Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(g)

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                            (William J. Lacourciere)

                  THIS AGREEMENT, made as of December 14, 2001, is by and among
RESPIRONICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), NOVAMETRIX MEDICAL
SYSTEMS INC., a Delaware corporation ("Novametrix"), and WILLIAM J. LACOURCIERE
("Employee"). This Employment Agreement will not become effective and will be
null and void in its entirety if the Company's currently contemplated
acquisition of Novametrix does not occur.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of the design,
development, manufacture, marketing and sale principally of cardiopulmonary and
other medical equipment and services around the world;

                  WHEREAS, Employee has been employed by Novametrix and will be
employed by the Company after the Company acquires Novametrix (the "Merger");

                  WHEREAS, Novametrix and Employee agree that their existing
Employment Agreement, including any amendments thereto, will become null and
void in all respects effective upon the closing of the Merger (the "Closing
Date") so that no "Change in Control" occurs for purposes of said Employment
Agreement, in consideration of, among other things, the Company completing the
Merger and Employee's employment with the Company;

                  WHEREAS, Novametrix and Employee further agree that, other
than any Success Bonus earned pursuant to the September 20, 2001 letter
agreement between Employee and Novametrix, neither Novametrix nor the Company
will owe Employee any monies as a result of Employee's change in employment from
Novametrix to the Company other than as expressly set forth either herein or in
the offer letter dated December 13, 2001 provided to Employee by the Company
(the "Offer Letter");

                  WHEREAS, Employee possesses valuable knowledge and skills that
will contribute to the successful operation of the Company's business;

                  WHEREAS, the Company and Employee have agreed to execute and
deliver this Agreement, which is ancillary to and a condition of the Merger, in
consideration, among other things, of (i) the access Employee will have to
confidential or proprietary information of the Company, (ii) the access Employee
will have to confidential or proprietary information to be acquired hereafter by
the Company, (iii) the willingness of the Company to make valuable benefits
available hereafter to Employee, (iv) the options, consideration and equity
appreciation Employee will receive as a result

                                 Page 24 of 50
<PAGE>

of the Merger, and (v) Employee's receipt of compensation from time to time from
the Company; and

                  WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of
Employee, and Employee is willing to accept employment with the Company, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the Company
agrees to employ Employee, and Employee hereby agrees to be employed by the
Company, upon the following terms and conditions:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   EMPLOYMENT

                  1.01. Office. Effective at the Closing Date, Employee will be
employed as President, Cardiopulmonary Monitoring of the Company and in such
other capacities commensurate with such position as the President of the
Hospital Division of the Company may from time to time determine, and in such
capacity or capacities shall use his best energies or abilities in the
performance of his duties hereunder and as prescribed in the By-Laws of the
Company.

                  1.02. Term. Subject to the terms and provisions of Article II
hereof, Employee shall be employed by the Company for a period of one year (the
"Term"), commencing on the Closing Date. Subject to the terms and provisions of
Article II hereof, the Term shall automatically be extended for an additional
year (i.e., a rolling one-year Term) unless, not less than ninety (90) days
prior to the expiration of the then-current year of the Term, either Employee or
the Company shall advise the other that the Term will not be further extended.

                  1.03. Base Salary. During his employment hereunder,
compensation shall be paid to Employee by the Company at the rate of $250,000
per annum (the "Base Salary"), payable every other week in equal installments.
The Base Salary to be paid to Employee may be adjusted upward or downward (but
not below the amount specified in the preceding sentence) by the Board of
Directors or the President of the Company at any time (but not less frequently
than annually) based upon Employee's contribution to the success of the Company
and on such other factors as the Board of Directors or the President of the
Company shall deem appropriate.

                  1.04. Employee Benefits. During his employment hereunder,
Employee shall have the right to participate in and receive benefits under and
in accordance with the then-current provisions of the other incentive, profit
sharing, 401(K), stock option and stock purchase plans, life, health, disability
and accident insurance, hospitalization and other incentive and benefit plans or
programs (except for any such plan in which Employee may not participate
pursuant to the terms of such plan or Employee's geographic location) which are
outlined in the Offer Letter, Employee's participation to be on a basis
commensurate with other employees considering their respective

                                 Page 25 of 50

<PAGE>

responsibilities and compensation. The parties recognize, as outlined in the
Offer Letter, there will be a transition period in converting Employee to
certain Company plans. Employee shall also be entitled to be reimbursed for all
reasonable expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder.
Service with Novametrix will constitute service for purposes of Company policies
like vacation.

                  1.05. Principal Place of Business. The headquarters and
principal place of business of the Company is located in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. For Employee's convenience, Employee's principal place of business
will be in Wallingford, Connecticut, and he will reside within a reasonable
distance thereof.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   TERMINATION

                  2.01. Illness, Incapacity. If, during the Term of Employee's
employment hereunder, Employee shall be prevented from effectively performing
his duties hereunder by reason of illness or disability and such failure so to
perform shall have continued for a period of not less than three months, then
the Company may, by written notice to Employee, terminate Employee's employment
hereunder effective at any time after such three month period and after fifteen
(15) business days advance written notice of intent to do so. Upon expiration of
the fifteen (15) days notice, together with payment of any salary accrued and
unpaid under Section 1.03 hereof, Employee's employment and all obligations of
the Company under Articles I and II hereof shall forthwith terminate, provided,
however, that the Employee shall be deemed to have retired from the Company on
the date of termination of his employment and shall be entitled to receive the
retirement benefit provided for in Section 2.07. The obligations of Employee
under Article IV hereof shall continue notwithstanding termination of Employee's
employment pursuant to this Section 2.01.

                  2.02. Death. If Employee dies during the Term of his
employment hereunder, Employee's employment hereunder shall terminate and all
obligations of the Company hereunder, other than any obligations with respect to
the payment of accrued and unpaid salary under Section 1.03 and any payments
under Section 2.07, shall terminate.

                  2.03. Company Termination. (a) For Cause. In the event that,
in the reasonable judgment of the President of the Hospital Division, and after
Employee has been given five business days to offer any explanation for his
actions, Employee shall have (a) been guilty of any act of dishonesty material
with respect to the Company, (b) been convicted of a crime involving moral
turpitude, (c) intentionally disregarded the provisions of this Agreement in any
material respect or (d) intentionally disregarded express instructions of the
Board of Directors or the President of the Hospital Division with respect to
material matters of policy, continuing in the case of clause (d) for a period of
not less than five (5) days after notice of such disregard, the Company may
terminate this Agreement effective at such date as it shall specify in a written
notice to Employee after providing Employee ten (10) business days notice of
intent to terminate and an

                                 Page 26 of 50

<PAGE>

opportunity during that ten (10) day period to explain his actions. Any such
termination by the Company shall be deemed to be termination "for cause". Upon
termination, assuming payment of any salary accrued and unpaid under Section
1.03 hereof, Employee's employment and all obligations of the Company under
Articles I and II hereof shall forthwith terminate. The obligations of Employee
under Article IV hereof shall continue notwithstanding termination of Employee's
employment pursuant to this Section 2.03(a).

