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

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                                    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): OCTOBER 25, 2004
                             -----------------------

                                 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, GA 30144
               (Address of principal executive office) (zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (770) 419-3355

                                       N/A
          (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 1.  REGISTRANT'S BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

ITEM 1.01 ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

On Monday, October 25, 2004, CryoLife,  Inc. (the "Company") agreed to a binding
settlement  of three  lawsuits (two of which were  consolidated)  pending in the
Multnomah Circuit Court in Oregon. All of the plaintiffs,  Donald Payne, Candace
Payne,  L.L.R.,  W.C.R and  Anthony  F.  Spadaro,  are  party to the  settlement
agreement,  which  addresses the claims between the Company and the  plaintiffs.
The  other  defendants  named  in  the  lawsuits  have  also  settled  with  the
plaintiffs,  and when the  settlement  agreement  is  closed,  all of the claims
currently pending in the lawsuits are to be dismissed. This settlement agreement
does  not  purport  to  settle  any  claims  among  the  Company  and the  other
defendants.  Neither  the  Company  nor any of its  affiliates  have  any  other
material relationship with the plaintiffs.

Under the  agreement,  CryoLife is  obligated  to pay $3.0  million on or before
November 5, 2004. The agreement provides for the court to automatically  dismiss
the  plaintiffs'  claims  against the Company 91 days  following  payment of the
settlement amount.

Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 2.02 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OR FINANCIAL CONDITION

On October 29,  2004,  the Company  announced  that it had settled the  lawsuits
described  in Item 1.01 above as well as one other  lawsuit and two claims,  and
discussed  the  impact of the  settlement  on its  general,  administrative  and
marketing  expenses for the three month period ended September 30, 2004, and its
liquidity.  A copy of the press  release is  included as an exhibit to this Form
8-K.

SECTION 9.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     (a)  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

          Not applicable.

     (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.

          Not applicable.

     (c)  Exhibits.



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           Exhibit Number       Description
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           99.1*                Press Release dated October 29, 2004


*This exhibit is filed, not furnished.




                                   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: October 29, 2004              By: /s/ D. Ashley Lee 
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                                         D. Ashley Lee
                                         Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                                         and Treasurer





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