As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2001.
                                                Registration No. 333--__________
================================================================================


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under the
                             Securities Act of 1933

                           MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                           ---------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Utah                                               87-0447695
              ----                                               ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                             1600 West Merit Parkway
                            South Jordan, Utah 84095
                            Telephone: (801) 253-1600
                            -------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices,
                               including Zip Code)

    Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Highly Compensated Deferred Compensation Plan
                                       and
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Select Highly Compensated Deferred Compensation Plan
                             (together, the "Plans")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

      Kent W. Stanger                                      Copy to:
  Chief Financial Officer                               Keith L. Pope
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.                   Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless
  1600 West Merit Parkway                     185 South State Street, Suite 1300
  South Jordan, Utah 84095                        Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
       (801) 253-1600                                   (801) 532-7840
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
======================================== ================ =================== ====================== ===================
                                                               Proposed             Proposed
                                          Amount to be     Maximum Offering     Maximum Aggregate        Amount of
 Title of Securities to be Registered      Registered      Price per Share       Offering Price       Registration Fee
---------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
<S>                                            <C>               <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Highly
Compensated Deferred Compensation Plan         (1)               N/A                   N/A                   $0
---------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Select
Highly Compensation Deferred                   (1)               N/A                   N/A                   $0
Compensation Plan
======================================== ================ =================== ====================== ===================
</TABLE>
(1)      The Deferred  Compensation  Obligations  are unsecured  obligations  of
         Merit Medical Systems,  Inc. to pay deferred compensation in the future
         in accordance with the terms of the Merit Medical Systems,  Inc. Highly
         Compensated  Deferred  Compensation Plan and the Merit Medical Systems,
         Inc.   Select   Highly   Compensated   Deferred    Compensation   Plan,
         respectively. Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
         this  registration  statement  registers  an  indeterminate  amount  of
         interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee  benefit plans
         described herein.

<PAGE>

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1.  Plan Information.
         ----------------

         Information  required by Item 1 to be  contained  in the Section  10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this  Registration  Statement in accordance with Rule
428 adopted under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Note to Part I
of Form S-8.

Item 2.  Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
         -----------------------------------------------------------

         Information  required by Item 2 to be  contained  in the Section  10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this  Registration  Statement in accordance with Rule
428 adopted under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Note to Part I
of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
         ---------------------------------------

         The  following  documents  filed by Merit  Medical  Systems,  Inc. (the
"Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") are hereby
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

         (1)      he Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                  December 31, 2000; and

         (2)      The description of the Registrant's  Common Stock contained in
                  the Registrant's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A, SEC File
                  No.  000-18592,  filed under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
                  1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment
                  or report  filed  under the  Exchange  Act for the  purpose of
                  updating such description.

         In  addition,  all  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold,  shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and to
be a part  hereof  from the date of  filing  of such  documents.  Any  statement
contained in a document  incorporated by reference  herein shall be deemed to be
modified  or  superseded  for  purposes  hereof to the extent  that a  statement
contained  herein (or in any other  subsequently  filed  document  which also is
incorporated by reference  herein)  modifies or supersedes  such statement.  Any
statement  so modified or  superseded  shall not be deemed to  constitute a part
hereof except as so modified or superseded.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.
         -------------------------

         Under the Plans, the Registrant will provide eligible  employees of the
Registrant and its participating subsidiaries who are selected by the Registrant
("Executives")  with the  opportunity  to agree in advance to the  deferral of a
specified  percentage or portion of their  salaries,  commissions and other cash
compensation.  The amount of  compensation to be deferred by each Executive will
be determined in accordance with the Plans based on elections by each Executive.

         All  amounts  so  deferred  by  an  Executive  will  be  credited  to a
hypothetical  bookkeeping account ("Deferred  Compensation Account") and treated
as if invested in certain deemed investment alternatives chosen by the Executive
from a list of investment  benchmarks  ("Investment  Models")  designated by the
Registrant  under  the  Plans.  The  Investment  Models  may  include  a  deemed
investment  that  approximates  the rate of  return on the  Registrant's  common
stock.  Each Deferred  Compensation  Account balance will be adjusted to reflect
the  investment  experience,  whether  positive  or  negative,  of the  selected
Investment Models.

