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                                  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): JANUARY 18, 2006

                             -----------------------

                                 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))

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SECTION 8   OTHER EVENTS.
ITEM 8.01   OTHER EVENTS.

On  January  18,  2006,  CryoLife,  Inc.  ("CryoLife")  issued  a press  release
announcing it has engaged Piper Jaffray & Co. to assist the Company's management
and Board of Directors in  identifying  and evaluating  potential  strategies to
enhance shareholder value.  CryoLife hereby incorporates by reference herein the
information  set forth in its Press  Release  dated  January 18, 2006, a copy of
which is attached  hereto as Exhibit 99.1.  Except as otherwise  provided in the
press  release,  the  press  release  speaks  only as of the date of such  press
release and such press release shall not create any implication that the affairs
of CryoLife have continued unchanged since such date.

Except for the historical  information  contained in this report, the statements
made  by  CryoLife  are  forward-looking   statements  that  involve  risks  and
uncertainties. All such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by the
Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  CryoLife's future financial
performance could differ  significantly  from the expectations of management and
from  results  expressed or implied in the Press  Releases.  Please refer to the
last paragraph of the Press Release for further discussion about forward-looking
statements.  For further information on risk factors,  please refer to the "Risk
Factors" contained in CryoLife's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004,
CryoLife's Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-121406),  as filed with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  and any  subsequent  SEC  filings.  CryoLife
disclaims  any  obligation  or duty to update or  modify  these  forward-looking
statements.


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SECTION 9  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (a)      Financial Statements.
                  Not applicable.

         (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information.
                  Not applicable.

         (c)      Shell Company Transactions.
                  Not applicable.

         (d)      Exhibits.

         Exhibit Number        Description

         99.1                  Press Release dated January 18, 2006




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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:  January 18, 2006             By: /s/ D. Ashley Lee
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Name:  D. Ashley Lee
                                        Title: Executive Vice President,
                                               Chief Operating Officer and Chief
                                               Financial Officer

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number       Description

99.1                 Press Release dated January 18, 2006




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