Acquisitions (Fair Values Of The Assets Acquired And Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2011 Beckman Coulter, Inc. Acquisition [Member]	Jan. 30, 2010 AB Sciex & Molecular Devices [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 2010 Acquisitions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 2010 Acquisitions [Member] AB Sciex & Molecular Devices [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 2010 Acquisitions [Member] Others [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Acquisitions [Member] Beckman Coulter, Inc. Acquisition [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Acquisitions [Member] Others [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 859.5	$ 178.7	$ 70.6			$ 178.7	$ 102.7	$ 76.0	$ 859.5	$ 783.3	$ 76.2
Inventory	812.4	171.2	42.8			171.2	104.3	66.9	812.4	774.0	38.4
Property, plant and equipment	1,042.1	84.8	39.0			84.8	54.5	30.3	1,042.1	1,036.2	5.9
Goodwill	4,164.7	1,157.8	422.9			1,157.8	496.9	660.9	4,164.7	3,745.8	418.9
Other intangible assets, primarily trade names, customer relationships and patents	2,772.4	870.9	224.7			870.9	342.0	528.9	2,772.4	2,518.0	254.4
In-process research and development	143.0	26.5	1.0			26.5	7.4	19.1	143.0	143.0
Accounts payable	(278.2)	(59.6)	(35.1)			(59.6)	(37.9)	(21.7)	(278.2)	(257.3)	(20.9)
Other assets and liabilities, net	(1,662.9)	(238.4)	(62.1)			(238.4)	(30.7)	(207.7)	(1,662.9)	(1,561.0)	(101.9)
Assumed debt	(1,640.4)	(0.9)	(0.3)			(0.9)	(0.9)		(1,640.4)	(1,640.4)
Non-controlling interest acquired	(1.8)	(61.3)				(61.3)		(61.3)	(1.8)		(1.8)
Net cash consideration	$ 6,210.8	$ 2,129.7	$ 703.5	$ 5,500.0	$ 1,000.0	$ 2,129.7	$ 1,038.3	$ 1,091.4	$ 6,210.8	$ 5,541.6	$ 669.2