                                       2
<PAGE>

         In addition,  each  calendar  year,  the Company may in its  discretion
credit  an  additional,   hypothetical  amount  to  each  Executive's   Deferred
Compensation    Account    (a    "Matching    Contribution")    equal    to    a
Registrant-designated   percentage  or  portion  of  the  Executive's   elective
deferrals under the Plans for the year.  Matching  Contributions  are subject to
forfeiture if the Executive violates specified noncompetition requirements.

         Amounts credited to an Executive's Deferred  Compensation  Accounts are
payable to the Executive on termination  of employment or, if earlier,  upon the
attainment  of an age that the  Executive  selects at the time of the  deferral.
Distributions may be made singly or in installments, as elected by the Executive
at the time of  deferral.  Under  certain  circumstances  and subject to certain
penalties,  Executives may later accelerate  distribution or select an alternate
form of distribution.

         The obligations of the Registrant  under the Plans (the  "Obligations")
will be unsecured  general  obligations  of the  Registrant  to pay the deferred
compensation in the future in accordance  with the terms of the Plans,  and will
rank pari passu with other  unsecured  and  unsubordinated  indebtedness  of the
Registrant from time to time  outstanding.  The Obligations  will be denominated
and be payable in United States dollars.

         Upon a change in control as defined  in the Plans,  the  Registrant  is
required to  establish a trust (the  "Trust") and  contribute  to that Trust the
amount needed to fully fund the Obligations.  All rights of Executives under the
Trust will  remain  unsecured  contractual  claims  subject to the claims of the
Registrant's creditors in the event of the Registrant's insolvency.

         An  Executive's  right  or  the  right  of  any  other  person  to  the
Obligations cannot be assigned,  alienated,  transferred,  pledged or encumbered
except by a written  designation  of a death  beneficiary  under the  Plans,  by
written will, or by the laws of descent and distribution.

         The  Obligations  are not subject to  redemption,  in whole or in part,
prior to the individual  payment dates  specified by each Executive  except upon
the  Executive's  earlier  termination  of employment.  However,  the Registrant
reserves the right to amend or terminate  the Plans at any time,  except that no
such amendment or termination  shall adversely  affect the right of an Executive
to the  balance of his or her  Deferred  Compensation  Account as of the date of
such amendment or termination.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
         --------------------------------------

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
         -----------------------------------------

         Section  16-10a-902  ("Section  902")  of  the  Utah  Revised  Business
Corporation  Act (the "Revised Act")  provides that a corporation  may indemnify
any  individual  who was, is, or is threatened  to be made a named  defendant or
respondent (a "Party") in any threatened,  pending or completed action,  suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether
formal or  informal  (a  "Proceeding"),  because he is or was a director  of the
corporation or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, partner,
trustee, employee,  fiduciary or agent of another corporation or other person or
of an employee benefit plan (an "Indemnified Director"),  against any obligation
incurred  with respect to a  Proceeding,  including  any  judgment,  settlement,
penalty,  fine or reasonable expenses (including  attorneys' fees),  incurred in
the Proceeding if his conduct was in good faith, he reasonably believed that his
conduct was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the  corporation,  and,
in the case of any criminal  Proceeding,  he had no reasonable  cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful;  except that (i) indemnification  under Section 902 in
connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to
payment  of  reasonable  expenses   (including   attorneys'  fees)  incurred  in
connection  with the  Proceeding and (ii) the  corporation  may not indemnify an
Indemnified  Director in connection  with a Proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation  in which  the  Indemnified  Director  was  adjudged  liable  to the
corporation,  or in  connection  with any  other  Proceeding  charging  that the
Indemnified  Director  derived  an  improper  personal  benefit,  whether or not
involving action in his official  capacity,  in which Proceeding he was adjudged
liable on the basis that he derived an improper personal benefit.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         Section  16-10a-906 of the Revised Act provides that a corporation  may
not indemnify a director under Section 902 unless authorized and a determination
has been made (by the board of directors,  a committee of the board of directors
or by the stockholders)  that  indemnification of the director is permissible in
the  circumstances  because  the  director  has met the  applicable  standard of
conduct set forth in Section 902.

