<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001003088
<NAME> PHYSIO CONTROL
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                    <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             SEP-30-1996             JUN-30-1996             MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                           3,336                   4,255                   4,784                   6,299
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   36,352                  32,285                  32,577                  31,168
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     31,811                  33,310                  30,894                  28,940
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                79,077                  74,144                  72,459                  72,503
<PP&E>                                          13,123                  10,775                   8,947                   6,607
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  95,862                  89,445                  86,510                  83,837
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           28,900                  27,560                  28,043                  26,865
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           170                     169                     168                     168
<OTHER-SE>                                      44,050                  37,127                  33,859                  29,847
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    95,862                  89,445                  86,510                  83,837
<SALES>                                        173,165                 127,372                  85,678                  42,755
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               173,165                 127,372                  85,678                  42,755
<CGS>                                           84,360                  62,288                  42,147                  21,432
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   84,360                  62,288                  42,147                  21,432
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                63,016                  47,547                  31,163                  15,475
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,844                   1,333                     874                     426
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 23,598                  15,415                  11,036                   5,146
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,259                   5,241                   3,753                   1,750
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             15,339                  10,174                   7,283                   3,396
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,339                  10,174                   7,283                   3,396
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.90                    0.60                    0.43                    0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.86                    0.57                    0.41                    0.19


</TABLE>