REGISTRATION NO. 333-______

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                               Florida 59-2417093
                  (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
              of incorporation or organization Identification No.)

               1655 Roberts Boulevard, NW, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                     CryoLife, Inc. Directors Stock Options
                            (Full title of the plan)

                     Steven G. Anderson, President, CEO and
                       Chairman of the Board of Directors
                                 CryoLife, Inc.
                           1655 Roberts Boulevard, NW
                             Kennesaw Georgia 30144
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (770) 419-3355
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:
                           B. Joseph Alley, Jr., Esq.
                          Arnall Golden & Gregory, LLP
                            2800 One Atlantic Center
                           1201 West Peachtree Street
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3450
                                 (404) 873-8500

                         Calculation of Registration Fee
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Proposed maximum Amount of Title of securities Amount to be maximum offering aggregate registration to be registered registered price per share offering price fee* - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock, 46,000 Shares $13.057 $600,625 $167.00 $.01 par value - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) as follows: (a) with respect to 12,000 shares based upon the exercise price of $15.875 and (b) with respect to 34,000 shares based upon the exercise price of $12.0625 per share. PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 3. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference. The following documents are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement: (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with respect to the Registrant's fiscal year ended December 31, 1998. (b) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the Registrant's registration statement filed under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. (c) All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all of the shares of Common Stock offered have been sold or which deregisters all of such shares then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement. Item 4. Description of Securities Not applicable. Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. Not applicable. Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Registrant is a Florida corporation. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Florida Business Corporation Act (the "FBCA"), the Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation, and the Registrant's Bylaws. Under Section 607.0850(1) of the FBCA, a corporation may indemnify any of its directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding (including any appeal thereof) (i) if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, however, Section 607.0850(2) provides that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the director or officer shall have been adjudged to be liable unless, and only to the extent that, the court in which such proceeding was brought, or any other court of competent jurisdiction, shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper. Article X of the Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation and Article VI of the Registrant's Bylaws require that, if in the judgment of the majority of the Board of Directors (excluding from such majority any director under consideration for indemnification) the criteria set forth under Section 607.0850 have been met, then the Registrant shall indemnify its directors and officers for certain liabilities incurred in the performance of their duties on behalf of the Registrant to the maximum extent allowed by Section 607.0850 of the FBCA (formerly Section 607.014 of the Florida General Corporation Act). 2 The Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 17, 1985 between the Registrant and certain shareholders of the Registrant provides that any investors exercising registration rights pursuant to such agreement must indemnify the officers and directors signing the registration statement against any liability arising from statements or omissions made in reliance upon information furnished by such investors to the Registrant for use in such registration statement. The Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 5, 1997, between Registrant and Ideas for Medicine, Inc. ("IFM") and certain stockholders of IFM provides that any investors exercising registration rights pursuant to such agreement must indemnify the officers and directors signing the registration statement against any liability arising from statements or omissions made in reliance upon information furnished by such investors to the Registrant for use in such registration statement. The Registrant has purchased insurance to insure (i) the Registrant's directors and officers against damages from actions and claims incurred in the course of their duties, and (ii) the Registrant against expenses incurred in defending lawsuits arising from certain alleged acts of its directors and officers. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreements entered into by the Company in connection with its initial and follow-on public offerings of Common Stock, the Underwriters thereunder have agreed to indemnify the directors and officers of the Company and certain other persons against certain civil liabilities. Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed. Not applicable. Item 8. Exhibits. Exhibit No. Exhibit 3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-56388). 3.2 Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of the Company dated November 29, 1995. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995). 3.3 Amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 20 million to 50 million shares and to delete the requirement that all preferred shares have one vote per share. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996). 3.4 ByLaws of the Company, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995). 4.1 Form of Certificate for the Company's Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997). 4.2 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 27, 1995 among Registrant Rights Agent. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1) to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 27, 1995). 5* Opinion of Arnall Golden & Gregory, LLP regarding legality. 23.1* Consent of Arnall Golden & Gregory, LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5 hereto). 23.2* Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. 99.1 Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix 2 to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 1998). 99.2* Form of Directors Stock Option Agreement and Grant - ----------------------- * Filed herewith. 3 Item 9. Undertakings. (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; Provided, however, that paragraph (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceedings) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. 4 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kennesaw, State of Georgia on March 4, 1999. CRYOLIFE, INC. By: /s/ Steven G. Anderson --------------------------------------------------- Steven G. Anderson President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steven G. Anderson, Ronald D. McCall and Edwin B. Cordell, Jr. and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE, FINANCIAL & ACCOUNTING OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:
Name Title Date ---- ----- ---- /s/ Steven G. Anderson President, Chief Executive Officer March 4, 1999 - --------------------------------------------- Steven G. Anderson and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ Edwin B. Cordell, Jr. Vice President and Chief Financial March 4, 1999 - --------------------------------------------- Edwin B. Cordell, Jr. Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ Ronald D. McCall Director March 4, 1999 - --------------------------------------------- Ronald D. McCall /s/ Benjamin H. Gray Director March 4, 1999 - --------------------------------------------- Benjamin H. Gray /s/ Virginia C. Lacy Director March 4, 1999 - --------------------------------------------- Virginia C. Lacy /s/ Ronald Charles Elkins, M.D. Director March 4, 1999 - --------------------------------------------- Ronald Charles Elkins, M.D.
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                          ARNALL GOLDEN & GREGORY, LLP
                A PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS
                            2800 ONE ATLANTIC CENTER
                           1201 WEST PEACHTREE STREET
                           ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30309-3450
               TELEPHONE (404) 873-8500 - FACSIMILE (404) 873-8501

