from $2.9 million for the six
months ended March 31, 2003 to $3.5 million for the six months ended March 31,
2004 as the Company invests in the development of new Sleep CPAP and ventilation
equipment and interfaces for our Breas subsidiary.



                                       18








         Impairment charge for China operations. As noted above, during the
second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company concluded that it would be unable to
collect its remaining receivable under normal terms from its China distributor,
and provided a reserve against the receivable balance of $553,000.

         Other (Income) Expense--Net. Other (income) expense included in
operating expense decreased $365,000 from $586,000 for the six months ended
March 31, 2003 to $221,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2004. Included in
the six months ended March 31, 2003 were one time costs of $322,000 for the
costs of a public offering that was discontinued due to market conditions,
$205,000 for the closing cost for several European sales offices and $29,000 for
the closing of redundant Stelex offices.

         Other Items

         Interest Income and Expense. Interest income increased 33.2%, from
$289,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $385,000 during the six
months ended March 31, 2004, resulting from the increase in the level of cash
and cash equivalents being invested. Interest expense decreased $702,000, from
$727,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2003 to $25,000 during the six
months ended March 31, 2004. Interest expense for the six months ended March 31,
2003 included $650,000 of interest relating to past taxes due resulting from an
Internal Revenue Service examination and interest of $35,000 on our IRB loan,
which was paid off in December 2003. (see Footnote 11 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements).

         Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income tax expense for
the six months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $5.9 million and $5.8 million,
respectively, reflecting effective tax rates of 35.1% and 41.8% for these
periods, respectively. Included in the provision for the six months ended March
31, 2003 is an additional provision of $1.1 million resulting from an
examination by the Internal Revenue Service of the Company's 1997, 1998 and 1999
Federal income tax returns. The effective tax rate excluding this item was
34.0%. (See Footnote 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

         Discontinued Operations. On October 30, 2003 the Company sold the
assets of its Vital Pharma subsidiary to Pro-Clinical, Inc. The Company received
$500,000 in cash and a three-year note receivable from ProClinical for
$2,000,000. The note is secured by a first lien against all of the assets sold.
No gain or further loss was recorded on the sale. On December 29, 2003 the
Company sold certain related real estate. The Company has accounted for these
sales on a cost recovery basis. The net loss (after applying the tax benefit)
from discontinued operation was approximately $171,000 for the six months ended
March 31, 2004 and approximately $2,912,000 for the six months ended March 31,
2003. (See Footnote 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         Historically, our primary liquidity requirements have been to finance
business acquisitions and to support operations. We have funded these
requirements principally through internally generated cash flow. At March 31,
2004, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $67 million and we had
no long-term debt. We have a $20 million line of credit with JP Morgan Chase
Bank. There were no amounts outstanding on the JP Morgan Chase Bank line of
credit at March 31, 2004.

         Vital Signs continues to generate cash flows from its operations.
During the six months ended March 31, 2004, cash and cash equivalents increased
by $11.3 million. Operating activities provided $18.0 million net cash, of which
$18.2 million was provided from continuing operations and $200,000 was used by
our discontinued operation at Vital Pharma. Investing activities provided
$400,000 of net proceeds from the sale of Vital Pharma's assets and $1.2 million
net proceeds on the sale of Vital Pharma's real estate which was fully offset by
$1.6 million used for capital expenditures. Financing activities used $6.5


                                       19







million, consisting of $3.8 million for the repurchase of common stock, $1.5
million used to pay down an Industrial Revenue Bond, and $1.5 million paid for
dividends, offset by $349,000 of cash received from the exercise of stock
options.

         Cash and cash equivalents were $67 million at March 31, 2004 as
compared to $55.7 million at September 30, 2003. At March 31, 2004 our working
capital was $105.8 million as compared to $98.5 million at September 30, 2003.
At March 31, 2004 the current ratio was 8.7 to 1, as compared to 6.4 to 1 at
September 30, 2003.

         Capital expenditures for the six month period ended March 31, 2004 were
approximately $1.6 million, and included expenditures for equipment used as part
of cost improvement projects at our New Jersey facility ($381,000), Colorado
facility ($370,000), California facility ($87,000) and Thomas Medical Products
facility ($120,000), new laboratory equipment ($120,000) for the sleep labs at
SSA and the capitalized costs of software development ($386,000) and patents
($75,000). We expect that our total capital expenditures for fiscal 2004
should not exceed our total capital spending of $4.6 million in fiscal 2003.
This statement represents a forward-looking statement under the Reform Act.
Actual results may differ from this statement for a number of reasons, including
the possibility that the Company determines that its business requires new
equipment in order to meet competitive and/or technological challenges.

