Segment Data (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Revenues by organizational units
Total Revenue	$ 2,014,081	$ 1,830,911	$ 5,778,109	$ 5,499,138
Medical [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	1,044,836	945,522	2,952,713	2,837,827
Medical Surgical Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	529,018	493,553	1,546,334	1,507,995
Diabetes Care [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	220,184	197,152	641,826	586,658
Pharmaceutical Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	295,634	254,817	764,553	743,174
Diagnostics [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	631,359	576,269	1,838,429	1,727,415
Preanalytical Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	330,326	303,526	949,194	891,362
Diagnostic Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	301,033	272,743	889,235	836,053
Biosciences [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	337,886	309,120	986,967	933,896
Cell Analysis [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	255,028	230,433	751,287	704,243
Discovery Labware [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	$ 82,858	$ 78,687	$ 235,680	$ 229,653