<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDIED
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET OF CRYOLIFE,  INC. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE
RELATED  UNAUDITED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER  30,  1997,  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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                              42,000
<SECURITIES>                                        41,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                   10,040,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                       146,000
<INVENTORY>                                      1,487,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                24,936,000
<PP&E>                                          20,997,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                   7,488,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  51,684,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            6,417,000
<BONDS>                                          5,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                           102,000
<OTHER-SE>                                      28,842,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    51,684,000
<SALES>                                          3,864,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                37,814,000
<CGS>                                            1,874,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   13,089,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                18,994,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    31,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 744,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,731,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,161,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,570,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,570,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .36