<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                       5,413,030
<SECURITIES>                                 3,704,211
<RECEIVABLES>                                  687,424
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    471,621
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            10,998,502
<PP&E>                                       7,144,886
<DEPRECIATION>                               2,534,058
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              21,888,588
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        3,368,532
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          142,290
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                  16,524,194
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                21,888,588
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,268,587
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,638,736<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            (98,847)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (2,086,033)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    18,982
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (2,105,015)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (2,105,015)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.17)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.17)
<FN> 
<F1> Total costs includes research and development expenses and cost of
revenues. Because of the nature of the company's operations, management is of
the opinion that it is not meaningful to segregate these costs.
</FN>