Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (19,212,000)	$ (56,791,000)	$ (45,970,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(18,000)	(25,000)	4,209,000
Rental equipment depreciation	10,178,000	12,530,000	14,523,000
Property, plant and equipment depreciation	4,040,000	5,236,000	5,391,000
Amortization	194,000
Impairment of long-lived assets	573,000	5,331,000	1,814,000
Accretion of discounts on short-term investments	27,000	60,000	110,000
Stock-based compensation expense	2,318,000	5,732,000	5,220,000
Bad debt expense (recovery)	1,009,000	(380,000)	763,000
Inventory obsolescence expense	4,353,000	21,472,000	11,212,000
Gross profit from sale of used rental equipment	(6,809,000)	(9,054,000)	(404,000)
Gain (loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	(27,000)		8,000
Realized loss on short-term investments	11,000	3,000	5,000
Excess tax expense from stock-based compensation			(1,411,000)
Effects of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and financing receivables	(5,090,000)	7,743,000	(3,428,000)
Income tax receivable	270,000	13,041,000	4,078,000
Inventories	(7,824,000)	2,962,000	5,193,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	93,000	680,000	(523,000)
Prepaid income taxes	55,000	2,171,000	1,475,000
Accounts payable trade	1,333,000	477,000	(1,942,000)
Accrued expenses and other	1,011,000	(1,269,000)	(2,149,000)
Deferred revenue	3,063,000	295,000	11,000
Income taxes payable	51,000	(123,000)	120,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(10,401,000)	10,091,000	(1,695,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(1,721,000)	(1,177,000)	(1,867,000)
Investment in rental equipment	(6,513,000)	(455,000)	(502,000)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	202,000
Proceeds from the sale of used rental equipment	9,918,000	4,884,000	1,584,000
Purchases of short-term investments	(17,922,000)	(19,242,000)	(25,791,000)
Proceeds from the sale of short-term investments	28,463,000	10,532,000	16,368,000
Business acquisition, net of acquired cash	(4,352,000)
Payments for damages related to insurance claim	(2,353,000)
Proceeds from insurance claim	1,749,000
Increase in insurance claim receivable	306,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	7,777,000	(5,458,000)	(10,208,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and other	63,000	50,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	63,000	50,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(597,000)	147,000	(149,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,158,000)	4,830,000	(12,052,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of fiscal year	15,092,000	10,262,000	22,314,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of fiscal year	$ 11,934,000	$ 15,092,000	$ 10,262,000