         Section  16-10a-903  ("Section  903") of the Revised Act provides that,
unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify a
director who was successful,  on the merits or otherwise,  in the defense of any
Proceeding,  or in the defense of any claim,  issue or matter in the proceeding,
to which he was a Party  because  he is or was a  director  of the  corporation,
against  reasonable  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  incurred by him in
connection with the Proceeding or claim.

         In addition to the  indemnification  provided by Sections  902 and 903,
Section  16-10a-905  ("Section  905") of the Revised Act provides  that,  unless
otherwise limited by a corporation's  articles of incorporation,  a director may
apply for  indemnification  to the court conducting the Proceeding or to another
court of competent  jurisdiction.  On receipt of an application and after giving
any  notice the court  considers  necessary,  (i) the court may order  mandatory
indemnification  under Section 903, in which case the court shall also order the
corporation to pay the director's  reasonable  expenses to obtain  court-ordered
indemnification,  or (ii) upon the court's  determination  that the  director is
fairly and reasonably  entitled to  indemnification  in view of all the relevant
circumstances and regardless of whether the director met the applicable standard
of conduct set forth in Section 902, the court may order  indemnification as the
court  determines  to be proper,  except that  indemnification  with  respect to
certain  Proceedings  resulting  in a director  being  found  liable for certain
actions against the corporation may be limited to reasonable expenses (including
attorneys' fees) incurred by the director.

         Section  16-10a-904  ("Section 904") of the Revised Act provides that a
corporation  may  pay  for  or  reimburse  the  reasonable  expenses  (including
attorneys'  fees)  incurred  by a  director  who is a Party to a  Proceeding  in
advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding if (i) the director furnishes
the  corporation a written  affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met
the applicable  standard of conduct  described in Section 902, (ii) the director
furnishes to the corporation a written  undertaking,  executed  personally or in
his behalf, to repay the advance if it is ultimately  determined that he did not
meet the required  standard of conduct,  and (iii) a determination  is made that
the facts  then  known to those  making  the  determination  would not  preclude
indemnification under Section 904.

         Section   16-10a-907  of  the  Revised  Act  provides  that,  unless  a
corporation's articles of incorporation provide otherwise, (i) an officer of the
corporation  is entitled to mandatory  indemnification  under Section 903 and is
entitled to apply for court ordered  indemnification  under Section 905, in each
case to the same extent as a director,  (ii) the  corporation  may indemnify and
advance expenses to an officer, employee,  fiduciary or agent of the corporation
to the same extent as a director, and (iii) a corporation may also indemnify and
advance  expenses  to an  officer,  employee,  fiduciary  or agent  who is not a
director  to a greater  extent  than the  right of  indemnification  granted  to
directors,  if not inconsistent  with public policy,  and if provided for by its
articles of  incorporation,  bylaws,  general or specific action of its board of
directors or contract.

         The  Registrant's  Bylaws  provide that the  Registrant  shall,  to the
fullest extent permitted,  and in the manner required by the law of the State of
Utah,  indemnify  an  individual  made,  or  threatened  to be made a party to a
proceeding  because he is or was a director,  officer,  employee or agent of the
Registrant or of another enterprise at the request of the Registrant.

         The Registrant's  Articles of  Incorporation,  as amended and restated,
provide  that to the fullest  extent  permitted  by the Revised Act or any other
applicable law as now in effect or as it may hereafter be amended, a director of
the  Registrant  shall  not  be  personally  liable  to  the  Registrant  or its
Shareholders  for  monetary  damages for any action taken or any failure to take
any action, as a director.  The extent to which the Revised Act permits director
liability to be eliminated is governed by Section 16-10a-841 of the Revised Act,
which provides that the liability of a director may not be eliminated or limited
for (i) the amount of  financial  benefit  received by a director to which he is
not entitled;  (ii) an intentional  infliction of harm on the corporation or its
shareholders;  (iii) a violation of Section  16-10a-842 of the Revised Act which
prohibits unlawful  distributions by a corporation to its shareholders;  or (iv)
an intentional violation of criminal law.

