<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL DATA  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S  UNAUDITED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  CONTAINED IN ITS REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE  QUARTERLY  PERIOD  ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 1996 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000784199                         
<NAME> CRYOLIFE, INC.                       
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                             97,145
<SECURITIES>                                    2,145,688
<RECEIVABLES>                                   7,311,881
<ALLOWANCES>                                      (88,737)
<INVENTORY>                                       353,427
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               17,446,326
<PP&E>                                         15,231,276
<DEPRECIATION>                                  5,579,541
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 32,109,252
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           4,540,416
<BONDS>                                                 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                             0
<COMMON>                                          101,060
<OTHER-SE>                                     23,885,217
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   32,109,252
<SALES>                                                 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               28,542,326
<CGS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   9,731,419
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               14,090,993
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   81,600
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 39,269
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 4,719,914
<INCOME-TAX>                                    1,687,524
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             3,032,390
<DISCONTINUED>                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                    3,032,390
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0.31