<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 976692 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9774557 <ALLOWANCES> (175114) <INVENTORY> 14535440 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 27468969 <PP&E> 25104377 <DEPRECIATION> (9648746) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 45269678 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12730998 <BONDS> 3913686 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 17178971 <OTHER-SE> 9113769 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 45269678 <SALES> 60579011 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60579011 <CGS> 37766116 <TOTAL-COSTS> 37766116 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 27049 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 854859 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1775516 <INCOME-TAX> 944981 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2639449 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 797532 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.11 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.11