                                                                  (404) 873-8150

                                                                  (404) 873-8151


                                  April 1, 1999



CryoLife, Inc.
1655 Roberts Boulevard, N.W.
Kennesaw, Georgia  30144

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This opinion is rendered in connection with the proposed issue and sale
by CryoLife, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), of up to 46,000 shares
of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Shares"),  pursuant to stock
options issued to certain of the Company's directors  ("Options") upon the terms
and  conditions  set  forth  in the  Registration  Statement  on Form  S-8  (the
"Registration  Statement") filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the "Act") and the
prospectus  utilized in connection  therewith.  We have acted as counsel for the
Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company.

         In rendering the opinion  contained herein, we have relied in part upon
examination of the Company's  corporate  records,  documents,  certificates  and
other  instruments  and  the  examination  of such  questions  of law as we have
considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion.  Based upon
the foregoing,  we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly and validly
authorized,  and when sold in the manner  contemplated by the Options,  and upon
receipt by the Company of payment  therefor and  issuance  pursuant to a current
prospectus in conformity with the Act, the Shares will be legally issued,  fully
paid and non-assessable.

         We  consent  to  the  filing  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement. This consent is not to be construed as an admission that
we are a party  whose  consent is  required  to be filed  with the  Registration
Statement under the provisions of the Act.

                          Sincerely,



                          /s/ ARNALL GOLDEN & GREGORY
                          -----------------------------------
                          ARNALL GOLDEN & GREGORY, LLP





                                  EXHIBIT 23.2

                         Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8) pertaining to the CryoLife,  Inc.  Directors  Stock Options,  of our report
dated February 2, 1999, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
CryoLife,  Inc.  incorporated by reference in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1998, and the related financial  statement  schedule
included therein filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                               /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP





Atlanta, Georgia
March 26, 1999

               FORM OF DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT AND GRANT


         THIS STOCK OPTION  AGREEMENT (this  "Agreement"),  dated as of the ____
day of ______________, (the "Grant Date"), by, between and among CRYOLIFE, INC.,
a Florida Corporation (the "Corporation"),  and  _________________,  a member of
the Board of Directors  of the  Corporation  (a  "Director")  and an  individual
residing in _________________ (the "Optionee").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Corporation wishes to grant to the Optionee an option (the
"Option")  to  purchase  the number of shares of Common  Stock set forth in this
Agreement  and under the terms and  conditions  set forth herein  including  the
provision that the Option is not an incentive  stock option under Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code");

         NOW THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing,  the mutual promises
and covenants  contained  herein and the mutual benefit to be derived  therefrom
and other good and valuable consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

     1. Grant of Option:  Subject to the terms and  conditions set forth herein,
the  Corporation  hereby  grants to the Optionee the option to purchase,  in the
aggregate,  up to _____  shares of the Common Stock (the  "Shares")  which shall
consist of authorized and unissued  shares of the Common Stock or, at the option
of the Corporation,  treasury shares of Common Stock. The Option shall be deemed
granted by the  Corporation to the Optionee as of the Grant Date. This Option is
not granted pursuant to the CryoLife,  Inc.  Amended and Restated  Non-Employees
Directors Plan (the "Plan"),  but the terms of the Plan are incorporated  herein
by  reference.  The  terms  of the  Plan  shall  govern  this  Option.  Optionee
acknowledges  receipt  of a copy  of the  Plan.  The  Optionee  has  received  a
Prospectus covering the Shares subject to this Option.

