<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 14,155,131 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,685,832 <ALLOWANCES> 7,550 <INVENTORY> 974,409 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 17,203,863 <PP&E> 17,703,992 <DEPRECIATION> 7,764,488 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 27,516,876 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,458,394 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 52,457 <OTHER-SE> 22,826,595 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 27,516,876 <SALES> 2,700,823 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,213,800 <CGS> 3,116,844 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,708,827 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,267,207 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 137,366 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,762,234) <INCOME-TAX> 1,256 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,763,490) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,763,490) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.33) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.33)