                  (b) Without Cause. Notwithstanding the duration of the Term
hereof, Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated at any time by the
Company without cause if the President of the Hospital Division so determines,
after fifteen (15) business days advance notice of intent to do so. Subject to
the payment of any salary accrued and unpaid under Section 1.03, all obligations
of the Company under Articles I and II cease upon termination except as set
forth in Section 2.05. The obligations of Employee under Article IV hereof shall
continue notwithstanding termination of Employee's employment pursuant to this
Section 2.03(b).

                  2.04. Employee Termination. Employee agrees to give the
Company ninety (90) days prior written notice of the termination of his
employment with the Company. Simultaneously with such notice, Employee shall
inform the Company in writing as to his employment/consulting plans following
the termination of his employment with the Company. In the event Employee has
terminated his employment with the Company because there has been: (a) a
decrease in Employee's salary below $250,000 per year or a material adverse
change in his duties or responsibilities, (b) a change in Employee's principal
place of business to a location not within 30 miles of its present location, (c)
any significant and prolonged increase in the traveling requirements applicable
to the discharge of Employee's responsibilities, or (d) a material breach of
this Agreement by the Company, Employee shall be entitled to the compensation
provided for in Section 2.05 upon such termination; provided that Employee must
provide notice of termination within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of a
change Employee believes to be covered by clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) herein in
order to claim that the termination is because of such change. The Company in
turn has thirty (30) days to correct any such action and, if it does so,
Employee shall not be entitled to terminate his employment under this Section.
Otherwise, all obligations of the Company under Articles I and II cease upon
termination, except for the payment of any salary accrued and unpaid under
Section 1.03. The obligations of Employee under Article IV hereof shall continue
notwithstanding termination of Employee's employment pursuant to this Section
2.04.

                  2.05. Termination Payments. Notwithstanding the remaining time
in the Term, if the Company terminates Employee's employment without cause
pursuant to Section 2.03(b), or Employee terminates his employment pursuant to
the third sentence of Section 2.04, or the Company gives Employee a notice of
non-extension pursuant to Section 1.02, Employee shall be paid at a rate of
$9,207.69 every other week for thirty-six (36) months from the date of
termination (the "Salary Continuation Period"). In addition to these termination
payments, until the earlier of (i) the end of the Salary Continuation Period and
(ii) the time when Employee obtains employment with such

                                 Page 27 of 50
<PAGE>

coverage, the Company will provide Employee with health and dental insurance
coverage as though Employee remained an employee. Employee will be required to
pay the same portion of the premium for such insurance coverage as if Employee
remained an employee. Employee shall be under no obligation to seek subsequent
employment and upon obtaining subsequent employment shall be under no obligation
to offset any amounts earned from such subsequent employment (whether as an
employee, a consultant or otherwise) against the termination payments. Employee
agrees to inform the Company of his employment/consulting jobs during the period
of time which Employee is receiving money under this Section.

                  2.06.  Intentionally Left Blank.

                  2.07     Retirement.

                  (a)      The Employee may retire from the Company upon, or at
                           any time subsequent to, his attaining age 65. In the
                           event of retirement of the Employee as provided in
                           this Section 2.07, the Company shall pay the Employee
                           a Retirement Benefit in an amount (the "Normal
                           Retirement Benefit") equal to three times the higher
                           of (a) $250,000 or (b) the Employee's average annual
                           cash compensation (salary and bonus, excluding any
                           Success Bonus) during the five (5) most recent
                           taxable years ending prior to the date of retirement.
                           The Company's taxable year will be used as the
                           measuring period for each of the five years even
                           though Employee may have been employed by Novametrix
                           for some of the years.

                  (b)      The Employee may also retire from the Company upon,
                           or at any time subsequent to, his attaining age 62,
                           and prior to his attaining age 65, upon six (6)
                           months prior notice to the Company. In the event of
                           retirement of the Employee as provided in this
                           Section 2.07(b), the Company shall pay the Employee a
                           Retirement Benefit in an amount equal to the
                           Applicable Percentage (as determined below) of the
                           Normal Retirement Benefit:

<TABLE>
<Caption>
<S>                                                                             <C>
                           If Retirement Occurs                                 Applicable Percentage

                           Upon or after attaining age 62                               90.00%
                           but before attaining age 63

                           Upon or after attaining age 63                               93.33%
                           but before attaining age 64

                           Upon or after attaining age 64                               96.66%
                           but before attaining age 65
</TABLE>

                                 Page 28 of 50

<PAGE>

                  (c)      The Retirement Benefit shall be payable in thirty-six
                           (36) equal monthly installments commencing on the
                           first day of the month following the month in which
                           the date of retirement occurs and continuing
                           thereafter on the first day of each succeeding month
                           until paid in full. The Employee may elect to have
                           the Retirement Benefit paid over a longer period than
                           thirty-six (36) months (but not exceeding one hundred
                           twenty (120) months), such election to be made by
                           notice to the Company given not later than the date
                           of retirement. If the Employee dies following
                           commencement of payment of the Retirement Benefit but
                           before payment of all installments of the Retirement
                           Benefit, the remaining installments shall be paid by
                           the Company to the Employee's spouse or, if she shall
                           not be then living or if she dies before payment of
                           all such installments, to the Employee's estate,
                           until paid in full.

                  (d)      In the event of the death of the Employee after the
                           date hereof while employed by the Company and prior
                           to commencement of payment of the Retirement Benefit,
                           and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.02 of
                           this Agreement, the Company shall pay a Survivor's
                           Retirement Benefit to the Employee's spouse or, if
                           she shall not be then living, to the Employee's
                           estate. The Survivor's Retirement Benefit shall be in
                           the same amount as the Retirement Benefit which would
                           have been payable to the Employee if he had retired
                           on the date of his death. The Survivor's Retirement
                           Benefit shall be payable in thirty-six (36) equal
                           monthly installments commencing on the first day of
                           the month following the month in which the date of
                           death of the Employee occurs and continuing
                           thereafter on the first day of each succeeding month
                           until paid in full. If the Employee's spouse dies
                           before payment of all installments of the Survivor's
                           Retirement Benefit, the remaining installments shall
                           be paid by the Company to the Employee's spouse's
                           estate, until paid in full.

                  (e)      The obligation of the Company to pay the Retirement
                           Benefit to the Employee, his spouse or his or her
                           estate is an unfunded promise of the Company. Payment
                           of the Retirement Benefit shall be made from the
                           general assets of the Company. No person shall have
                           or acquire any interest in any specific assets of the
                           Company as a result of this Agreement. The rights of
                           the Employee, his spouse and his estate under this
                           Agreement shall be no greater than the rights of an
                           unsecured general creditor of the Company.

