Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 44,679	$ 93,023	$ 224,231	$ 232,501
Product revenues	35,159	43,300	106,259	120,746
Total net revenues	79,838	136,323	330,490	353,247
Cost of services	52,256	59,136	188,494	149,863
Cost of products	42,686	21,229	85,525	60,327
Gross profit (loss)	(15,104)	55,958	56,471	143,057
Operating expenses:
Research, development and engineering	10,288	7,504	28,665	25,536
Marketing and sales	8,416	8,091	25,364	24,162
General, administrative and other operating expenses	22,720	15,314	50,277	43,695
Total operating expenses	41,424	30,909	104,306	93,393
Income (loss) from operations	(56,528)	25,049	(47,835)	49,664
Interest expense, net	(4,281)	(1,237)	(8,103)	(4,119)
Equity in earnings (losses) of investments	(5,192)	(1,684)	(10,414)	4,561
Other expense, net	(74,301)	(936)	(180,392)	(727)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(140,302)	21,192	(246,744)	49,379
Income tax expense	56,954	6,037	19,450	13,666
Net income (loss)	(197,256)	15,155	(266,194)	35,713
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	498	42	515	436
Net income (loss) attributable to ION	(196,758)	15,197	(265,679)	36,149
Preferred stock dividends	338	338	1,014	1,014
Conversion payment of preferred stock	5,000	0	5,000	0
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$ (202,096)	$ 14,859	$ (271,693)	$ 35,135
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$ (1.29)	$ 0.10	$ (1.73)	$ 0.23
Diluted	$ (1.29)	$ 0.09	$ (1.73)	$ 0.22
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	157,143	155,918	156,842	155,698
Diluted	157,143	162,852	156,842	162,680