SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                  ___________________________________________


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported):

                                 March 30, 1998

                    ________________________________________


                                THERMEDICS INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


       Delaware                  1-9567                 04-2788806
       (State or other        (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
       jurisdiction of        File Number)        Identification Number)
       incorporation or
       organization)


       470 Wildwood Street
       Woburn, Massachusetts                                01888
       (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)


                                 (781) 938-3786
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)
PAGE




        Item 5.  Other Events
                 ------------

          On March 30, 1998, Thermedics Inc. (the "Company") approved a
        proposal to acquire, through a merger, all of the outstanding
        shares of common stock of its subsidiary Thermo Voltek Corp.
        ("Thermo Voltek") that the Company does not own at a price of
        $7.00 per share in cash.  The proposal was presented to Thermo
        Voltek on March 30, 1998.  The total transaction cost to the
        Company is estimated to be approximately $27 million, which
        includes approximately $5.25 million for the redemption of the
        outstanding Thermo Voltek 3/ percent convertible subordinated
        debentures due 2000.  The Company currently owns approximately 67
        percent of the outstanding common stock of Thermo Voltek.  The
        Company is a 58 percent-owned subsidiary of Thermo Electron
        Corporation ("Thermo Electron"), which in turn owns approximately
        3 percent of the outstanding common stock of Thermo Voltek.

           The merger is contingent upon, among other things, the
        negotiation and execution of a definitive merger agreement;
        receipt by the Thermo Voltek board of directors of an opinion by
        an investment banking firm that the Company's offer is fair to
        Thermo Voltek shareholders (other than the Company and Thermo
        Electron) from a financial point of view; the approval of the
        Thermo Voltek board of directors upon recommendation of a special
        committee of its independent directors; and clearance by the
        Securities and Exchange Commission of the proxy materials
        regarding the proposed transaction.

           On March 31, 1998,  a complaint naming the Company as a
        defendant, among others, regarding the Company's proposed
        acquisition of Thermo Voltek was filed in Delaware Chancery Court
        by a Thermo Voltek shareholder attempting to act on behalf of the
        public shareholders of Thermo Voltek.  The complaint alleges,
        among other things, that the proposed price of $7.00 per share is
        unfair and grossly inadequate.  The plaintiff is seeking
        injunctive and other appropriate relief.  A second lawsuit was
        also filed in Delaware Chancery Court by another Thermo Voltek
        shareholder on that date containing substantially similar
        allegations. 



        Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information
                 -----------------------------------------------------
        and Exhibits
        ------------

                 (a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired: not
                     applicable.

                 (b) Pro Forma Financial Information: not applicable.

                 (c) Exhibits: not applicable.





                                    SIGNATURE
PAGE






             Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
        of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
        on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on
        this 3rd day of April, 1998.



                                             THERMEDICS INC.


                                             By:/s/ Sandra L. Lambert
                                                ---------------------
                                                 Sandra L. Lambert
                                                 Clerk