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                                                                  EXHIBIT 20.1

           NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF AEQUITRON

Pleasanton, CA and Minneapolis, MN -- December 5, 1996 -- Nellcor Puritan
Bennett Incorporated (Nasdaq: NELL) and Aequitron Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq:AQTN)
today announced that the stockholders of Aequitron have approved the
acquisition of Aequitron by Nellcor Puritan Bennett. The transaction closed
today. 

Under the terms of the amended and restated merger agreement, 0.467 shares of
Nellcor Puritan Bennett common stock will be issued for each share of Aequitron
stock outstanding at the time of the close. The acquisition is intended to
qualify as a tax-free reorganization and a pooling of interests for accounting
and financial reporting purposes.

Nellcor Puritan Bennett will continue to trade on the Nasdaq National Market
System under the symbol NELL. The company, headquartered in Pleasanton, has
revenue of over $700 million and approximately 5,000 employees worldwide.

Nellcor Puritan Bennett is the worldwide leader in monitoring, diagnosing and
treating the respiratory-impaired patient.