                                       4
<PAGE>

         Indemnification may be granted pursuant to any other agreement,  bylaw,
or  vote of  shareholders  or  directors.  In  addition  to the  foregoing,  the
Registrant   maintains   insurance  from  commercial  carriers  against  certain
liabilities which may be incurred by its directors and officers.

         The foregoing  description is necessarily general and does not describe
all details regarding the indemnification of officers,  directors or controlling
persons of the Registrant.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
         -----------------------------------

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.
         --------

         See the Exhibit Index on page 8.

Item 9.  Undertakings.
         ------------

         (a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
         being  made  of the  securities  registered  hereby,  a  post-effective
         amendment  to this  Registration  Statement  to  include  any  material
         information  with respect to the plan of  distribution  not  previously
         disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such
         information in this Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
         the Securities Act, each such post-effective  amendment shall be deemed
         to be a new Registration  Statement  relating to the securities offered
         therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time shall be
         deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned  Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a
new Registration  Statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons
of the  Registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  or  otherwise,  the
Registrant  has been advised that in the opinion of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of  South  Jordan,  State  of Utah on this  23rd day of
March, 2001.

                                   MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.


                                   By /s/ Fred P. Lampropoulos
                                          Fred P. Lampropoulos
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned directors and/or officers of Merit Medical Systems,
Inc.  (the  "Company"),   hereby  severally   constitute  and  appoint  Fred  P.
Lampropoulos,  Chief  Executive  Officer,  and Kent W. Stanger,  Chief Financial
Officer,  and each of them  individually,  with full powers of substitution  and
resubstitution, our true and lawful attorneys, with full powers to them and each
of them to sign for us, in our names and in the capacities indicated below, this
Registration  Statement  on Form S-8  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, and any and all amendments to said registration statement (including
post-effective amendments),  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all
exhibits  thereto  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,   with  the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  granting unto said attorneys,  and each of
them,  full power and  authority  to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite  and  necessary to be done in  connection  therewith,  as fully to all
intents  and  purposes  as each of them might or could do in person,  and hereby
ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorneys,  and each of them, or their
substitute or substitutes,  shall do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power
of Attorney.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities indicated below:

Signature                     Title                              Date
---------                     -----                              ----
                              Chairman of the Board,
/s/ Fred P. Lampropoulos      President and Chief Executive      March 23, 2001
------------------------      Officer
    Fred P. Lampropoulos


/s/ Kent W. Stanger           Secretary-Treasurer, Chief         March 23, 2001
-------------------           Financial Officer and Director
    Kent W. Stanger


/s/ Michael E. Stillabower    Director                           March 26, 2001
--------------------------
    Michael E. Stillabower

/s/ James J. Ellis            Director                           March 27, 2001
------------------
    James J. Ellis

/s/ Rex C. Bean               Director                           March 27, 2001
---------------
    Rex C. Bean

/s/ Richard W. Edelman        Director                           March 26, 2001
----------------------
    Richard W. Edelman

                                       7
<PAGE>

                           MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  Regulation S-K
    Exhibit No.                              Description
--------------------   ---------------------------------------------------------
       4.1*            Articles of Incorporation as amended and restated.
                       (Incorporated herein by reference from the Form 10-Q
                       filed by the Registrant for the Quarter ended June 30,
                       1996).  Amendment to Articles of Incorporation which
                       became effective June 18, 1997.  (Incorporated herein
                       by reference from the Form 10-Q filed by the Registrant
                       for the Quarter ended June 30, 1997).  Amendment to
                       Articles of Incorporation which became effective
                       September 11, 1997.  (Incorporated herein by reference
                       from the Form S-8 filed by the Registrant on December
                       3, 1999).

       4.2*            Bylaws of the Registrant.  (Incorporated by reference
                       from the Form S-18 filed by the Registrant on October
                       19, 1989).

       5               Opinion of Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless, a
                       professional corporation, as to the legality of the
                       securities offered.

      23.1             Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

      23.2             Consent of Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless, a
                       professional corporation (included in Exhibit No. 5).

       24              Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
---------------------------------

*  Incorporated by reference.

