Document And Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Nov. 07, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Entity Registrant Name	Echo Therapeutics, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001031927
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 36,354,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		34,967,452
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011

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