<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS DETECTION NINE MONTHS ENDED 9/28/96 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-28-1996 <CASH> 8,089 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9,759 <ALLOWANCES> 854 <INVENTORY> 8,529 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 29,162 <PP&E> 5,710 <DEPRECIATION> 3,706 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 48,425 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,419 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,030 <OTHER-SE> 14,736 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 48,425 <SALES> 21,338 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 30,566 <CGS> 11,821 <TOTAL-COSTS> 16,305 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,551 <LOSS-PROVISION> 187 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 596 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,713) <INCOME-TAX> (650) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,063) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,063) <EPS-PRIMARY> .11 <EPS-DILUTED> 0