<ARTICLE>                           5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MERT MEDICAL
SYSTEMS,  INC.'S CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE TWELVE
MONTH  PERIOD  ENDING  DECEMBER  31, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                               0000856982
<NAME>                              MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                       JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                         DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                                   851,910
<SECURITIES>                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         10,633,816
<ALLOWANCES>                                            (197,331)
<INVENTORY>                                           17,785,743
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      31,121,296
<PP&E>                                                29,006,845
<DEPRECIATION>                                       (12,043,130)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        50,664,786
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 15,341,571
<BONDS>                                                3,388,835
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                    0
<COMMON>                                              17,793,094
<OTHER-SE>                                            11,293,274
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                          50,664,786
<SALES>                                               68,377,357
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      68,377,357
<CGS>                                                 42,433,873
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         42,433,873
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          43,669
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       826,778
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        4,290,346
<INCOME-TAX>                                           1,687,379
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                           2,451,159
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               0.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               0.33