                  (f)      The Employee, his spouse and his estate shall not
                           have any power or right to transfer, assign,
                           anticipate, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any
                           part or all of the Retirement Benefit payable
                           hereunder. The Retirement Benefit shall not be
                           subject to seizure

                                 Page 29 of 50
<PAGE>

                           by any creditor of the Employee, his spouse or his
                           estate, by a proceeding at law or in equity. The
                           Retirement Benefit is not transferable by operation
                           of law in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency
                           of the Employee, his spouse or his estate. Any such
                           attempted assignment or transfer shall be void.

                  (g)      Notwithstanding the fact that the Company may have
                           delivered a notice of intent to terminate under
                           Section 2.03, Employee may elect to retire before the
                           effective date of termination. For purposes of
                           clarity, if Employee or his wife or estate receives a
                           benefit under this Section 2.07, he, she or it shall
                           not receive payments under any other Section of this
                           Agreement, because retirement would preclude a
                           termination.

                  2.08. Benefit Terms. Employee's rights after termination from
employment, if any, with respect to stock options, and his rights under Company
pension and welfare benefit plans and programs, shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of the applicable plan or program.

                                   ARTICLE III

                           EMPLOYEE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

                  Employee recognizes and acknowledges that: (a) in the course
of Employee's employment by the Company it will be necessary for Employee to
acquire information including, without limitation, information concerning the
Company's sales, sales volume, sales methods, sales proposals, customers and
prospective customers, identity of customers and prospective customers, identity
of key purchasing personnel in the employ of customers and prospective
customers, amount or kind of customer's purchases from the Company, the
Company's sources of supply, the Company's computer programs, system
documentation, special hardware, product hardware, related software development,
the Company's manuals, formulae, processes, methods, machines, compositions,
ideas, improvements, inventions or other confidential or proprietary information
belonging to the Company or relating to the Company's affairs (collectively
referred to herein as the "Confidential Information"); (b) for purposes of this
Employment Agreement, confidential information of an affiliate of the Company or
of a person or entity with which the Company explores or conducts business is
considered to be Confidential Information; (c) the Confidential Information is
the property of the Company; (d) the use, misappropriation or disclosure of the
Confidential Information would constitute a breach of trust and could cause
irreparable injury to the Company; and (e) it is essential to the protection of
the Company's good will and to the maintenance of the Company's competitive
position that the Confidential Information be kept secret and that Employee not
disclose the Confidential Information to others or use the Confidential
Information to Employee's own advantage or the advantage of others. For purposes
of this Agreement, Confidential Information shall not include any information
that is in the public domain, so long as such information is not in the public
domain as a result of any

                                 Page 30 of 50
<PAGE>

action or inaction by Employee which would constitute a violation of this
Agreement or the Company's policies with respect to such information.

                  Employee further recognizes and acknowledges that it is
essential for the proper protection of the business of the Company that Employee
be restrained, but only to the extent hereinafter provided (a) from soliciting
or inducing any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, (b)
from hiring or attempting to hire any employee of the Company, (c) from
soliciting the trade of or trading with the customers and suppliers of the
Company, and (d) from competing against the Company for a reasonable period
following the termination of Employee's employment with the Company.

                  Employee further recognizes and understands that his duties at
the Company may include the preparation of materials, including written or
graphic materials, and that any such materials conceived or written by him shall
be done as "work made for hire" as defined and used in the Copyright Act of
1976, 17 USC Section 1 et seq. In the event of publication of such materials,
Employee understands that the Company will solely retain and own all rights in
said materials, including right of copyright, and that the Company may, at its
discretion, on a case-by-case basis, grant Employee by-line credit on such
materials as the Company may deem appropriate.

                  For purposes of interpreting Article III and Article IV
hereof, the acknowledgments, covenants and obligations of Employee with respect
to the Company apply equally with respect to its affiliates.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                       EMPLOYEE'S COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

                  4.01. Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. Employee
agrees to hold and safeguard the Confidential Information in trust for the
Company, its successors and assigns and agrees that he shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company, misappropriate or disclose or make
available to anyone for use outside the Company's organization at any time,
either during his employment with the Company or subsequent to the termination
of his employment with the Company for any reason, including without limitation
termination by the Company for cause or without cause, any of the Confidential
Information, whether or not developed by Employee, except as required in the
performance of Employee's duties to the Company.

                  4.02. Disclosure of Works and Inventions/Assignment of Patents
and Other Rights. (a) Employee shall disclose promptly to the Company or its
nominee any and all works, inventions, discoveries and improvements authored,
conceived or made by Employee during the period of employment and related to the
business, prospective business or activities of the Company, and hereby assigns
and agrees to assign all his interest therein to the Company or its nominee.
Whenever requested to do so by the Company, Employee shall execute any and all
applications, assignments or other instruments, and otherwise cooperate with the
Company at no expense to Employee, to

                                 Page 31 of 50
<PAGE>

assist the Company in applying for and obtaining Letters Patent or Copyrights of
the United States or any foreign country or to otherwise protect the Company's
interest therein. Such obligations shall continue beyond the termination of
employment with respect to works, inventions, discoveries and improvements
authored, conceived or made by Employee during the period of employment, and
shall be binding upon Employee's assigns, executors, administrators and other
legal representatives.

                  (b) Employee agrees that in the event of publication by
Employee of written or graphic materials the Company will retain and own all
rights in said materials, including right of copyright.

                  4.03. Duties. Employee agrees to be a loyal employee of the
Company. Employee agrees to devote his best efforts full time to the performance
of his duties for the Company, to give proper time and attention to furthering
the Company's business, and to comply with all rules, regulations and
instruments established or issued by the Company. Employee further agrees that
during the term of this Agreement, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly,
engage in any business which would detract from Employee's ability to apply his
best efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder. Employee also agrees
that he shall not usurp any corporate opportunities of the Company. Employee is
not prohibited from serving on the Board of Directors of community, civic or
charitable organizations not involving any conflict of interest or interference
with the performance of his duties for the Company.

                  4.04. Return of Materials. Upon the termination of Employee's
employment with the Company for any reason, including without limitation
termination by the Company for cause or without cause, Employee shall promptly
deliver to the Company all correspondence, drawings, blueprints, manuals,
letters, notes, notebooks, reports, flow-charts, programs, proposals and any
documents concerning the Company's customers or concerning products or processes
used by the Company and, without limiting the foregoing, will promptly deliver
to the Company any and all other documents or materials containing or
constituting Confidential Information.

