<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONATAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS INC.'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> JAN-03-1998 <CASH> 187,012 <SECURITIES> 58,317 <RECEIVABLES> 65,695 <ALLOWANCES> 4,207 <INVENTORY> 59,574 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 379,160 <PP&E> 55,597 <DEPRECIATION> 33,986 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 536,552 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 69,797 <BONDS> 142,771 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,685 <OTHER-SE> 223,661 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 536,552 <SALES> 307,666 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 307,666 <CGS> 155,680 <TOTAL-COSTS> 155,680 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 24,270 <LOSS-PROVISION> 815 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,398 <INCOME-PRETAX> 68,897 <INCOME-TAX> 19,675 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 41,492 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,492 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.13 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.07