         Our current policy is to retain working capital and earnings for use in
our business, subject to the payment of certain cash dividends. Such funds may
be used for business acquisitions, product acquisitions, and product
development, among other things. We regularly evaluate and negotiate with
domestic and foreign medical device companies regarding potential business or
product line acquisitions, licensing arrangements and strategic alliances.

         Our Board of Directors has authorized the expenditure of up to $20
million for the repurchase of Vital Signs' stock. From November 14, 2003 to
March 31, 2004, we had repurchased 217,600 shares for $6.4 million, at an
average price of $29.22. Any purchases under Vital Signs' stock repurchase
program may be made from time-to-time in the open market, through block trades
or otherwise. Depending on market conditions and other factors, these purchases
may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time-to-time without prior
notice.

         Our Board of Directors has approved $1.6 million in dividends
(amounting to $.12 per share) in the current fiscal year.

Critical Accounting Principles and Estimates

         We have identified the following critical accounting principles that
affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of
our consolidated financial statements. The preparation of our consolidated
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our reported amounts of
assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of
contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our
estimates, including those related to asset impairment, revenue recognition,
allowance for doubtful accounts, and contingencies and litigation. These
estimates are based on the information that is currently available to us and on
various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the
circumstances. We state these accounting policies in the notes to our
consolidated financial statements and at relevant places in this discussion and
analysis. Actual results could vary from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions.


                                       20







         We believe that the following critical accounting principles affect the
more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our
consolidated financial statements:

     o    Through September 30, 2001, we amortized goodwill and intangibles on a
          straight-line basis over their estimated lives. Upon our adoption of
          SFAS No. 142 on October 1, 2001, we ceased amortizing goodwill and we
          perform an annual impairment analysis based upon discounted cash flows
          to assess the recoverability of the goodwill, in accordance with the
          provisions of SFAS No. 142. We completed this impairment test during
          the three month period ended March 31, 2004 and found no impairment.
          If we are required to record impairment charges in the future, it
          would have an adverse impact on our results of operations and
          financial condition.

     o    We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses
          resulting from the inability of our customers to make required
          payments, which results in bad debt expense. Our allowance for
          doubtful accounts was $708,000 at March 31, 2004 and $919,000 at
          September 30, 2003. We determine the adequacy of this allowance by
          evaluating individual customer receivables, considering the customer's
          financial condition and credit history and analyzing current economic
          conditions. If the financial condition of our customers were to
          deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make
          payments, additional allowances may be required.


     o    Our sales to distributors are made at our established price. Each
          distributor subsequently provides us with documentation that our
          products have been shipped to particular end-users (i.e.. particular
          hospitals). In general, the end-user is entitled, on a case by case
          basis, to a price lower than our established price. Accordingly, we
          owe the distributor a rebate - the difference between the established
          price and the lower price to which the end-user is entitled - upon our
          receipt of the documentation from the distributor. At the time that
          the distributor remits payment to us for the products purchased, the
          distributor deducts an amount for the related rebates.

          The allowance for rebates is recorded at the time we record the
          revenue for the product shipped to the distributor. The rebate is
          recorded as sales allowance reducing gross revenue.

          We had, for several years, utilized an historical moving average to
          estimate the allowance for rebates. Based upon our review during the
          second quarter of fiscal 2003, we concluded that the moving average
          estimate did not necessarily result in the appropriate liability due
          to the distributor. Accordingly, we changed our method of estimating
          rebate claims in the second quarter of fiscal 2003, to record the
          allowance for rebates based upon the documentation provided by the
          distributor of the shipments to the end-user as well as estimates for
          inventory not yet sold by the distributor, adjusting from estimate to
          actual at the time of remittance. The allowance for rebates was
          $7,865,000 and $6,156,000 at March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2003,
          respectively. Rebate expense was $11,669,000 and $12,484,000 for the
          three months ended March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003, and was
          $22,754,000 and $22,525,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2004
          and March 31, 2003.

     o    We have established an allowance for inventory obsolescence. The
          allowance was determined by performing an aging analysis of the
          inventory; based upon this review, inventory is stated at the lower of
          cost (first in, first out method) or its net realizable value. In the
          quarter ended March 31, 2004, the Company wrote-off certain Breas
          inventory amounting to $363,000. Our inventory allowance for
          obsolescence was $1,147,000 at March 31, 2004 and $981,000 at
          September 30, 2003.


