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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): FEBRUARY 21, 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 1.  REGISTRANT'S BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

ITEM 1.01   ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

THE  COMPANY'S  COMPENSATION  COMMITTEE  APPROVES  GRANT OF CERTAIN  OPTIONS AND
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

     On February 21, 2006, CryoLife's Compensation Committee,  composed entirely
of  independent  directors,  approved the grant of stock options and  restricted
stock awards to certain employees, including executive officers.

     The following individuals,  including those who were named in the Company's
most recent proxy  statement as the most highly paid officers in 2004,  received
grants of stock options and stock:


                                                    Stock        Restricted
                                                   Options          stock
                                                  ----------    --------------
             Steven G. Anderson                      68,500            11,500

             David Ashley Lee                        43,000             7,000

             Albert E. Heacox, Ph.D.                 25,750             4,250

             Gerald Seery                            21,500             3,500

             David M. Fronk                          17,200             2,800

             Other employees                         90,500             5,000
                                                  ----------    --------------

             Total                                  266,450            34,050
                                                  ==========    ==============

     The stock options and restricted stock were granted under the 2004 Employee
Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").  A copy of the Plan was filed as Exhibit 10.2
to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2004.  The  offer and sale of shares  under the Plan were  registered  under the
Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 filed on September 21, 2004 (File
No. 333-119137).

     In  addition  to the other  terms  and  conditions  of the Plan,  the stock
options have the following principal terms:

     o    Exercise price of $4.25 per share,  based on the closing price for the
          Company's  Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 21,
          2006.
     o    Vesting  at 20% per year  beginning  on the first  anniversary  of the
          grant date.
     o    Expiration date of August 21, 2011.


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     The restricted stock awards vested immediately.

     Copies  of the  forms  of  restricted  stock  award  agreement  and  option
agreement  are  filed  as  Exhibits  10.1  and 10.2  hereto,  respectively,  and
incorporated herein by reference.


SECTION 8   OTHER EVENTS.
ITEM 8.01   OTHER EVENTS.

     Please see the disclosure set forth under Item 1.01,  which is incorporated
by reference into this Item 8.01.


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

     (a) Financial Statements.
         Not applicable.

     (b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
         Not applicable.

     (c) Shell Company Transactions.
         Not applicable.

     (d) Exhibits.

         Exhibit Number     Description

         10.1               Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

         10.2               Form of Section 16 Officer Stock Option Agreement.



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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:  February 27, 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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