<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, 1998 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         46,394,000
<SECURITIES>                                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  10,964,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                      158,000
<INVENTORY>                                     2,694,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               77,684,000
<PP&E>                                         28,526,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                  9,489,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                102,065,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          10,334,000
<BONDS>                                         7,450,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                             0
<COMMON>                                          134,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     81,870,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  102,065,000
<SALES>                                         5,968,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               46,129,000
<CGS>                                           3,459,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  18,089,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               20,248,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   77,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                619,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 7,792,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                    2,718,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             5,074,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                    5,074,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0.42