                  4.05. Restrictions on Competition. Employee covenants and
agrees that during the period of Employee's employment hereunder, plus a period
of (i) three (3) years following the termination of Employee's employment or
(ii) such longer period during which Employee is receiving payments pursuant to
Section 2.05 herein, including without limitation retirement, termination by the
Company for cause or without cause, Employee shall not, in the United States of
America or in any other country of the world in which the Company has done
business at any time during the last three years prior to termination of
Employee's employment with the Company, engage, directly or indirectly, whether
as principal or as agent, officer, director, employee, consultant, shareholder,
or otherwise, alone or in association with any other person, corporation or
other entity, in any Competing Business. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term "Competing Business" shall mean and include any person, corporation or
other entity which develops, manufactures, sells, markets or attempts to
develop, manufacture, sell or market any product or services which are the same
as, similar to or compete with the Products and

                                 Page 32 of 50

<PAGE>

services (i) sold by the Company at any time and from time to time during the
last three years prior to the termination of Employee's employment hereunder or
(ii) which are active research and development projects of the Company of which
Employee is aware at the time of termination.

                  4.06. Non-Solicitation of Customers and Suppliers. Employee
agrees that during his employment with the Company he shall not, directly or
indirectly, solicit the trade of, or trade with, any customer, prospective
customer, supplier, or prospective supplier of the Company for any business
purpose other than for the benefit of the Company, with respect to any products
competitive with those of the Company. Employee further agrees that for two
years following termination of his employment with the Company, including
without limitation termination by the Company for cause or without cause,
Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit the trade of, or trade with,
any customers or suppliers, or prospective customers or suppliers, of the
Company with respect to any products competitive with those of the Company.

                  4.07. Non-Solicitation of Employees. Employee agrees that,
during his employment with the Company and for two years following termination
of Employee's employment with the Company, including without limitation
termination by the Company for cause or without cause, Employee shall not,
directly or indirectly, solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, any
employee of the Company to leave the Company for any reason whatsoever, or hire
any employee of the Company.

                                    ARTICLE V
                    EMPLOYEE'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  5.01. No Prior Agreements. Employee represents and warrants
that he is not a party to or otherwise subject to or bound by the terms of any
contract, agreement or understanding which in any manner would limit or
otherwise affect his ability perform his obligations hereunder, including
without limitation any contract, agreement or understanding containing terms and
provisions similar in any manner to those contained in Article IV hereof.
Employee further represents and warrants that his employment with the Company
will not require him to disclose or use any confidential information belonging
to prior employers, other than Novametrix and its subsidiaries, or other persons
or entities.

                  5.02. Employee's Abilities. Employee represents that his
experience and capabilities are such that the provisions of Article IV will not
prevent him from earning his livelihood, and acknowledges that it would cause
the Company serious and irreparable injury and cost if Employee were to use his
ability and knowledge in competition with the Company or to otherwise breach the
obligations contained in Article IV.

                  5.03. Remedies. In the event of a breach by Employee of the
terms of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, if it shall so elect, to
institute legal proceedings to obtain damages for any such breach, or to enforce
the specific

                                 Page 33 of 50

<PAGE>

performance of this Agreement by Employee and to enjoin Employee from any
further violation of this Agreement and to exercise such remedies cumulatively
or in conjunction with all other rights and remedies provided by law. Employee
acknowledges, however, that the remedies at law for any breach by him of the
provisions of this Agreement may be inadequate and that the Company shall be
entitled to injunctive relief against him in the event of any breach.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  6.01. Authorization to Modify Restrictions. It is the
intention of the parties that the provisions of Article IV hereof shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, but that the
unenforceability (or modification to conform to such law) of any provision or
provisions hereof shall not render unenforceable, or impair, the remainder
thereof. If any provision or provisions hereof shall be deemed invalid or
unenforceable, either in whole or in part, this Agreement shall be deemed
amended to modify, as necessary, the offending provision or provisions and to
alter the bounds thereof in order to render it valid and enforceable or, if
necessary, to delete the offending provision.

                  6.02. Tolling Period. The non-competition, non-disclosure and
non-solicitation obligations contained in Article IV hereof shall be extended by
the length of time during which Employee shall have been in breach of any of the
provisions of such Article IV.

                  6.03. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, along with the Offer
Letter, represents the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter herein and supercedes any prior or contemporaneous written or
oral representations, understandings, discussions or agreements concerning the
subjects covered herein. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed
by both parties.

                  6.04. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
without regard to conflict of law principles.

                  6.05. Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue. Employee hereby
irrevocably submits to the personal jurisdiction of the United States District
Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania or the Court of Common Pleas of
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, and Employee hereby irrevocably agrees that all
claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined
in either such court. Employee hereby irrevocably waives any objection which he
now or hereafter may have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania or the Court of Common
Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and any objection on the ground that any
such action or proceeding in either of such Courts has been brought in an

                                 Page 34 of 50

<PAGE>

inconvenient forum. Nothing in this Section 6.05 shall affect the right of the
Company to bring any action or proceeding against Employee or his property in
the courts of other jurisdictions where the Employee resides or has his
principal place of business or where such property is located.

                  6.06. Service of Process. Employee hereby irrevocably consents
to the service of any summons and complaint and any other process which may be
served in any action or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement
brought in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania or the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County by the mailing by
certified or registered mail of copies of such process to Employee at his
address as set forth on the signature page hereof.

                  6.07. Agreement Binding. The obligations of Employee under
this Agreement shall continue after the termination of his employment with the
Company for any reason, with or without cause, and shall be binding on, and
inure to the benefit of, his heirs, executors, legal representatives and
assigns. If the Employee should die while any amounts are still payable to him
hereunder, including under Section 2.05, all such amounts shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Employee's devisee, legatee,
or designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Employee's estate. This
Agreement also shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, any
successors and assigns of the Company.

                  6.08. Successor to the Company. The Company will require any
successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Employee, expressly, absolutely and unconditionally to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had
taken place. Any failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the
effectiveness of any such succession or assignment shall be a material breach of
this Agreement and shall entitle the Employee to terminate the Employee's
employment and to receive the payments and other benefits set forth in Section
2.05 as if Employee had been terminated without cause . As used in this
Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any
successor or assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid.

                  6.09. Counterparts, Section Headings. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. The section headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any of
the provisions hereof.

                  6.10. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (a) hand delivered, (b) mailed, registered mail, first class
postage paid, return receipt requested, (c)

                                 Page 35 of 50

<PAGE>

sent via an established overnight delivery service or courier, delivery
acknowledgment requested:

                  if to the Company:

                  1501 Ardmore Boulevard
                  Pittsburgh, PA  15221-4401
                  Attn:  General Counsel

                  if to Employee, at the address set forth on the signature page
hereof or to such other address or to such other person as either party hereto
shall have last designated by notice to the other party.

                  Employee acknowledges that he has read and understands the
foregoing provisions and that such provisions are reasonable and enforceable.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement or caused
this Agreement to be executed the day and year first above written.

Witness:

/s/ Kristen Daly                          /s/ William J. Lacourciere
-----------------------------------       -------------------------------------
                                          WILLIAM J. LACOURCIERE

                                          Address:  577 Jarvis Street
                                                    Cheshire Connecticut  06410

/s/ Kristen Daly                          /s/ Thomas M. Patton
-----------------------------------       -------------------------------------
                                          NOVAMETRIX MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

Attest

                                          RESPIRONICS, INC.

