<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