                                       8
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 27698}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000856982", "assigned-sic": "3841", "irs-number": "870447695", "state-of-incorporation": "UT", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-58112", "film-number": "1590703"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1600 WEST MERIT PARK WAY", "city": "SOUTH JORDAN", "state": "UT", "zip": "84095", "phone": "8012531600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1600 WEST MERIT PARKWAY", "city": "SOUTH JORDAN", "state": "UT", "zip": "84095"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2001.
                                                Registration No. 333--__________
================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under the
                             Securities Act of 1933

                           MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                           ---------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Utah                                               87-0447695
              ----                                               ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                             1600 West Merit Parkway
                            South Jordan, Utah 84095
                            Telephone: (801) 253-1600
                            -------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices,
                               including Zip Code)

    Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Highly Compensated Deferred Compensation Plan
                                       and
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Select Highly Compensated Deferred Compensation Plan
                             (together, the "Plans")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

      Kent W. Stanger                                      Copy to:
  Chief Financial Officer                               Keith L. Pope
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.                   Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless
  1600 West Merit Parkway                     185 South State Street, Suite 1300
  South Jordan, Utah 84095                        Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
       (801) 253-1600                                   (801) 532-7840
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
======================================== ================ =================== ====================== ===================
                                                               Proposed             Proposed
                                          Amount to be     Maximum Offering     Maximum Aggregate        Amount of
 Title of Securities to be Registered      Registered      Price per Share       Offering Price       Registration Fee
---------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Highly
Compensated Deferred Compensation Plan         (1)               N/A                   N/A                   $0
---------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Select
Highly Compensation Deferred                   (1)               N/A                   N/A                   $0
Compensation Plan
======================================== ================ =================== ====================== ===================
(1)      The Deferred  Compensation  Obligations  are unsecured  obligations  of
         Merit Medical Systems,  Inc. to pay deferred compensation in the future
         in accordance with the terms of the Merit Medical Systems,  Inc. Highly
         Compensated  Deferred  Compensation Plan and the Merit Medical Systems,
         Inc.   Select   Highly   Compensated   Deferred    Compensation   Plan,
         respectively. Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
         this  registration  statement  registers  an  indeterminate  amount  of
         interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee  benefit plans
         described herein.
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1.  Plan Information.
         ----------------

         Information  required by Item 1 to be  contained  in the Section  10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this  Registration  Statement in accordance with Rule
428 adopted under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Note to Part I
of Form S-8.

Item 2.  Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
         -----------------------------------------------------------

         Information  required by Item 2 to be  contained  in the Section  10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this  Registration  Statement in accordance with Rule
428 adopted under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Note to Part I
of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
         ---------------------------------------

         The  following  documents  filed by Merit  Medical  Systems,  Inc. (the
"Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") are hereby
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

         (1)      he Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                  December 31, 2000; and

         (2)      The description of the Registrant's  Common Stock contained in
                  the Registrant's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A, SEC File
                  No.  000-18592,  filed under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
                  1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendment
                  or report  filed  under the  Exchange  Act for the  purpose of
                  updating such description.

         In  addition,  all  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold,  shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and to
be a part  hereof  from the date of  filing  of such  documents.  Any  statement
contained in a document  incorporated by reference  herein shall be deemed to be
modified  or  superseded  for  purposes  hereof to the extent  that a  statement
contained  herein (or in any other  subsequently  filed  document  which also is
incorporated by reference  herein)  modifies or supersedes  such statement.  Any
statement  so modified or  superseded  shall not be deemed to  constitute a part
hereof except as so modified or superseded.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.
         -------------------------

         Under the Plans, the Registrant will provide eligible  employees of the
Registrant and its participating subsidiaries who are selected by the Registrant
("Executives")  with the  opportunity  to agree in advance to the  deferral of a
specified  percentage or portion of their  salaries,  commissions and other cash
compensation.  The amount of  compensation to be deferred by each Executive will
be determined in accordance with the Plans based on elections by each Executive.

         All  amounts  so  deferred  by  an  Executive  will  be  credited  to a
hypothetical  bookkeeping account ("Deferred  Compensation Account") and treated
as if invested in certain deemed investment alternatives chosen by the Executive
from a list of investment  benchmarks  ("Investment  Models")  designated by the
Registrant  under  the  Plans.  The  Investment  Models  may  include  a  deemed
investment  that  approximates  the rate of  return on the  Registrant's  common
stock.  Each Deferred  Compensation  Account balance will be adjusted to reflect
the  investment  experience,  whether  positive  or  negative,  of the  selected
Investment Models.