/s/ Dorita A. Pishko                      By:/s/ Daniel J. Bevevino
-----------------------------------          ----------------------------------
          Secretary

                                          Print Name:  Daniel J. Bevevino

                                          Title:  V.P. & C.F.O.
                                                -------------------------------

                                 Page 36 of 50<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(h)

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                (Philip F. Nuzzo)

                  THIS AGREEMENT, made as of December 14, 2001, is by and among
RESPIRONICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), NOVAMETRIX MEDICAL
SYSTEMS INC., a Delaware corporation ("Novametrix"), and PHILIP F. NUZZO
("Employee"). This Employment Agreement will not become effective and will be
null and void in its entirety if the Company's currently contemplated
acquisition of Novametrix does not occur.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of the design,
development, manufacture, marketing and sale principally of cardiopulmonary and
other medical equipment and services around the world;

                  WHEREAS, Employee has been employed by Novametrix and will be
employed by the Company after the Company acquires Novametrix (the "Merger");

                  WHEREAS, Novametrix and Employee agree that their existing
Employment Agreement, including any amendments thereto, will become null and
void in all respects effective upon the closing of the Merger (the "Closing
Date") so that no "Change in Control" occurs for purposes of said Employment
Agreement, in consideration of, among other things, the Company completing the
Merger and Employee's employment with the Company;

                  WHEREAS, Novametrix and Employee further agree that, other
than any Success Bonus earned pursuant to the September 20, 2001 letter
agreement between Employee and Novametrix, neither Novametrix nor the Company
will owe Employee any monies as a result of Employee's change in employment from
Novametrix to the Company other than as expressly set forth either herein or in
the offer letter dated December 13, 2001 provided by the Company to Employee
(the "Offer Letter");

                  WHEREAS, Employee possesses valuable knowledge and skills that
will contribute to the successful operation of the Company's business;

                  WHEREAS, the Company and Employee have agreed to execute and
deliver this Agreement, which is ancillary to and a condition of the Merger, in
consideration, among other things, of (i) the access Employee will have to
confidential or proprietary information of the Company, (ii) the access Employee
will have to confidential or proprietary information to be acquired hereafter by
the Company, (iii) the willingness of the Company to make valuable benefits
available hereafter to Employee, (iv) the options, consideration and equity
appreciation Employee will receive as a result

                                 Page 37 of 50

<PAGE>

of the Merger, and (v) Employee's receipt of compensation from time to time from
the Company; and

                  WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of
Employee, and Employee is willing to accept employment with the Company, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the Company
agrees to employ Employee, and Employee hereby agrees to be employed by the
Company, upon the following terms and conditions:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   EMPLOYMENT

                  1.01. Office. Effective at the Closing Date, Employee will be
employed as Vice President of Product and Business Development, Cardiopulmonary
Monitoring of the Company and in such other capacities commensurate with such
position as the President of the Hospital Division of the Company may from time
to time determine, and in such capacity or capacities shall use his best
energies or abilities in the performance of his duties hereunder and as
prescribed in the By-Laws of the Company.

                  1.02. Term. Subject to the terms and provisions of Article II
hereof, Employee shall be employed by the Company for a period of one year (the
"Term"), commencing on the Closing Date. Subject to the terms and provisions of
Article II hereof, the Term shall automatically be extended for an additional
year (i.e., a rolling one-year Term) unless, not less than ninety (90) days
prior to the expiration of the then-current year of the Term, either Employee or
the Company shall advise the other that the Term will not be further extended.

                  1.03. Base Salary. During his employment hereunder,
compensation shall be paid to Employee by the Company at the rate of $158,000
per annum (the "Base Salary"), payable every other week in equal installments.
The Base Salary to be paid to Employee may be adjusted upward or downward (but
not below the amount specified in the preceding sentence) by the Board of
Directors or the President of the Hospital Division at any time (but not less
frequently than annually) based upon Employee's contribution to the success of
the Company and on such other factors as the Board of Directors or the President
of the Hospital Division shall deem appropriate.

                  1.04. Employee Benefits. During his employment hereunder,
Employee shall have the right to participate in and receive benefits under and
in accordance with the then-current provisions of all incentive, profit sharing,
401(K), stock option and stock purchase plans, retirement annuity, life, health,
disability and accident insurance, hospitalization and other incentive and
benefit plans or programs as outlined in the Offer Letter (except for any such
plan in which Employee may not participate pursuant to the terms of such plan or
Employee's geographic location) which the Company may at any

                                 Page 38 of 50

<PAGE>

time or from time to time have in effect for similarly situated employees of the
Company, Employee's participation to be on a basis commensurate with other
employees considering their respective responsibilities and compensation . The
parties recognize, as outlined in the Offer Letter, there will be a transition
period in converting Employee to certain Company plans. Employee shall also be
entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in the
performance of his duties hereunder. Service with Novametrix will constitute
service for purposes of Company policies like vacation.

                  1.05. Principal Place of Business. The headquarters and
principal place of business of the Company is located in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. For Employee's convenience, Employee's principal place of business
will be in Wallingford, Connecticut, and he will reside within a reasonable
distance thereof.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                   TERMINATION

                  2.01. Illness, Incapacity. If, during the Term of Employee's
employment hereunder, the President of the Hospital Division shall determine
that Employee shall be prevented from effectively performing his duties
hereunder by reason of illness or disability and such failure so to perform
shall have continued for a period of not less than three months, then the
Company may, by written notice to Employee, terminate Employee's employment
hereunder effective at any time after such three month period. Upon delivery to
Employee of such notice, together with payment of any salary accrued and unpaid
under Section 1.03 hereof, Employee's employment and all obligations of the
Company under Articles I and II hereof shall forthwith terminate. The
obligations of Employee under Article IV hereof shall continue notwithstanding
termination of Employee's employment pursuant to this Section 2.01.

                  2.02. Death. If Employee dies during the Term of his
employment hereunder, Employee's employment hereunder shall terminate and all
obligations of the Company hereunder, other than any obligations with respect to
the payment of accrued and unpaid salary under Section 1.03, shall terminate.

                  2.03. Company Termination. (a) For Cause. In the event that,
in the reasonable judgment of the President of the Hospital Division, and after
Employee has been given five (5) business days to offer any explanation for his
action, Employee shall have (a) been guilty of any act of dishonesty material
with respect to the Company, (b) been convicted of a crime involving moral
turpitude, (c) intentionally disregarded the provisions of this Agreement or d)
intentionally disregarded express instructions of the Board of Directors or the
President of the Hospital Division with respect to matters of policy continuing
(in the case of clause (d)) for a period of not less than five (5) days after
notice of such disregard, the Company may terminate this Agreement effective at
such date as it shall specify in a written notice to Employee. Any such
termination by the Company shall be deemed to be termination "for cause". Upon
delivery to Employee of such notice of termination, together with payment of any
salary accrued and unpaid under

                                 Page 39 of 50

<PAGE>

Section 1.03 hereof, Employee's employment and all obligations of the Company
under Articles I and II hereof shall forthwith terminate. The obligations of
Employee under Article IV hereof shall continue notwithstanding termination of
Employee's employment pursuant to this Section 2.03(a).

