<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED APRIL 4, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-END> APR-04-1998 <CASH> 151,403 <SECURITIES> 79,133 <RECEIVABLES> 61,696 <ALLOWANCES> 4,094 <INVENTORY> 60,953 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 361,840 <PP&E> 56,913 <DEPRECIATION> 35,552 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 531,818 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 69,491 <BONDS> 131,252 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,174 <OTHER-SE> 237,424 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 531,818 <SALES> 75,661 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 75,661 <CGS> 38,661 <TOTAL-COSTS> 38,661 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 6,629 <LOSS-PROVISION> 111 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,206 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,787 <INCOME-TAX> 4,769 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,368 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 1,205 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,573 <EPS-PRIMARY> .13 <EPS-DILUTED> .16