Note 2 - Discontinued Operations (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2012 EUR (€)	Jul. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2010 Del Medical Imaging Corp [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2012 Villa Sistemi Medicali S.p.A. [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2011 Villa Sistemi Medicali S.p.A. [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2010 Villa Sistemi Medicali S.p.A. [Member] USD ($)
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue				$ 5,377,000	$ 16,714,000	$ 57,138,000	$ 43,695,000
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax				(1,262,000)	1,230,000	2,824,000	1,813,000
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	6,837,000		(1,895,000)	(1,895,000)	6,837,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Adjusted Sale Price, Paid In Cash (in Euro)	22,696,000	16,500,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Sale Price, Paid In Cash	22,761,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Sale Price, Promissory Note	688,000	500,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Sale Price, Promissory Note, Term	5 years	5 years
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Sale Price, Promissory Note, Interest Rate	6.00%	6.00%
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Sale Price, Promissory Note, Period Before Interest Accrues	18 months	18 months
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Sale Price, Promissory Note, Prepayment Period	18 months	18 months
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Sale Price, Promissory Note, Prepayment Principal Amount (in Euro)		400,000
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired (in Shares)	28,104	28,104
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	253,000				820,000
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	253,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested	22,194,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Cash Dividend Received	4,538,000
Initial Lease Term	6 years	6 years
Optional Subsequent Lease Term	6 years	6 years
Annual Lease Income (in Euro)		335,000
Property Plant And Equipment Retained, Disposal Of Discontinued Operation	2,967,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Retained, Disposal Of Discontinued Operation	$ 900,000