U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                     FORM 4

                  STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

    Filed  pursuant to Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,
       Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or
               Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

[ ]  Check box if no longer  subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations
     may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*

    ELLIS                                JAMES            JEFFRIES
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     (Last) (First) (Middle)

     1600 West Merit Parkway
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                                    (Street)
     South Jordan                      UT                  84095
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     (City) (State) (Zip)

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2.   Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

     Merit Medical Systems, Inc.    (MMSI)
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3. IRS Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an Entity (Voluntary)

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4. Statement for Month/Year

     December 27, 2002
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5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)


                                Page 1 of 2 Pages


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6.   Relationship of Reporting Person to Issuer (Check all applicable)

     [X]  Director  [ ] 10%  Owner [ ]  Officer  (give  title  below)  [ ] Other
     (specify below)
                                                        Director of Sales
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7.   Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check applicable line)

     [X] Form  filed by one  Reporting  Person [ ] Form  filed by more  than one
     Reporting Person

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Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 5. 6. 4. Amount of Owner- Securities Acquired (A) or Securities ship Disposed of (D) Beneficially Form: 7. 3. (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) Owned at End Direct Nature of 2. Transaction of Issuer's (D) or Indirect 1. Transaction Code (A) Fiscal Year Indirect Beneficial Title of Security Date (Instr. 8) Amount or Price (Instr. 3 (I) Ownership (Instr. 3) (mm/dd/yy) Code V (D) and 4) (Instr.4) (Instr. 4) =========================================================================================================================== Common Stock 12/27/02 G 1,000 D D No Par Value - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock No Par Value 35,563 D - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* If the form is filed by more than one Reporting Person, see Instruction 4(b)(v). Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Explanation of Responses: /s/ KENT W. STANGER 01/03/03 - ----------------------------------- ----------- **Signature of Reporting Person Date Kent W. Stanger as Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated November 21, a manually signed copy of which is on file with the Commission and is incorporated herein by reference. ** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a). Note: File three copies of this form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure. Page 2 of 2 Pages