Vital Signs and Premier Announce New Three-Year Contract.

Business Editors

TOTOWA, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 2003

VITAL SIGNS, INC. (NASDAQ:VITL) today announced it was awarded a three-year competitively bid dual-source supply agreement with the group purchasing division of Premier, Inc., Chicago, IL. The agreement, effective August 1, 2003, includes Vital Signs' anesthesia breathing systems and breathing bags, face masks, filters and HCH(TM) (Hygroscopic Condensed Humidifier), airways and gas sampling lines. Premier is a leading healthcare alliance, collectively owned by more than 200 independent hospitals and healthcare systems in the United States, which are affiliated with nearly 1,500 hospitals and other healthcare sites, offering group purchasing supply chain and performance improvement services to nearly 1,500 member not for profit hospitals. In 2002, contracted purchases by Premier members for all industry wide products and services exceeded $17 billion.

"Vital Signs is very excited to continue our partnership with Premier, which began in early 1997. Through implementation of such innovative products as the LIMB-0(TM) breathing system, we believe hospitals can further reduce supply chain costs. This new agreement is built upon our history of significant contributions to the field of anesthesia. And, we are proud of the trust that Premier and its shareholders have placed with Vital Signs Inc.," stated Mark Jefferson, Vice President of Sales at Vital Signs Inc.

All statements in this press release other than historical statements (including statements regarding pending litigation and government investigations) constitute Forward Looking Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from such statements as a result of a variety of factors, including factors referred to by Vital Signs in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2002.

Vital Signs, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market primarily single-use medical products for the anesthesia, respiratory/critical care and sleep/ventilation markets, achieving the number one market share position in five of its major product categories. In addition, we provide pharmaceutical technology services to the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. The Company was recently recognized in the October issue of Forbes Magazine as one of "The 200 Best Small Companies". Vital Signs is ISO 9001 certified and has CE Mark approval for its products.