<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