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): September 5, 2002


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


                                     Florida
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


         1-13165                                     59-2417093
(Commission File Number)                     (IRS Employer Identification No.)


              1655 Roberts Boulevard N.W., Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
              ----------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


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


                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

     On September 5, 2002,  CryoLife,  Inc.  reached an agreement  with the U.S.
Food and Drug  Administration  ("FDA") modifying the FDA's August 13, 2002 Order
for Retention,  Recall, and/or Destruction. The agreement permits the company to
immediately  resume  processing and limited  distribution of its life-saving and
limb-saving  non-valved  cardiac and  vascular  tissues.  It allows  CryoLife to
distribute existing and newly processed non-valved cardiac conduits and patches,
saphenous  veins,  femoral  veins and  arteries,  and  aorto-iliac  arteries for
specified medically urgent uses when alternative  treatments have been exhausted
or are unavailable.  The Company estimates that most of the covered tissue under
its control is used by surgeons under the conditions permitted by the agreement.
More  information  about the agreement is contained in CryoLife's  press release
dated September 6, 2002,  which is incorporated by reference herein and attached
as Exhibit 99.1. A copy of the agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.38.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     (a) Financial Statements.

         Not applicable.

     (b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

         Not applicable.

     (c) Exhibits.

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

               10.38          September   5,  2002  Letter   Agreement   between
                              CryoLife and FDA permitting  limited  distribution
                              of certain  tissues subject to August 13, 2002 FDA
                              Order

               99.1           September 6, 2002 Press Release  regarding  Letter
                              Agreement with FDA


                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                    CRYOLIFE, INC.


Date:  September 6, 2002            By: /s/ D. Ashley Lee
                                       --------------------------------
                                       Name:    D. Ashley Lee
                                       Title:   Vice President,
                                                Chief Financial Officer






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



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

               10.38          September   5,  2002  Letter   Agreement   between
                              CryoLife and FDA permitting  limited  distribution
                              of certain  tissues subject to August 13, 2002 FDA
                              Order

               99.1           September 6, 2002 Press Release  regarding  Letter
                              Agreement with FDA





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