                  (b) Without Cause. Notwithstanding the duration of the Term
hereof, Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated at any time by the
Company without cause if the President of the Hospital Division so determines.
Subject to the payment of any salary accrued and unpaid under Section 1.03, and
except as set forth in Section 2.05, all obligations of the Company under
Articles I and II cease upon termination. The obligations of Employee under
Article IV hereof shall continue notwithstanding termination of Employee's
employment pursuant to this Section 2.03(b).

                  2.04. Employee Termination. Employee agrees to give the
Company ninety (90) days prior written notice of the termination of his
employment with the Company. Simultaneously with such notice, Employee shall
inform the Company in writing as to his employment/consulting plans following
the termination of his employment with the Company. In the event Employee has
terminated his employment with the Company because there has been: (a) a
decrease in Employee's salary below $158,000 per year or a material adverse
change in his duties or responsibilities, (b) a change in Employee's principal
place of business to a location not within 30 miles of its present location, (c)
any significant and prolonged increase in the traveling requirements applicable
to the discharge of Employee's responsibilities, or (d) a material breach of
this Agreement by the Company, Employee shall be entitled to the compensation
provided for in Section 2.05 upon such termination; provided that Employee must
provide notice of termination within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of a
change Employee believes to be covered by clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) herein in
order to claim that the termination is because of such change. The Company in
turn has thirty (30) days to correct any such action and, if it does so,
Employee shall not be entitled to terminate his employment under this Section.
Otherwise, all obligations of the Company under Articles I and II cease upon
termination, except for the payment of any salary accrued and unpaid under
Section 1.03. The obligations of Employee under Article IV hereof shall continue
notwithstanding termination of Employee's employment pursuant to this Section
2.04.

                  2.05. Termination Payments. Notwithstanding the remaining time
in the Term, if the Company terminates Employee's employment without cause
pursuant to Section 2.03(b), or Employee terminates his employment pursuant to
the third sentence of Section 2.04, or the Company gives Employee a notice of
non-extension pursuant to Section 1.02, Employee shall be paid for twelve (12)
months (the "Salary Continuation Period") the Base Salary then in effect. In
addition to these termination payments, until the earlier of (i) the end of the
Salary Continuation Period and (ii) the time when Employee obtains employment
with such coverage, the Company will provide Employee with health and dental
insurance coverage as though Employee remained an employee. Employee shall be
under no obligation to seek subsequent employment and upon obtaining subsequent
employment shall be under no obligation to offset any amounts earned from such
subsequent employment (whether as an employee, a consultant or

                                 Page 40 of 50

<PAGE>

otherwise) against the termination payments. Employee will be required to pay
the same portion of the premium for such insurance coverage as if Employee
remained an employee. Employee agrees to inform the Company of his
employment/consulting jobs during the period of time which Employee is receiving
money under this Section.

                  2.06. Termination Payments - After Change of Control.

                  (a)      Change of Control shall mean the occurrence of any of
                           the following events:

                           (i)      Individuals who on December 1, 1999
                                    constitute the Board of Directors ("Board")
                                    of the Company (the "Incumbent Directors")
                                    cease for any reason to constitute at least
                                    a majority of the Board, provided that any
                                    person becoming a director subsequent to
                                    December 1, 1999, whose election or
                                    nomination for election was approved by a
                                    vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent
                                    Directors then on the Board (either by a
                                    specific vote or by approval of the proxy
                                    statement of the Company in which such
                                    person is named as a nominee for director,
                                    without written objection by such Incumbent
                                    Directors to such nomination) shall be
                                    deemed to be an Incumbent Director.

                           (ii)     Any "person" (as such term is defined in
                                    Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange
                                    Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
                                    and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and
                                    14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes
                                    a "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
                                    13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
                                    indirectly, of securities of the Company
                                    representing a majority of the combined
                                    voting power of the Company's then
                                    outstanding securities eligible to vote for
                                    the election of the Board ("Company Voting
                                    Securities"); provided, however, that the
                                    event described in this paragraph (ii) shall
                                    not be deemed to be a Change of Control by
                                    virtue of any of the following acquisitions:
                                    (A) by the Company or any subsidiary, (B) by
                                    any employee benefit plan sponsored or
                                    maintained by the Company or any subsidiary,
                                    or by any employee stock benefit trust
                                    created by the Company or any subsidiary or
                                    (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding
                                    securities pursuant to an offering of such
                                    securities.

                           (iii)    Consummation of any merger, consolidation,
                                    stock-for-stock exchange or similar
                                    transaction (collectively, "Business
                                    Combination") involving the Company or any
                                    of its subsidiaries that requires the
                                    approval of the Company's

                                 Page 41 of 50

<PAGE>

                                    shareholders (whether for such transaction
                                    or the issuance of securities in the
                                    transaction), in which the holders of
                                    Company Voting Securities immediately prior
                                    to consummation of the Business Combination
                                    own, as a group, immediately after
                                    consummation of the Business Combination,
                                    voting securities of the Company (or, if the
                                    Company does not survive the Business
                                    Combination, voting securities of the
                                    corporation surviving the Business
                                    Combination) having less than 50% of the
                                    total voting power in an election of
                                    directors of the Company (or such other
                                    surviving corporation), excluding securities
                                    received by any holders of Company Voting
                                    Securities in the Business Combination which
                                    represent disproportionate percentage
                                    increases in their shareholdings in
                                    comparison to other holders of Company
                                    Voting Securities.

                            (iv)    Consummation of any sale, lease, exchange or
                                    other transfer (in one transaction or a
                                    series of related transactions, excluding
                                    any Business Combination) of all or
                                    substantially all of the assets of the
                                    Company to a person or entity which is not
                                    controlled by or under common control with
                                    the Company.

                  (b)      If Employee is terminated without cause upon or
                           within eighteen (18) months after a Change of
                           Control, or if Employee provides notice (as provided
                           for in Section 2.04) to the Company upon or within
                           eighteen (18) months after the occurrence of a Change
                           of Control that he is terminating employment with the
                           Company because there has been: (i) a decrease in
                           Employee's salary below $158,000 per year or a
                           material adverse change in his duties or
                           responsibilities (ii) a change in Employee's
                           principal place of business to a location not within
                           30 miles of its present location, (iii) any
                           significant and prolonged increase in the traveling
                           requirements applicable to the discharge of
                           Employee's responsibilities, or (iv) a material
                           breach of this Agreement by the Company. Employee
                           shall be entitled to the payments and other benefits
                           provided for in Section 2.05 upon such termination.
                           Otherwise, all obligations of the Company under
                           Articles I and II cease upon termination, except for
                           the payment of any salary accrued and unpaid under
                           Section 1.03 hereof. The obligations of Employee
                           under Article IV hereof shall continue
                           notwithstanding termination of Employee's employment
                           pursuant to this Section 2.06. For purposes of
                           clarity, the Merger is not considered to be a Change
                           of Control.

