<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS INC.'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 2, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-END> JAN-02-1999 <CASH> 142,108 <SECURITIES> 43,310 <RECEIVABLES> 67,936 <ALLOWANCES> 4,498 <INVENTORY> 62,783 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 326,211 <PP&E> 60,687 <DEPRECIATION> 38,780 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 553,618 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 93,919 <BONDS> 122,802 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,174 <OTHER-SE> 243,802 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 553,618 <SALES> 313,131 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 313,131 <CGS> 164,345 <TOTAL-COSTS> 164,345 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 26,595 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,002 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,581 <INCOME-PRETAX> 40,058 <INCOME-TAX> 15,312 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 18,972 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 4,638 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,610 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.57 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.55