<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CRYOLIFE, INC. AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE RELATED
UNAUDITED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS  ENDED JUNE 30,
1997,  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN  ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO  SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>               
<CIK>                           0000784199                  
<NAME>                          CRYOLIFE, INC.                 
            
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         208,000
<SECURITIES>                                    41,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                8,067,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   131,000
<INVENTORY>                                  1,257,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            21,792,000
<PP&E>                                      19,932,000
<DEPRECIATION>                               7,140,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              47,937,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        5,165,000
<BONDS>                                      5,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       102,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  27,241,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                47,937,000
<SALES>                                      2,176,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            23,136,000
<CGS>                                        1,291,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                7,976,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            11,350,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                15,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             428,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,382,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,270,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,112,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,112,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .21