Exhibit 23.1

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Post Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Form S-4 No. 333-43703)
pertaining to the Healthdyne Technologies, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan,
Healthdyne Technologies, Inc. Stock Option Plan, Healthdyne Technologies, Inc.
Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan, and Healthdyne Technologies, Inc. Stock
Option Plan II; (Form S-8 No. 333-22639) pertaining to the 1997 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan; (Form S-8 No. 333-16721) pertaining to the Respironics, Inc.
Retirement Savings Plan; (Form S-8 No. 33-89308 and Form S-8 No. 333-74510)
pertaining to the 1992 Stock Incentive Plan; (Form S-8 No. 33-44716 and Form S-8
No. 333-74504) pertaining to the 1991 Nonemployee Directors' Stock Option Plan;
(Form S-8 No. 33-36459) pertaining to the Amended and Restated Incentive Stock
Option Plan of Respironics, Inc. and Gerald E. McGinnis and the Consulting
Agreement dated July 1, 1988 between Respironics, Inc. and Mark H. Sanders,
M.D.; (Form S-8 No. 333-87335) pertaining to the Respironics, Inc. 1997
Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan; (Form S-8 No. 333-56812) pertaining to the
Respironics, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan; (Form S-8 No. 333-74506) pertaining
to the Respironics, Inc. 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and (Post Effective
Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to Form S-4 No. 333-77048) pertaining to the
Novametrix Medical Systems Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan, Novametrix Medical
Systems Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan, Novametrix Medical Systems Inc. 1997 Long
Term Incentive Plan, Novametrix Medical Systems Inc. 1999 Incentive Plan,
Novametrix Medical Systems Inc. 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan, and Novametrix
Medical Systems Inc. President & COO Stock Options of our report dated July 23,
2002, except for Note N as to which the date is August 19, 2002, with respect to
the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Respironics, Inc. and
Subsidiaries included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June
30, 2002.

                                                /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 25, 2002