     2. Option Price: The price of the Option shall be the last closing price of
the Corporation's  Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the day of the
grant of the Option.  The Option exercise price is the sum of $_______ per share
(the "Option Exercise Price"). 

     3. Option  Period:  Subject to the  limitations  set forth in this Plan, an
Option granted under the Plan shall vest and become exercisable on the Options's
Award Date.  Subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, the Option may be
exercised  at any  time  after  its  Award  Date,  provided  that at the time of
exercise  all  of  the   conditions  set  forth  in  the  Plan  have  been  met.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  no Option may be exercised later than five years
after the date of grant  thereof.  

     4. Termination of Option: Except as herein otherwise stated, the Option, to
the extent not previously exercised, shall terminate sixty (60) months following
the Grant  Date.  





     5. Cessation of Service: If a grantee leaves the Board of Directors for any
reason,  including  without  limitation  resignation  or death,  such  grantee's
Options  shall  remain in effect  and  exercisable,  and shall  expire as if the
grantee had remained a Non-Employee Director of the Company. Upon the death of a
Non-Employee  Director, his or her Options shall be exercisable by his/her legal
representatives  or heirs,  but in no event may the Options be exercised  beyond
the last date which they could have been exercised had the Non-Employee Director
not died.  

     6.  Delivery  of Notice:  The  Optionee  my  exercise  the  Option  only by
delivering  written  notice to the  Corporation  of his intent to  exercise  the
Option (the  "Notice").  The Notice shall be delivered to the Corporation at its
principal office at: 

                                 CRYOLIFE, INC.
                            1655 Roberts Blvd., N.W.
                            Kennesaw, Georgia 30144

or such other address as may be designated by the Corporation.  The Notice shall
specify the number of Shares to be purchased in accordance  with this  Agreement
and shall include payment in full of the Option Price.

     7. Payment: The Option Exercise Price shall be paid in cash in U.S. Dollars
at the time the Option is  exercised or in shares of Common Stock of the Company
having an  aggregate  value equal to the Option  Exercise  Price.  If the Option
Exercise Price is paid by transfer of shares of Common Stock of the  Corporation
then the value of such shares will be  determined  by the last closing  price of
the  Corporation's  Common  Stock on the New York  Stock  Exchange  prior to the
exercise of the options.  The Option Exercise Price may be paid by a combination
of cash and Common Stock.  Subject to approval by the Board,  the phrase "shares
of stock of the Company",  may include  shares which the director is entitled to
purchase by reason of a stock option grant, sometimes called "option shares".

     8. Delivery of Shares to Optioneee:  Upon the Optionee's proper exercise of
the  Option,  the  Corporation  shall  deliver  to  the  Optionee  one  or  more
certificates  evidencing the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise
of the  Option  and  such  Shares  shall be fully  paid  and  nonassessable.  

     9.  Transferability:  Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph 9, the
Options granted under this Plan are not transferable other than as designated by
the grantee by will or by the laws of the descent and  distribution,  and during
the grantee's life, may be exercised only by the grantee.  However,  the grantee
may  transfer  the  Option  for no  consideration  to or for the  benefit of the
grantee's Immediate Family (including,  without  limitation,  to a trust for the
benefit  of the  grantee's  Immediate  Family  or to a  partnership  or  limited
liability  company for one or more members of the grantee's  Immediate Family or
to an IRA for the  benefit  of one or more  members  of his  Immediate  Family),
subject to such  limits as the Board may  establish,  and the  transferee  shall
remain subject to all the terms and  conditions  applicable to such Option prior
to such transfer.  The foregoing right to transfer the Option shall apply to the
right to consent to  amendments  to the grant  agreement and shall also apply to
the right to transfer  ancillary  rights  associated  with the Option.  The term
"Immediate  Family"  shall  mean  the  grantee's  spouse,   parents,   children,
stepchildren, adoptive relationships,  sisters, brothers and grandchildren (and,
for  this  purpose,  shall  also  include  the  grantee).  

                                       2




     10. Optionee Not a Shareholder: The Optionee shall not be deemed, by reason
of  this  option  agreement,  for  any  purposes  to  be a  shareholder  of  the
Corporation  with  respect  to any of the  shares  of the  capital  stock of the
Corporation or with respect to any of the Shares,  except to the extent that the
Option  has  been  exercised,  in  whole  or in  part,  and a stock  certificate
representing  Shares  has been  issued  to the  Optionee.  Notwithstanding  this
provision,  it is understood  and agreed that the  Corporation  and the Optionee
shall make any required disclosure of the "beneficial ownership" of Shares which
may be received upon a future exercise of the Option.

