Segment Data - Revenues by Organizational Units (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 7,708,382	[1]	$ 7,584,037	[1]	$ 7,124,385	[1]
Medical Surgical Systems [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	2,105,288		2,081,733		2,010,009
Diabetes Care [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	911,276		866,477		785,759
Pharmaceutical Systems [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	1,074,129		1,059,094		1,000,664
Medical [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	4,090,693	[1]	4,007,304	[1]	3,796,432	[1]
Preanalytical Systems [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	1,300,892		1,277,793		1,197,807
Diagnostic Systems [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	1,237,163		1,202,684		1,121,072
Diagnostics [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	2,538,055	[1]	2,480,477	[1]	2,318,879	[1]
Biosciences [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,079,634	[1]	$ 1,096,256	[1]	$ 1,009,074	[1]

[1] Intersegment revenues are not material.