Consolidated Statements of Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data		Total	Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Series B-1 Preferred Stock [Member]	Series B Non Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]		Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012		$ (68,613)	$ 19,885	$ 40,016	$ 15,104		$ 1	[1]	$ 1,292	[1]	$ (69,906)
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012			5,696,000	11,490,000	45,998,000		1,078,000	[1]
Accretion of issuance costs		(40)		31	9				(40)	[1]
Stock-based compensation		941							941	[1]
Exercise of stock options		54							54	[1]
Exercise of stock options, Shares		68,227					68,000	[1]
Exercise of warrants		90							90	[1]
Exercise of warrants, Shares	[1]						167,000
Reverse acquisition recapitalization adjustment		168,843	(19,885)	(40,047)	(15,113)		33	[1]	168,810	[1]
Reverse acquisition recapitalization adjustment, Shares			(5,696,000)	(11,490,000)	(45,998,000)		32,444,000	[1]
Redemption of TransEnterix Surgical shares for cash to non-accredited investors		0	0	0	0	0	0	[1]	0	[1]	0
Redemption of TransEnterix Surgical shares for cash to non-accredited investors, Shares	[1]						(54,000)
Conversion of preferred stock warrants to common stock warrants		1,909							1,909	[1]
Issuance of preferred stock		30,197				30,197
Issuance of preferred stock, Shares						7,570,000
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock						(30,197)	15	[1]	30,182	[1]
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, Shares						(7,570,000)	15,139,000	[1]
Net loss		(28,358)									(28,358)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		105,023					49	[1]	203,238	[1]	(98,264)
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013	[1]						48,842,000
Stock-based compensation		1,840							1,840	[1]
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs		52,433					14	[1]	52,419	[1]
Exercise of stock options, Shares		151,390
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs, Shares	[1]						14,110,000
Exercise of stock options and restricted stock units		75							75	[1]
Exercise of stock options and restricted stock units, Shares	[1]						221,000
Exercise of warrants		16							16	[1]
Exercise of warrants, Shares	[1]						10,000
Issuance of warrants		54							54	[1]
Net loss		(37,652)									(37,652)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 121,789					$ 63	[1]	$ 257,642	[1]	$ (135,916)
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014	[1]						63,183,000

[1] Adjusted for 1:5 reverse stock split on March 31, 2014.