     11. No Restrictions on the  Corporation:  The grant of the Option shall not
affect in any way the right or power of the  Corporation or its  shareholders to
make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or
any other changes in the Corporation's capital structure or its business, or any
merger or consolidation of the Corporation,  or any issue of bonds,  debentures,
preferred or prior  preference  stock ahead of or affecting  the Common Stock or
the rights thereof or dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, or any sale
or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Corporation,  or
any  other  corporate  act or  proceeding,  whether  of a similar  character  or
otherwise.

     12. Reclassification, Consolidation, or Merger: The number of Option Shares
may be  adjusted  by the Board of  Directors  if certain  events such as merger,
reorganization, consolidation,  recapitalization, stock dividends, stock splits,
or other changes in the Company's corporate structure affecting its Common Stock
occur. No adjustments or substitution provided for in this Subsection,  however,
shall require the Corporation in any Agreement to sell a fractional  share,  and
the total substitution or adjustment herein is and shall be limited accordingly.

     13.  Optionee's  Representations  and  Warranties:  By  execution  of  this
Agreement, Optionee represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

          A. Investment  Representations  and Warranties:  The Optionee warrants
     and represents to the Corporation that he is acquiring the Option and, upon
     exercise of the Option, in whole or in part, the Shares for his own account
     for investment purposes and not with a view to distribution,  as defined in
     the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  and the
     rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated
     thereunder.  The  Optionee  further  agrees that he will not sell,  assign,
     transfer  or  pledge  the  Option  or any of the  Shares  purchased  by him
     pursuant  to the  exercise  of the  Option,  unless and until  either (i) a
     registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Shares becomes
     effective  or (ii) the  Corporation  has  received an opinion of counsel in
     form and substance  satisfactory  to the  Corporation  and its counsel that
     such  sale,  transfer,  assignment  or pledge may be  accomplished  without
     registration under the Securities Act.

                                       3



          B. Compliance with Withholding  Rules: The Corporation  shall have the
     right to adopt and apply rules governing the exercise of the Option and the
     issuance of Shares pursuant  thereto which will ensure that the Corporation
     will be able to comply with the applicable provisions of any federal, state
     or local laws relating to the withholding of taxes.

          C.  No  Tax  Advice:   The  Optionee   understands  that  neither  the
     Corporation  nor any of its affiliates  has given any advice  regarding the
     federal income tax consequences of (i) the Agreement,  or (ii) the grant of
     the Option,  or (iii) the  acquisition  of the Shares upon  exercise of the
     Option.  The  Optionee  acknowledges  that he has been  encouraged  to seek
     independent  advice  regarding  the grant and the  exercise  of the  Option
     herein.


     14. Legends:  The Corporation shall have the discretion to require that the
certificates representing the Shares shall bear such legends as are necessary to
ensure the enforceability of the conditions and limitations set forth herein.

     15. Binding  Effect:  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective  successors-in-interest.  All
parties  bound by this  Agreement  shall take any and all actions  necessary  or
appropriate to effectuate the purposes and provisions hereof.

     16. Definition of "Affiliate":  The term "affiliate"  whenever used in this
Agreement,  shall mean a person that, directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries,  controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the
Corporation.

     17. Amendments and Waivers:  Except as otherwise provided herein, no change
or  modification  of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same is in writing
and  signed  by all the  parties  hereto.  No waiver  of any  provision  of this
Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the person against whom
it is sought to be enforced. The failure of any party at any time to insist upon
strict  performance of any condition,  promise,  agreement or understanding  set
forth herein shall not be construed as a waiver or  relinquishment  of the right
to insist upon strict performance of the same condition,  promise,  agreement or
understanding at a future time.

     18.  Complete   Agreement:   Except  as  otherwise  provided  herein,  this
Agreement,  and the Plan together  constitute and set forth all of the final and
complete  promises,  agreements,  conditions,  understandings,   warranties  and
representations  among the  parties  hereto  with  respect to the Option and the
Shares,  and  there are no  promises,  agreements,  conditions,  understandings,
warranties or representations,  oral or written,  express or implied, among them
with  respect to the matters set forth  herein other than as set forth herein as
it may be amended from time to time.

     19. Extension of Time to Perform:  Whenever the time for the performance of
any action or condition contained in this Agreement falls on a Saturday,  Sunday
or legal holiday, such time shall be extended to the next business date.

