<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS
DETECTION TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 12/30/95 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-30-1995
<CASH>                                           1,282
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    5,135
<ALLOWANCES>                                       516
<INVENTORY>                                      8,991
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                17,782
<PP&E>                                           4,874
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,644
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  20,322
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            6,509
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,000
<OTHER-SE>                                      12,773
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    20,322
<SALES>                                         18,457
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                27,954
<CGS>                                            9,895
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   15,236
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,741
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    98
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,418
<INCOME-TAX>                                       910
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,508
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,508
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0