                                       2
In addition,  each  calendar  year,  the Company may in its  discretion
credit  an  additional,   hypothetical  amount  to  each  Executive's   Deferred
Compensation    Account    (a    "Matching    Contribution")    equal    to    a
Registrant-designated   percentage  or  portion  of  the  Executive's   elective
deferrals under the Plans for the year.  Matching  Contributions  are subject to
forfeiture if the Executive violates specified noncompetition requirements.

         Amounts credited to an Executive's Deferred  Compensation  Accounts are
payable to the Executive on termination  of employment or, if earlier,  upon the
attainment  of an age that the  Executive  selects at the time of the  deferral.
Distributions may be made singly or in installments, as elected by the Executive
at the time of  deferral.  Under  certain  circumstances  and subject to certain
penalties,  Executives may later accelerate  distribution or select an alternate
form of distribution.

         The obligations of the Registrant  under the Plans (the  "Obligations")
will be unsecured  general  obligations  of the  Registrant  to pay the deferred
compensation in the future in accordance  with the terms of the Plans,  and will
rank pari passu with other  unsecured  and  unsubordinated  indebtedness  of the
Registrant from time to time  outstanding.  The Obligations  will be denominated
and be payable in United States dollars.

         Upon a change in control as defined  in the Plans,  the  Registrant  is
required to  establish a trust (the  "Trust") and  contribute  to that Trust the
amount needed to fully fund the Obligations.  All rights of Executives under the
Trust will  remain  unsecured  contractual  claims  subject to the claims of the
Registrant's creditors in the event of the Registrant's insolvency.

         An  Executive's  right  or  the  right  of  any  other  person  to  the
Obligations cannot be assigned,  alienated,  transferred,  pledged or encumbered
except by a written  designation  of a death  beneficiary  under the  Plans,  by
written will, or by the laws of descent and distribution.

         The  Obligations  are not subject to  redemption,  in whole or in part,
prior to the individual  payment dates  specified by each Executive  except upon
the  Executive's  earlier  termination  of employment.  However,  the Registrant
reserves the right to amend or terminate  the Plans at any time,  except that no
such amendment or termination  shall adversely  affect the right of an Executive
to the  balance of his or her  Deferred  Compensation  Account as of the date of
such amendment or termination.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
         --------------------------------------

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
         -----------------------------------------

         Section  16-10a-902  ("Section  902")  of  the  Utah  Revised  Business
Corporation  Act (the "Revised Act")  provides that a corporation  may indemnify
any  individual  who was, is, or is threatened  to be made a named  defendant or
respondent (a "Party") in any threatened,  pending or completed action,  suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether
formal or  informal  (a  "Proceeding"),  because he is or was a director  of the
corporation or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, partner,
trustee, employee,  fiduciary or agent of another corporation or other person or
of an employee benefit plan (an "Indemnified Director"),  against any obligation
incurred  with respect to a  Proceeding,  including  any  judgment,  settlement,
penalty,  fine or reasonable expenses (including  attorneys' fees),  incurred in
the Proceeding if his conduct was in good faith, he reasonably believed that his
conduct was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the  corporation,  and,
in the case of any criminal  Proceeding,  he had no reasonable  cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful;  except that (i) indemnification  under Section 902 in
connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to
payment  of  reasonable  expenses   (including   attorneys'  fees)  incurred  in
connection  with the  Proceeding and (ii) the  corporation  may not indemnify an
Indemnified  Director in connection  with a Proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation  in which  the  Indemnified  Director  was  adjudged  liable  to the
corporation,  or in  connection  with any  other  Proceeding  charging  that the
Indemnified  Director  derived  an  improper  personal  benefit,  whether or not
involving action in his official  capacity,  in which Proceeding he was adjudged
liable on the basis that he derived an improper personal benefit.

