(Segment Reporting) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 36,751	[1]	$ 35,230	$ 35,035	$ 33,269	$ 32,524	[2]	$ 32,127	[3]	$ 32,214	$ 30,422	$ 140,285	$ 127,287	$ 117,917
U.S. Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												117,436	105,933	101,008
International Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												22,849	21,354	16,909
Disposable products [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												122,522	108,744	101,386
Disposable products [Member] | U.S. Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												103,218	90,849	87,070
Disposable products [Member] | International Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												19,304	17,895	14,316
Service and other, net of allowance for sales returns [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												10,439	10,122	9,380
Service and other, net of allowance for sales returns [Member] | U.S. Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												9,081	8,719	8,215
Service and other, net of allowance for sales returns [Member] | International Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												1,358	1,403	1,165
Equipment [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												7,324	8,421	7,151
Equipment [Member] | U.S. Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												5,137	6,365	5,723
Equipment [Member] | International Medical [Member]
Segments, Geographical Areas [Abstract]
Revenue												$ 2,187	$ 2,056	$ 1,428

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company incurred $0.3 million in legal and other costs related the to acquisition of certain products from Upstream (for additional discussion, see Note 15).

[2] During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company recorded the following special charges or credits not related to the Company’s regular, ongoing business: (i) a license agreement termination charge of $1.8 million (see Note 13) and (ii) a credit of $0.4 million representing a reduction in the Company’s estimated liability related to indemnification agreements with three former employees.

[3] During the third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded a $0.8 million charge, which amount included $0.2 million of interest through September 2011, related to a September 2011 ruling by the Dutch Court of Appeals in favor of Cardiomedica (for additional discussion, see Note 14).