<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MERT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000856982 <NAME> MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 820,818 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9,458,380 <ALLOWANCES> (245,179) <INVENTORY> 17,090,578 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 29,091,778 <PP&E> 27,903,565 <DEPRECIATION> (11,419,465) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 48,191,990 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 14,483,571 <BONDS> 2,964,652 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 17,462,414 <OTHER-SE> 10,850,819 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 48,191,990 <SALES> 51,143,218 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 51,143,218 <CGS> 31,734,533 <TOTAL-COSTS> 31,734,533 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 682,883 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,401,930 <INCOME-TAX> 1,550,163 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,737,050 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.23