Notes Payable and Credit Arrangements Line of Credit Period Balances (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 18, 2013
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 595,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	666,000	170,000
Spire Corporation | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	23,000	107,000
Line of credit facility, interest rate at period end	6.50%
Spire Corporation | Ex-Im Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	118,000	38,000
Line of credit facility, interest rate at period end	6.50%
N2 Biomedical LLC
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	338,000	438,000
Long-term debt	5,600,000	5,800,000	6,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate at period end	4.50%
N2 Biomedical LLC | Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 338,000	$ 438,000
Line of credit facility, interest rate at period end	3.75%