Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 02, 2014	Sep. 28, 2010	Jun. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Deferred rent obligations	$ 1,649,000	$ 1,686,000
Total rental expense for operating leases	3,000,000	3,000,000	2,700,000
Unreported loss liability	1,400,000	1,500,000
Recoverable insurance amounts	600,000	580,000
Liability estimated after a reasonable margin for statistical fluctuations	2,700,000
Issuance of grants of stock options to CEO	562,000	162,000	159,000
Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Term of employment, effective September 2, 2014	3 years
CEO signing bonus				200,000
Issuance of grants of stock options to CEO				400,000
Issuance of grants of performance stock awards to CEO				250,000
CEO Post Employment Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities payable upon the CEO's voluntary retirement	2,200,000	2,100,000
Starch Technology Purchase [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Term of distribution agreement					15 years
Payment made pursuant to terms of agreements between CryoLife and SMI						1,000,000
Expected future contingent payment amounts to be initially recorded as research and development expense	1,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Starch Technology Purchase [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Amount paid related to achievement of contingent milestone							$ 500,000