                                       3
Section  16-10a-906 of the Revised Act provides that a corporation  may
not indemnify a director under Section 902 unless authorized and a determination
has been made (by the board of directors,  a committee of the board of directors
or by the stockholders)  that  indemnification of the director is permissible in
the  circumstances  because  the  director  has met the  applicable  standard of
conduct set forth in Section 902.

         Section  16-10a-903  ("Section  903") of the Revised Act provides that,
unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify a
director who was successful,  on the merits or otherwise,  in the defense of any
Proceeding,  or in the defense of any claim,  issue or matter in the proceeding,
to which he was a Party  because  he is or was a  director  of the  corporation,
against  reasonable  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  incurred by him in
connection with the Proceeding or claim.

         In addition to the  indemnification  provided by Sections  902 and 903,
Section  16-10a-905  ("Section  905") of the Revised Act provides  that,  unless
otherwise limited by a corporation's  articles of incorporation,  a director may
apply for  indemnification  to the court conducting the Proceeding or to another
court of competent  jurisdiction.  On receipt of an application and after giving
any  notice the court  considers  necessary,  (i) the court may order  mandatory
indemnification  under Section 903, in which case the court shall also order the
corporation to pay the director's  reasonable  expenses to obtain  court-ordered
indemnification,  or (ii) upon the court's  determination  that the  director is
fairly and reasonably  entitled to  indemnification  in view of all the relevant
circumstances and regardless of whether the director met the applicable standard
of conduct set forth in Section 902, the court may order  indemnification as the
court  determines  to be proper,  except that  indemnification  with  respect to
certain  Proceedings  resulting  in a director  being  found  liable for certain
actions against the corporation may be limited to reasonable expenses (including
attorneys' fees) incurred by the director.

         Section  16-10a-904  ("Section 904") of the Revised Act provides that a
corporation  may  pay  for  or  reimburse  the  reasonable  expenses  (including
attorneys'  fees)  incurred  by a  director  who is a Party to a  Proceeding  in
advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding if (i) the director furnishes
the  corporation a written  affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met
the applicable  standard of conduct  described in Section 902, (ii) the director
furnishes to the corporation a written  undertaking,  executed  personally or in
his behalf, to repay the advance if it is ultimately  determined that he did not
meet the required  standard of conduct,  and (iii) a determination  is made that
the facts  then  known to those  making  the  determination  would not  preclude
indemnification under Section 904.

         Section   16-10a-907  of  the  Revised  Act  provides  that,  unless  a
corporation's articles of incorporation provide otherwise, (i) an officer of the
corporation  is entitled to mandatory  indemnification  under Section 903 and is
entitled to apply for court ordered  indemnification  under Section 905, in each
case to the same extent as a director,  (ii) the  corporation  may indemnify and
advance expenses to an officer, employee,  fiduciary or agent of the corporation
to the same extent as a director, and (iii) a corporation may also indemnify and
advance  expenses  to an  officer,  employee,  fiduciary  or agent  who is not a
director  to a greater  extent  than the  right of  indemnification  granted  to
directors,  if not inconsistent  with public policy,  and if provided for by its
articles of  incorporation,  bylaws,  general or specific action of its board of
directors or contract.

         The  Registrant's  Bylaws  provide that the  Registrant  shall,  to the
fullest extent permitted,  and in the manner required by the law of the State of
Utah,  indemnify  an  individual  made,  or  threatened  to be made a party to a
proceeding  because he is or was a director,  officer,  employee or agent of the
Registrant or of another enterprise at the request of the Registrant.

         The Registrant's  Articles of  Incorporation,  as amended and restated,
provide  that to the fullest  extent  permitted  by the Revised Act or any other
applicable law as now in effect or as it may hereafter be amended, a director of
the  Registrant  shall  not  be  personally  liable  to  the  Registrant  or its
Shareholders  for  monetary  damages for any action taken or any failure to take
any action, as a director.  The extent to which the Revised Act permits director
liability to be eliminated is governed by Section 16-10a-841 of the Revised Act,
which provides that the liability of a director may not be eliminated or limited
for (i) the amount of  financial  benefit  received by a director to which he is
not entitled;  (ii) an intentional  infliction of harm on the corporation or its
shareholders;  (iii) a violation of Section  16-10a-842 of the Revised Act which
prohibits unlawful  distributions by a corporation to its shareholders;  or (iv)
an intentional violation of criminal law.

