________________________________________________________________________________

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                        ________________________________

                                    FORM 8-K
                        ________________________________


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): MARCH 17, 2005

                        ________________________________

                                 CRYOLIFE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                        ________________________________

           FLORIDA                       1-13165                59-2417093
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                     Identification No.)

              1655 ROBERTS BOULEVARD, N.W., KENNESAW, GEORGIA 30144
               (Address of principal executive office) (zip code)

       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (770) 419-3355

                ________________________________________________
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

                        ________________________________

     Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_|  Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

________________________________________________________________________________








SECTION 9         FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
ITEM 9.01(C)      EXHIBITS.

Exhibit 
Number              Description
------              -----------

5.1                 Opinion of Arnall Golden  Gregory LLP regarding  legality of
                    the preferred stock



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                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,
CryoLife,  Inc.  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                   CRYOLIFE, INC.



Date:  March 17, 2005              By:   /s/ D. Ashley Lee            
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                   Name:    D. Ashley Lee
                                   Title:   Executive  Vice  President,  
                                            Chief  Operating  Officer and
                                            Chief Financial Officer



                                      -3-



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit 
Number              Description
------              -----------

5.1                 Opinion of Arnall Golden  Gregory LLP regarding  legality of
                    the preferred stock



                                      -4-