Segment and Geographic Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Segment and Geographic Information [Abstract]
Minimum number of countries in which the entity has operations	20				20
Number of reportable operating segments	three				three
Number of primary geographic regions	three				three
TSS product portfolio rationalization			$ 7,400,000				$ 7,400,000
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	519,830,000		497,772,000		1,021,014,000		983,577,000
Total operating earnings	128,637,000		101,357,000		243,204,000		202,697,000
Non-allocated costs:
Share-based compensation	(8,234,000)		(5,956,000)		(15,879,000)		(15,434,000)
Global business transformation			5,300,000				5,300,000
Americas [Member] | AHS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	266,859,000		266,681,000		524,719,000		516,513,000
EMEA [Member] | AHS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	75,155,000		71,919,000		144,095,000		147,524,000
APAC [Member] | AHS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	15,957,000		9,126,000		29,696,000		16,642,000
AHS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	357,971,000		347,726,000		698,510,000		680,679,000
Total operating earnings	128,815,000		116,689,000		243,189,000		217,281,000
Americas [Member] | LifeCell [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	93,268,000		82,188,000		183,505,000		160,162,000
EMEA [Member] | LifeCell [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	3,062,000		1,555,000		5,839,000		2,596,000
LifeCell [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	96,330,000		83,743,000		189,344,000		162,758,000
Total operating earnings	24,775,000		19,819,000		52,913,000		41,871,000
Americas [Member] | TSS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	40,966,000		44,563,000		85,519,000		92,963,000
EMEA [Member] | TSS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	24,191,000		21,564,000		47,061,000		46,453,000
APAC [Member] | TSS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	372,000		176,000		580,000		724,000
TSS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	65,529,000		66,303,000		133,160,000		140,140,000
Total operating earnings	4,387,000		(5,204,000)	[1]	8,619,000		2,968,000	[1]
Non-allocated costs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating earnings	(29,340,000)		(29,947,000)		(61,517,000)		(59,423,000)
Non-allocated costs:
Other General Expense	(12,251,000)		(14,061,000)	[2]	(27,927,000)		(23,361,000)	[2]
Share-based compensation	(8,234,000)		(5,956,000)		(15,879,000)		(15,434,000)
Acquisition-related expenses	$ (8,855,000)	[3]	$ (9,930,000)	[3]	$ (17,711,000)	[3]	$ (20,628,000)	[3]

[1] Includes $7.4 million of expenses associated with the TSS product portfolio rationalization recorded in the second quarter of 2010.

[2] Includes expenses associated with our global business transformation efforts, including severance and other expenses of $5.3 million recorded during the second quarter of 2010.

[3] Includes amortization of acquired intangible assets and costs to retain key employees related to our purchase of LifeCell in May 2008.