<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                           4,781                   3,363
<SECURITIES>                                    11,418                   5,127
<RECEIVABLES>                                    5,164                   5,654
<ALLOWANCES>                                       265                     298
<INVENTORY>                                        809                   1,141
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                22,241                  15,279
<PP&E>                                           1,236                   1,650
<DEPRECIATION>                                     423                     633
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  24,009                  17,424
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            2,611                   2,201
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             7                       8
<OTHER-SE>                                      21,391                  15,215
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    24,009                  17,424
<SALES>                                         13,605                   5,638
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                13,605                   5,638
<CGS>                                           12,002                   6,200
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   12,002                   6,200
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 6,916                   6,231
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   190                     175
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 500                     550
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (4,813)                 (6,243)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       (63)                    (50)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (4,876)                 (6,293)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (4,876)                 (6,293)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.73)                  (0.84)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (0.73)                  (0.84)<FN>
        
<FN> Per share information in 1996 has been retroactively adjusted to reflect
a one for three reverse stock split that was approved in May, 1996.