<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM MERIT
MEDICAL SYSTEMS,  INC.'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE
NINE-MONTH  PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
                                                            
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                              357768
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      7142752
<ALLOWANCES>                                        (78440)
<INVENTORY>                                       13418409
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  22838227
<PP&E>                                            20317937
<DEPRECIATION>                                    (7138965)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    38024818
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              9897093
<BONDS>                                            4552889
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                          13949053
<OTHER-SE>                                         7848557
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      38024318
<SALES>                                           37484550
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  37484550
<CGS>                                             21796638
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     21796638
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     15712
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  517382
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    2995370
<INCOME-TAX>                                       1162823
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                3484794
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       1694928
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .24