<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS INC.'S REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-03-1998 <CASH> 119,543 <SECURITIES> 74,152 <RECEIVABLES> 67,665 <ALLOWANCES> 5,049 <INVENTORY> 65,463 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 337,546 <PP&E> 62,089 <DEPRECIATION> 39,687 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 559,019 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 104,950 <BONDS> 122,678 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,174 <OTHER-SE> 239,434 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 559,019 <SALES> 233,887 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 233,887 <CGS> 121,594 <TOTAL-COSTS> 121,594 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,543 <LOSS-PROVISION> 569 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,067 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,088 <INCOME-TAX> 12,604 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,920 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 4,638 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,558 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.48 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.46