                                       21









     o    We are subject to various claims and legal actions in the ordinary
          course of our business. These matters frequently arise in disputes
          regarding the rights to intellectual property, where it is difficult
          to assess the likelihood of success and even more difficult to assess
          the probable ranges of recovery. Although we currently are not aware
          of any legal proceeding that is reasonably likely to have a material
          adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations, if
          we become aware of any such claims against us, we will evaluate the
          probability of an adverse outcome and provide accruals for such
          contingencies as necessary.


          Accounting Principles. For information regarding new accounting
          principles, see Note 16 of our notes to consolidated financial
          statements.



ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

         We are exposed to market risks, including the impact of material price
changes and changes in the market value of our investments and, to a lesser
extent, interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations. In the normal
course of business as described below, we employ policies and procedures with
the objective of limiting the impact of market risks on earnings and cash flows
and to lower our overall borrowing costs.

         The impact of interest rate changes is not material to our financial
condition. We do not enter into interest rate transactions for speculative
purposes.

         Our international net revenue represents approximately 27.2% of our
total net revenues. Our Breas subsidiary, located in Sweden, represents 59.8% of
our total international net revenues. We do not enter into any derivative
transactions, including foreign currency transactions, for speculative purposes.
The Company has not entered into any derivative instruments (i.e. foreign
exchange forward or option contracts) as of March 31, 2004.

         Our risk involving price changes relate to raw materials used in our
operations. We are exposed to changes in the prices of resins and latex for the
manufacture of our products. We do not enter into commodity futures or
derivative instrument transactions. Except with respect to our single source of
supply for facemasks, it is our policy to maintain commercial relations with
multiple suppliers and when prices for raw materials rise to attempt to source
alternative supplies.


                                       22









ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


         (a) Disclosure controls and procedures. As of the end of the Company's
  most recently completed fiscal quarter covered by this report, the Company
  carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Company's management,
  including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
  Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and
  procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based upon that
  evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
  concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective
  in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
  reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act is
  recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods
  specified in the SEC's rules and forms.

         (b) Changes in internal controls over financial reporting. There have
  been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting
  that occurred during the Company's last fiscal quarter to which this report
  relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially
  affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.


                                       23









                                    PART II.
                                Other Information

ITEM 1.

Legal Proceedings:

     (a)  On December 8, 1999, a complaint was filed against us on behalf of the
          former shareholders of our Vital Pharma subsidiary alleging breach of
          contract for failure to pay earnout payments allegedly due under the
          stock purchase agreement executed in connection with our purchase of
          Vital Pharma in December 1995. We have answered the complaint, filed
          counter-claims and moved to transfer the case to arbitration. In
          August 2000, the court ordered the plaintiff to submit such claims to
          binding arbitration and stayed all other proceedings pending the
          outcome of the arbitration. The arbitration hearing commenced on
          January 26, 2004. The hearing is being held on an intermittent
          schedule with the next hearing date scheduled in May 2004. Due to the
          introduction of new witnesses, the Arbitrator has permitted additional
          discovery during the course of the arbitration proceedings, resulting
          in delays in concluding the case.

     (b)  On May 7, 2003 a complaint was filed against the Company and two of
          its officers by Joseph Bourgart, a former chief financial officer of
          the Company. A detailed description of this litigation is set forth in
          Item 3, Legal Proceedings, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
          for the year ended September 30, 2003. The Company strongly denies
          all of Plaintiff's allegations, that it had engaged in improper
          conduct both as regards its accounting practices and with regard to
          its treatment of the Plaintiff. The Company and the individual
          defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgement that has been pending
          since September 2003.

     (c)  A first amended complaint was filed against the Company's Vital Pharma
          subsidiary on September 8, 2003 in the U.S. District Court for the
          Northern District of California related to the packaging services it
          provides to Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. ("Lifecore"). The complaint also
          names Lifecore and Ethicon, Inc. (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson)
          as defendants. The complaint asserts multiple theories of negligence
          and product liability claims against the defendants for injuries
          allegedly sustained through the use of Lifecore's Gynecare Intergel
          ("Intergel") product during surgery. Lifecore manufactures the
          product, which is approved for the purpose of reducing post-surgical
          adhesions. The Company's insurance carrier has responded and has also
          notified Lifecore of its obligation under its agreement with Vital
          Pharma to indemnify it for complaints related to product defects.