                                       4
Indemnification may be granted pursuant to any other agreement,  bylaw,
or  vote of  shareholders  or  directors.  In  addition  to the  foregoing,  the
Registrant   maintains   insurance  from  commercial  carriers  against  certain
liabilities which may be incurred by its directors and officers.

         The foregoing  description is necessarily general and does not describe
all details regarding the indemnification of officers,  directors or controlling
persons of the Registrant.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
         -----------------------------------

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.
         --------

         See the Exhibit Index on page 8.

Item 9.  Undertakings.
         ------------

         (a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
         being  made  of the  securities  registered  hereby,  a  post-effective
         amendment  to this  Registration  Statement  to  include  any  material
         information  with respect to the plan of  distribution  not  previously
         disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such
         information in this Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
         the Securities Act, each such post-effective  amendment shall be deemed
         to be a new Registration  Statement  relating to the securities offered
         therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time shall be
         deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned  Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a
new Registration  Statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons
of the  Registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  or  otherwise,  the
Registrant  has been advised that in the opinion of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                       5
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of  South  Jordan,  State  of Utah on this  23rd day of
March, 2001.

                                   MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                   By /s/ Fred P. Lampropoulos
                                          Fred P. Lampropoulos
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned directors and/or officers of Merit Medical Systems,
Inc.  (the  "Company"),   hereby  severally   constitute  and  appoint  Fred  P.
Lampropoulos,  Chief  Executive  Officer,  and Kent W. Stanger,  Chief Financial
Officer,  and each of them  individually,  with full powers of substitution  and
resubstitution, our true and lawful attorneys, with full powers to them and each
of them to sign for us, in our names and in the capacities indicated below, this
Registration  Statement  on Form S-8  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, and any and all amendments to said registration statement (including
post-effective amendments),  and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all
exhibits  thereto  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,   with  the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  granting unto said attorneys,  and each of
them,  full power and  authority  to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite  and  necessary to be done in  connection  therewith,  as fully to all
intents  and  purposes  as each of them might or could do in person,  and hereby
ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorneys,  and each of them, or their
substitute or substitutes,  shall do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power
of Attorney.

                                       6
Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities indicated below:

Signature                     Title                              Date
---------                     -----                              ----
                              Chairman of the Board,
/s/ Fred P. Lampropoulos      President and Chief Executive      March 23, 2001
------------------------      Officer
    Fred P. Lampropoulos

/s/ Kent W. Stanger           Secretary-Treasurer, Chief         March 23, 2001
-------------------           Financial Officer and Director
    Kent W. Stanger

/s/ Michael E. Stillabower    Director                           March 26, 2001
--------------------------
    Michael E. Stillabower

/s/ James J. Ellis            Director                           March 27, 2001
------------------
    James J. Ellis

/s/ Rex C. Bean               Director                           March 27, 2001
---------------
    Rex C. Bean

/s/ Richard W. Edelman        Director                           March 26, 2001
----------------------
    Richard W. Edelman

                                       7
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  Regulation S-K
    Exhibit No.                              Description
--------------------   ---------------------------------------------------------
       4.1*            Articles of Incorporation as amended and restated.
                       (Incorporated herein by reference from the Form 10-Q
                       filed by the Registrant for the Quarter ended June 30,
                       1996).  Amendment to Articles of Incorporation which
                       became effective June 18, 1997.  (Incorporated herein
                       by reference from the Form 10-Q filed by the Registrant
                       for the Quarter ended June 30, 1997).  Amendment to
                       Articles of Incorporation which became effective
                       September 11, 1997.  (Incorporated herein by reference
                       from the Form S-8 filed by the Registrant on December
                       3, 1999).

       4.2*            Bylaws of the Registrant.  (Incorporated by reference
                       from the Form S-18 filed by the Registrant on October
                       19, 1989).

       5               Opinion of Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless, a
                       professional corporation, as to the legality of the
                       securities offered.

      23.1             Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

      23.2             Consent of Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless, a
                       professional corporation (included in Exhibit No. 5).

       24              Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
---------------------------------

*  Incorporated by reference.

                                       8