<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF THE COMPANY AS OF AND FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                              MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                    4,722,000
<SECURITIES>                                              975,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                             1,514,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                              (27,000)
<INVENTORY>                                               3,168,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          10,873,000
<PP&E>                                                    7,934,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                            (2,776,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            16,584,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                     2,746,000
<BONDS>                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                                  54,547,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                (40,732,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              16,584,000
<SALES>                                                   771,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                          1,588,000
<CGS>                                                     830,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             3,888,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                          (17,000)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        (91,000)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           (3,022,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                              0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       (3,022,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                              (3,022,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             (.18)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             (.18)