<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS INC.'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> JAN-03-1998 <CASH> 101,246 <SECURITIES> 9,687 <RECEIVABLES> 42,297 <ALLOWANCES> 2,574 <INVENTORY> 33,873 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 262,364 <PP&E> 27,808 <DEPRECIATION> 18,960 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 380,179 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 48,498 <BONDS> 65,021 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,685 <OTHER-SE> 224,166 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 380,179 <SALES> 200,184 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 200,184 <CGS> 103,677 <TOTAL-COSTS> 103,677 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 11,968 <LOSS-PROVISION> 369 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 597 <INCOME-PRETAX> 53,825 <INCOME-TAX> 13,781 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 36,861 <DISCONTINUED> 4,631 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,492 <EPS-BASIC> 1.13 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.07