<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 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> APR-03-1999 <CASH> 109,318 <SECURITIES> 86,242 <RECEIVABLES> 67,988 <ALLOWANCES> 4,688 <INVENTORY> 62,525 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 336,034 <PP&E> 61,098 <DEPRECIATION> 40,073 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 548,478 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 102,779 <BONDS> 117,641 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 4,174 <COMMON> 244,349 <OTHER-SE> 548,478 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 77,604 <SALES> 77,604 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 40,135 <CGS> 40,135 <TOTAL-COSTS> 7,508 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 324 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,453 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,055 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,257 <INCOME-TAX> 2,582 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 2,582 <NET-INCOME> 0 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.06