                                 Page 42 of 50

<PAGE>

                  2.07. Benefit Terms. Employee's rights after termination from
employment, if any, with respect to stock options, and his rights under Company
pension and welfare benefit plans and programs, shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of the applicable plan or program.

                                   ARTICLE III
                           EMPLOYEE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

                  Employee recognizes and acknowledges that: (a) in the course
of Employee's employment by the Company it will be necessary for Employee to
acquire information including, without limitation, information concerning the
Company's sales, sales volume, sales methods, sales proposals, customers and
prospective customers, identity of customers and prospective customers, identity
of key purchasing personnel in the employ of customers and prospective
customers, amount or kind of customer's purchases from the Company, the
Company's sources of supply, the Company's computer programs, system
documentation, special hardware, product hardware, related software development,
the Company's manuals, formulae, processes, methods, machines, compositions,
ideas, improvements, inventions or other confidential or proprietary information
belonging to the Company or relating to the Company's affairs (collectively
referred to herein as the "Confidential Information"); (b) for purposes of this
Employment Agreement, confidential information of an affiliate of the Company or
of a person or entity with which the Company explores or conducts business is
considered to be Confidential Information; (c) the Confidential Information is
the property of the Company; (d) the use, misappropriation or disclosure of the
Confidential Information would constitute a breach of trust and could cause
irreparable injury to the Company; and (e) it is essential to the protection of
the Company's good will and to the maintenance of the Company's competitive
position that the Confidential Information be kept secret and that Employee not
disclose the Confidential Information to others or use the Confidential
Information to Employee's own advantage or the advantage of others. For purposes
of this Agreement, Confidential Information shall not include any information
that is in the public domain, so long as such information is not in the public
domain as a result of any action or inaction by Employee which would constitute
a violation of this Agreement or the Company's policies with respect to such
information.

                  Employee further recognizes and acknowledges that it is
essential for the proper protection of the business of the Company that Employee
be restrained, but only to the extent hereinafter provided (a) from soliciting
or inducing any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, (b)
from hiring or attempting to hire any employee of the Company, (c) from
soliciting the trade of or trading with the customers and suppliers of the
Company, and (d) from competing against the Company for a reasonable period
following the termination of Employee's employment with the Company.

                  Employee further recognizes and understands that his duties at
the Company may include the preparation of materials, including written or
graphic

                                 Page 43 of 50

<PAGE>

materials, and that any such materials conceived or written by him shall be done
as "work made for hire" as defined and used in the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 USC
Section 1 et seq. In the event of publication of such materials, Employee
understands that the Company will solely retain and own all rights in said
materials, including right of copyright, and that the Company may, at its
discretion, on a case-by-case basis, grant Employee by-line credit on such
materials as the Company may deem appropriate.

                  For purposes of interpreting Article III and Article IV
hereof, the acknowledgments, covenants and obligations of Employee with respect
to the Company apply equally with respect to its affiliates.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                       EMPLOYEE'S COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

                  4.01. Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. Employee
agrees to hold and safeguard the Confidential Information in trust for the
Company, its successors and assigns and agrees that he shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company, misappropriate or disclose or make
available to anyone for use outside the Company's organization at any time,
either during his employment with the Company or subsequent to the termination
of his employment with the Company for any reason, including without limitation
termination by the Company for cause or without cause, any of the Confidential
Information, whether or not developed by Employee, except as required in the
performance of Employee's duties to the Company.

                  4.02. Disclosure of Works and Inventions/Assignment of Patents
and Other Rights. (a) Employee shall disclose promptly to the Company or its
nominee any and all works, inventions, discoveries and improvements authored,
conceived or made by Employee during the period of employment and related to the
business, prospective business or activities of the Company, and hereby assigns
and agrees to assign all his interest therein to the Company or its nominee.
Whenever requested to do so by the Company, Employee shall execute any and all
applications, assignments or other instruments, and otherwise cooperate with the
Company at no expense to Employee, to assist the Company in applying for and
obtaining Letters Patent or Copyrights of the United States or any foreign
country or to otherwise protect the Company's interest therein. Such obligations
shall continue beyond the termination of employment with respect to works,
inventions, discoveries and improvements authored, conceived or made by Employee
during the period of employment, and shall be binding upon Employee's assigns,
executors, administrators and other legal representatives.

                  (b) Employee agrees that in the event of publication by
Employee of written or graphic materials the Company will retain and own all
rights in said materials, including right of copyright.

                  4.03. Duties. Employee agrees to be a loyal employee of the
Company. Employee agrees to devote his best efforts full time to the performance
of his duties for

                                 Page 44 of 50

<PAGE>

the Company, to give proper time and attention to furthering the Company's
business, and to comply with all rules, regulations and instruments established
or issued by the Company. Employee further agrees that during the term of this
Agreement, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in any business
which would detract from Employee's ability to apply his best efforts to the
performance of his duties hereunder. Employee also agrees that he shall not
usurp any corporate opportunities of the Company. Employee is not prohibited
from serving on the Board of Directors of community, civic or charitable
organizations not involving any conflict of interest or interference with the
performance of his duties for the Company.

                  4.04. Return of Materials. Upon the termination of Employee's
employment with the Company for any reason, including without limitation
termination by the Company for cause or without cause, Employee shall promptly
deliver to the Company all correspondence, drawings, blueprints, manuals,
letters, notes, notebooks, reports, flow-charts, programs, proposals and any
documents concerning the Company's customers or concerning products or processes
used by the Company and, without limiting the foregoing, will promptly deliver
to the Company any and all other documents or materials containing or
constituting Confidential Information.

                  4.05. Restrictions on Competition. Employee covenants and
agrees that during the period of Employee's employment hereunder plus a period
of one (1) year following the termination of Employee's employment, including
without limitation termination by the Company for cause or without cause,
Employee shall not, in the United States of America or in any other country of
the world in which the Company has done cardiopulmonary monitoring business at
any time during the last three years prior to termination of Employee's
employment with the Company, engage, directly or indirectly, whether as
principal or as agent, officer, director, employee, consultant, shareholder, or
otherwise, alone or in association with any other person, corporation or other
entity, in any Competing Business. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
"Competing Business" shall mean and include any person, corporation or other
entity which develops, manufactures, sells, markets or attempts to develop,
manufacture, sell or market any product or services which are the same as,
similar to or compete with the Products and services (i) sold by the Company at
any time and from time to time during the last three years prior to the
termination of Employee's employment hereunder or (ii) which are active research
and development projects of the Company of which Employee is aware at the time
of termination.

