<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000914062-08-000389
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080807
<FILING-DATE>20080811
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080811
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CRYOLIFE INC
<CIK>0000784199
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3841
<IRS-NUMBER>592417093
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>FL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1655 ROBERTS BOULEVARD N W
<STREET2>STE 142
<CITY>KENNESAW
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30144
<PHONE>7704193355
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1655 ROBERTS BOULEVARD N W
<STREET2>STE 142
<CITY>KENNESAW
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30144
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LEE DAVID ASHLEY
<CIK>0001112830
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13165
<FILM-NUMBER>081007553
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CRYOLIFE INC
<STREET2>1655 ROBERTS BLVD NW
<CITY>KENNESAW
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30144
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
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        <issuerName>CRYOLIFE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRY</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerName>LEE DAVID ASHLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <rptOwnerStreet2>1655 ROBERTS BLVD., N.W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KENNESAW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30144</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP, COO and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Children</value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-11</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-05-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-11-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>230000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales and option exercise reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on June 16, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person holds 1,700 shares indirectly through parents for which the reporting person has power of disposition only and disclaims beneficial ownership.  This report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other reason.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The options will become exercisable subject to the Reporting Person remaining continuously employed by CryoLife as follows: 50,000 shares will become exercisable on the first anniversary of the option grant date of May 4, 2006 and 50,000 more shares will become subject to exercise on each subsequent anniversary thereof until all 250,000 shares (100% of the option) are subject  to exercise. The option will have a term of 66 months but the option may terminate earlier as stated in the option document. The right to exercise will accelerate for all shares subject to the option agreement if, during the term of the Reporting Person's employment agreement and during the Reporting Person's continuous employment, (i) CryoLife terminates the Reporting Person's employment other than for cause, death or disability, (ii) the Reporting Person terminates employment for good reason, or (iii) the Reporting Person becomes entitled to receive a retention payment under his employment agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ D. A. Lee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