          On January 28, 2004 plaintiff filed a nearly identical lawsuit in
          California state court on her own behalf and on behalf of the general
          public alleging violation of the California Business and Professions
          Code based upon the facts underlying the federal court action. Our
          insurance carrier has denied coverage for this matter and we have
          begun a dialogue with our insurance carrier over this issue. We have
          notified our carrier that the Company believes coverage should be
          provided. If our insurance carrier does not provide coverage, we
          intend to take legal action to enforce our rights.


                                       24









          On May 4, 2004, counsel for Vital Pharma received a copy of a
          complaint filed in Florida State Court (Circuit Court, Palm Beach
          County) alleging products liability claims against Vital Pharma,
          Lifecore, Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson for injuries alleged to have
          been caused by the Intergel product. We have not yet been served with
          the complaint. Our insurance carrier has been notified of the matter.
          We have been informed by counsel for Johnson & Johnson that a total of
          seven cases related to the Intergel product have already been filed in
          other jurisdictions and that there may be as many as twenty five
          lawsuits filed in total.

     (d)  A detailed description of litigation involving the Company is set
          forth in Item 3, Legal Proceedings, of the Company's Annual Report on
          Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003. We are also involved
          in other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
          We cannot predict the outcome of our legal proceedings with certainty.
          However, based upon our review of pending legal proceedings, we do not
          believe the ultimate disposition of our pending legal proceedings will
          be material to our financial condition. Predictions regarding the
          impact of pending legal proceedings constitute forward-looking
          statements. The actual results and impact of such proceedings could
          differ materially from the impact anticipated, primarily as a result
          of uncertainties involved in the proof of facts in legal proceedings.


                                       25









ITEM 2.

Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds:

The following table provides information about purchases made by the Company
during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 of equity securities that are registered
by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act



                                                      (c)(1)
                                                   TOTAL NUMBER           (d)(1)
                                                     OF SHARES           MAXIMUM
                                                   PURCHASED AS       DOLLAR AMOUNT
                        (a)             (b)           PART OF         THAT MAY YET
                    TOTAL NUMBER     AVERAGE          PUBLICLY         BE PURCHAED
                     OF SHARES      PRICE PAID       ANNOUNCED          UNDER THE
PERIOD               PURCHASED      PER SHARE   PLANS OR PROGRAMS   PLANS OR PROGRAMS
------               ---------      ---------   -----------------   -----------------
                                                        
1/1/2004-
1/31/2004             16,000         $ 32.75           16,000         $ 16,432,663
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2/1/2004-
2/29/2004             46,900         $ 32.22           46,900         $ 14,919,880
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3/1/2004-
3/31/2004             40,200         $ 31.96           40,200         $ 13,633,564
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total                103,100         $ 32.20          103,100         $ 13,633,564
                   =========       =========        =========        =============




(1) In May 2003, our Board of Directors authorized the expenditure of up to $20
million for the repurchase of Vital Signs' stock. From November 14, 2003 to
March 31, 2004, we had repurchased 217,600 shares for $6.4 million, including
commissions of $8,700, at an average price of $29.22. Any purchases under Vital
Signs' stock repurchase program may be made from time-to-time in the open
market, through block trades or otherwise. Depending on market conditions and
other factors, these purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from
time-to-time without prior notice.


                                       26









ITEM 3 THROUGH 5

Not applicable.

ITEM 6.

Reports on Form 8-K (excluding reports furnished to, but not deemed filed with,
the Commission)


     A Current Report on Form 8-K was filed on February 19, 2004, disclosing
     (under Item 5) the resignation of Anthony Dimun from the Company's Board of
     Directors



                                       27









EXHIBITS


31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of
     the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2 Certification of the Interim Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to
     Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to[p] U.S.C.
     Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
     Act of 2002.

32.2 Certification of the Interim Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to[p] U.S.C.
     Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
     of 2002.




                                       28









                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
     Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
     undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




                                                VITAL SIGNS, INC.


                                          By:   /s/ Richard T. Feigel
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Richard T. Feigel
                                                Corporate Controller and
                                                Interim Chief Financial Officer


                                          Date: May 14, 2004


                                       29



                         STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES
                         ------------------------
The trademark symbol shall be expressed as.............................. 'TM'
The paragraph symbol shall be expressed as.............................. [p]
The Greek letter theta shall be expressed as............................ [th]