                  4.06. Non-Solicitation of Customers and Suppliers. Employee
agrees that during his employment with the Company he shall not, directly or
indirectly, solicit the trade of, or trade with, any customer, prospective
customer, supplier, or prospective supplier of the Company for any business
purpose other than for the benefit of the Company, with respect to any products
competitive with those of the Company. Employee further agrees that for two
years following termination of his employment with the Company, including
without limitation termination by the Company for cause or without cause,
Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit the trade of, or trade

                                 Page 45 of 50

<PAGE>

with, any customers or suppliers, or prospective customers or suppliers, of the
Company with respect to any products competitive with those of the Company.

                  4.07. Non-Solicitation of Employees. Employee agrees that,
during his employment with the Company and for two years following termination
of Employee's employment with the Company, including without limitation
termination by the Company for cause or without cause, Employee shall not,
directly or indirectly, solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, any
employee of the Company to leave the Company for any reason whatsoever, or hire
any employee of the Company.

                                    ARTICLE V
                    EMPLOYEE'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  5.01. No Prior Agreements. Employee represents and warrants
that he is not a party to or otherwise subject to or bound by the terms of any
contract, agreement or understanding which in any manner would limit or
otherwise affect his ability perform his obligations hereunder, including
without limitation any contract, agreement or understanding containing terms and
provisions similar in any manner to those contained in Article IV hereof.
Employee further represents and warrants that his employment with the Company
will not require him to disclose or use any confidential information belonging
to prior employers, other than Novametrix and its subsidiaries, or other persons
or entities.

                  5.02. Employee's Abilities. Employee represents that his
experience and capabilities are such that the provisions of Article IV will not
prevent him from earning his livelihood, and acknowledges that it would cause
the Company serious and irreparable injury and cost if Employee were to use his
ability and knowledge in competition with the Company or to otherwise breach the
obligations contained in Article IV.

                  5.03. Remedies. In the event of a breach by Employee of the
terms of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, if it shall so elect, to
institute legal proceedings to obtain damages for any such breach, or to enforce
the specific performance of this Agreement by Employee and to enjoin Employee
from any further violation of this Agreement and to exercise such remedies
cumulatively or in conjunction with all other rights and remedies provided by
law. Employee acknowledges, however, that the remedies at law for any breach by
him of the provisions of this Agreement may be inadequate and that the Company
shall be entitled to injunctive relief against him in the event of any breach.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                                 Page 46 of 50

<PAGE>

                  6.01. Authorization to Modify Restrictions. It is the
intention of the parties that the provisions of Article IV hereof shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, but that the
unenforceability (or modification to conform to such law) of any provision or
provisions hereof shall not render unenforceable, or impair, the remainder
thereof. If any provision or provisions hereof shall be deemed invalid or
unenforceable, either in whole or in part, this Agreement shall be deemed
amended to modify, as necessary, the offending provision or provisions and to
alter the bounds thereof in order to render it valid and enforceable or, if
necessary, to delete the offending provision.

                  6.02. Tolling Period. The non-competition, non-disclosure and
non-solicitation obligations contained in Article IV hereof shall be extended by
the length of time during which Employee shall have been in breach of any of the
provisions of such Article IV.

                  6.03. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, along with the Offer
Letter, represents the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
employment of Employee by the Company and supercedes any prior written or oral
representations, discussions or agreements concerning the subjects covered
herein. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by each of them.

                  6.04. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
without regard to conflict of law principles.

                  6.05. Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue. Employee hereby
irrevocably submits to the personal jurisdiction of the United States District
Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania or the Court of Common Pleas of
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, and Employee hereby irrevocably agrees that all
claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined
in either such court. Employee hereby irrevocably waives any objection which he
now or hereafter may have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought in the United States
District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania or the Court of Common
Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and any objection on the ground that any
such action or proceeding in either of such Courts has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Nothing in this Section 6.05 shall affect the right of the
Company to bring any action or proceeding against Employee or his property in
the courts of other jurisdictions where the Employee resides or has his
principal place of business or where such property is located.

                  6.06. Service of Process. Employee hereby irrevocably consents
to the service of any summons and complaint and any other process which may be
served in any action or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement
brought in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania or the Court of Common

                                 Page 47 of 50

<PAGE>

Pleas of Allegheny County by the mailing by certified or registered mail of
copies of such process to Employee at his address as set forth on the signature
page hereof.

                  6.07. Agreement Binding. The obligations of Employee under
this Agreement shall continue after the termination of his employment with the
Company for any reason, with or without cause, and shall be binding on, and
inure to the benefit of, his heirs, executors, legal representatives and
assigns. If the Employee should die while any amounts are still payable to him
hereunder, including under Section 2.05, all such amounts, , shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Employee's devisee, legatee,
or designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Employee's estate. This
Agreement also shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, any
successors and assigns of the Company.

                  6.08. Successor to the Company. The Company will require any
successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Employee, expressly, absolutely and unconditionally to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had
taken place. Any failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the
effectiveness of any such succession or assignment shall be a material breach of
this Agreement and shall entitle the Employee to terminate the Employee's
employment and to receive the payments and other benefits set forth in Section
2.06(b) as if Employee had been terminated without cause upon a Change of
Control. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any successor or assign to its business and/or assets
as aforesaid.

                  6.09. Counterparts, Section Headings. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. The section headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any of
the provisions hereof.

                  6.10. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (a) hand delivered, (b) mailed, registered mail, first class
postage paid, return receipt requested, (c) sent via overnight delivery service
or courier, delivery acknowledgment requested, or (d) sent via any other
delivery service with proof of delivery:

                  if to the Company:

                  1501 Ardmore Boulevard
                  Pittsburgh, PA  15221-4401
                  Attn:  General Counsel

                                 Page 48 of 50

<PAGE>

                  if to Employee, at the address set forth on the signature page
hereof or to such other address or to such other person as either party hereto
shall have last designated by notice to the other party.

                  Employee acknowledges that he has read and understands the
foregoing provisions and that such provisions are reasonable and enforceable.

                                 Page 49 of 50

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement or caused
this Agreement to be executed the day and year first above written.

Witness:

/s/ Kristen Daly                             /s/ Philip F. Nuzzo
                                             Philip F. Nuzzo

                                             Address:  716 Paddock Avenue
                                                       Meriden, CT  06450

/s/ Kristen Daly                             /s/ William J. Lacourciere
-------------------------------------        ----------------------------------
                                             NOVAMETRIX MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

Attest

                                             RESPIRONICS, INC.

/s/ Dorita A. Pishko                         By: /s/ Daniel J. Bevevino
-------------------------------------            ------------------------------
              Secretary

                                             Print Name:  Daniel J. Bevevino
                                             Title:  V.P. & C.F.O.
                                                     --------------------------

                                 Page 50 of 50

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00034-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00034-of-00352.parquet"}]]