Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	12. Employee Benefit Plans *401(k) Plan* The Company has a 401(k) savings plan (the "Plan") providing retirement benefits to all employees who have completed at least three months of service. In 2011 and 2010 the Company made matching contributions to the plan of 20% of each participant's contribution for up to 5% of each participant's salary. The Company made matching contributions of 50% of each participant's contribution for up to 4% of each participant's salary in 2009. Total Company contributions approximated $204,000, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and $456,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Additionally, the Company may make discretionary contributions to the Plan that are allocated to each participant's account. No discretionary contributions were made in any of the past three years. *Deferred Compensation Plan* On January 1, 2011 CryoLife initiated a nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan ("Deferred Plan"). The Deferred Plan allows certain employees of CryoLife to defer receipt of a portion of their salary and cash bonus. The Deferred Plan provides for tax-deferred growth of deferred compensation. Pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Plan, CryoLife agrees to return the deferred amounts plus gains and losses, based on investment fund options chosen by each respective participant, to the plan participants upon distribution. All deferred amounts and deemed earnings thereon are vested at all times. The Company has no current plans to match any contributions. Amounts owed to plan participants are unsecured obligations of CryoLife. CryoLife has established a rabbi trust in which it will make contributions to fund its obligations under the Deferred Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the trust, CryoLife will be required to make contributions each year to fully match its obligations under the Deferred Plan. The trust's funds are invested in Company Owned Life Insurance ("COLI") and the Company plans to hold the policies until the death of the insured. The Company's deferred compensation liabilities are recorded as a component of other current liabilities or other long-term liabilities as appropriate based on anticipated distribution dates. The cash surrender value of COLI is recorded as other long-term asset. Changes in the value of participant accounts and changes in the cash surrender value of COLI are recorded as part of the Company's operating expenses and are subject to the Company's normal allocation of expenses to inventory and deferred preservation costs. *Employment Agreement* The Company has an employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), which expires on December 31, 2012, that confers benefits which become payable upon a change in control or upon certain termination events. As of both December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company has recorded $2.1 million in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets representing benefits payable upon the CEO's voluntary retirement.

12. Employee Benefit Plans

401(k) Plan

The Company has a 401(k) savings plan (the "Plan") providing retirement benefits to all employees who have completed at least three months of service. In 2011 and 2010 the Company made matching contributions to the plan of 20% of each participant's contribution for up to 5% of each participant's salary. The Company made matching contributions of 50% of each participant's contribution for up to 4% of each participant's salary in 2009. Total Company contributions approximated $204,000, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and $456,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Additionally, the Company may make discretionary contributions to the Plan that are allocated to each participant's account. No discretionary contributions were made in any of the past three years.

Deferred Compensation Plan

On January 1, 2011 CryoLife initiated a nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan ("Deferred Plan"). The Deferred Plan allows certain employees of CryoLife to defer receipt of a portion of their salary and cash bonus. The Deferred Plan provides for tax-deferred growth of deferred compensation. Pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Plan, CryoLife agrees to return the deferred amounts plus gains and losses, based on investment fund options chosen by each respective participant, to the plan participants upon distribution. All deferred amounts and deemed earnings thereon are vested at all times. The Company has no current plans to match any contributions. Amounts owed to plan participants are unsecured obligations of CryoLife. CryoLife has established a rabbi trust in which it will make contributions to fund its obligations under the Deferred Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the trust, CryoLife will be required to make contributions each year to fully match its obligations under the Deferred Plan. The trust's funds are invested in Company Owned Life Insurance ("COLI") and the Company plans to hold the policies until the death of the insured.

The Company's deferred compensation liabilities are recorded as a component of other current liabilities or other long-term liabilities as appropriate based on anticipated distribution dates. The cash surrender value of COLI is recorded as other long-term asset. Changes in the value of participant accounts and changes in the cash surrender value of COLI are recorded as part of the Company's operating expenses and are subject to the Company's normal allocation of expenses to inventory and deferred preservation costs.

Employment Agreement

The Company has an employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), which expires on December 31, 2012, that confers benefits which become payable upon a change in control or upon certain termination events. As of both December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company has recorded $2.1 million in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets representing benefits payable upon the CEO's voluntary retirement.