     20. Captions and Pronouns: The captions contained in this Agreement are for
convenience  of  reference  only and  shall  not in any way  modify or limit the
meaning or  interpretation  of this Agreement.  All terms and words used in this
Agreement,  regardless of the number and gender in which they are used, shall be
deemed and  construed to include any other number,  singular or plural,  and any

                                       4




other gender,  masculine,  feminine,  or neuter, as the context or sense of this
Agreement or any section,  paragraph  or clause  herein may require,  as if such
words had been fully and properly written in the appropriate number and gender.

     21.  Governing  Law: This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.


     22.  Counterparts:  Any number of  counterparts  of this  Agreement  may be
signed and delivered, and each shall be considered an original and together they
shall constitute one agreement.

     23. Severability:  This Agreement shall not be severable in any way, but if
any provision should be held to be invalid,  the invalidity shall not effect the
validity of the remainder of this Agreement.

     24. Restricted  Securities:  Optionee  recognizes and understands that this
option  and the  Option  Shares  have  not  been  and  may not be in the  future
registered  under the  Securities  Act of 193 3, as  amended  (the  "Act"),  the
Georgia  Securities  Act of 1973, as amended (the "Georgia  Act"),  or any other
state  securities  law.  Any  transfer  of the  option (if  otherwise  permitted
hereunder,  and once exercised, the Option Shares) will not be recognized by the
Corporation  unless such transfer is registered  under the Act, the Georgia Act,
and any other  applicable  state  securities  laws or  effected  pursuant  to an
exemption  from  such  registration  which  may  then be  available.  Any  share
certificates  representing  the  Option  Shares  may  be  stamped  with  legends
restricting  transfer thereof in accordance with the  Corporation's  policy with
respect  to  unregistered  shares  of its  Common  Stock  issued  as a result of
exercise of options.  The  Corporation may make a notation in its stock transfer
records of the  aforementioned  restrictions on transfers and legends.  Optionee
recognizes and understands  that the Option Shares may be restricted  securities
within the meaning of Rule 144  promulgated  under the Act;  that the  exemption
from   registration   under  Rule  144  may  not  be  available   under  certain
circumstances  and that Optionee's  opportunity to utilize such Rule 144 to sell
the Option Shares may be limited or denied.  The  Corporation  shall be under no
obligation  to  maintain  or  promote a public  trading  market for the class of
shares  for which the  option  is  granted  or to make  provision  for  adequate
information  concerning  the  Corporation  to be  available  to  the  public  as
contemplated  under Rule 144. The  Corporation  will be under no  obligation  to
recognize  any  transfer  or sale of any  Option  Shares  unless  the  terms and
conditions of Rule 144 are complied with by the Optionee.  By acceptance hereof,
Optionee  agrees  that no  permitted  disposition  of this  option or any Option
Shares shall be made unless and until (i) there is then in effect a registration
statement under the Act, the Georgia Act, and applicable  state  securities laws
covering such proposed  disposition  and such  disposition is made in accordance
with such  registration  statement,  or (ii)  Optionee  shall have  notified the
Corporation  of  a  proposed   disposition  and  shall  have  furnished  to  the
Corporation  a  detailed   statement  of  the  circumstances   surrounding  such
disposition,  together  with an  opinion  of  counsel  acceptable  in  form  and
substance to the Corporation that such disposition will not require registration
of the shares so disposed  under the Act, the Georgia  Act,  and any  applicable
state  securities  laws. The Corporation  shall be under no obligation to permit
such transfer or  disposition on its stock transfer books unless counsel for the
Corporation shall concur as to such matters.

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     25.  Applicable  Taxes:  No later than the date as of which an amount first
becomes  includable  in the gross income of the Optionee for Federal  income tax
purposes with respect to the exercise of the Option,  the Optionee  shall pay to
the Corporation,  or make arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation regarding
the payment of any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to
be withheld  with respect to such amount.  The  obligations  of the  Corporation
under this Agreement shall be conditional  upon such payment or arrangements and
the Corporation  shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct
any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Optionee.


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Corporation  has caused  this  instrument  to be
executed by its duly  authorized  officers and the  Optionee  has executed  this
Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

                (SEAL)           THE CORPORATION:

                                 CRYOLIFE, INC.



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

Attest:


- -------------------------
Secretary for Corporation

                                 OPTIONEE:



                                 ---------------------------------------------  
                                 
                                 ---------------------------------------------  
                                 (Print name of Optionee)



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