EXHIBIT 5.1

August 28, 1995


Bio-Vascular, Inc.
2575 University Avenue
St. Paul, MN  55114-1024

Re:  Bio-Vascular, Inc.
     Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel for Bio-Vascular, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the registration by the Company of 1,725,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"),
which includes 225,000 Shares subject to the Underwriter's over-allotment
option, pursuant to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 28, 1995 (the
"Registration Statement").

In connection with rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
such corporate records, agreements and other instruments, certificates of
officers, certificates of public officials and other documents as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed herein.  In
connection with our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the authenticity of all documents tendered to us as originals, the
legal capacity of all natural persons and the conformity to original documents
of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated
herein, it is our opinion that:

     1.   The Company has the corporate authority to issue the Shares in the
          manner and under the terms set forth in the Registration Statement.

     2.   The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered to
          and paid for by the Underwriter referred to in the Registration
          Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We express no opinion with respect to laws other than those of the State of
Minnesota and the federal law of the United States of America, and we assume no
responsibility as to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the
laws of any other jurisdiction.
 
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement to its use as part of the Registration Statement, and to
the use of our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus
constituting a part of the Registration Statement.

Bio-Vascular, Inc.
August 28, 1995
Page 2 

We are furnishing this opinion to the Company solely for its benefit in
connection with the Registration Statement as described above.  It is not to be
used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose.  Other
than the Company, no one is entitled to rely on this opinion.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly
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OPPENHEIMER WOLFF & DONNELLY