Note 21 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, € in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2016 EUR (€) shares	Sep. 21, 2015 shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2020	Apr. 15, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 25, 2018	Jul. 01, 2016	May 01, 2015	Apr. 01, 2010
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Total			$ 3,936	$ 1,084
Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total			1,350	2,489
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total			$ 628	$ 1,403
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent			8.20%	7.80%
Operating Lease, Cost			$ 1,500	$ 1,400
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Year)			1 year 9 months 18 days	2 years 7 months 6 days
Operating Lease, Payments			$ 1,500	$ 1,700
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Total			1,412	2,778
Operating Lease, Expense			1,500	1,400
Restricted Cash Held with Silicon Valley Bank [Member]
Restricted Cash, Total					$ 500
Silicon Valley Bank [Member]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount					$ 500
Office, Lab and Warehouse Space in Durham, North Carolina [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Term of Contract (Month)					125 months
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Renewal Term (Year)					5 years
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Total					$ 5,000
Asensus Surgical US [Member] | Corporate Offices [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Year)						12 months			18 months			3 years 2 months	5 years
Lessee, Operating Lease, Renewal Term (Year)									5 years			3 years
Asensus Surgical US [Member] | Office Space in North Carolina [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Year)						3 months
Asensus Surgical Italia S.r.l. [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Year)											6 years
Asensus Surgical Israel Ltd [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Year)							5 years
TransEnterix Japan K.K. [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Year)										5 years
Asensus Surgical Europe S.à.R.L [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Year)									5 years
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset			1,200	2,300
Accrued Expenses and Other Long Term Liabilities [Member]
Operating Lease, Liability, Total			1,261	2,512
Accrued Expense [Member]
Operating Lease, Liability, Current			686	1,112
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent			$ 600	1,400
Minimum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Discount Rate			6.10%
Maximum [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Discount Rate			8.50%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total								$ 1,800
Accrued Liabilities, Total								500
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total								$ 1,200
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable | €	€ 5
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in shares) | shares	286,360	1,195,647
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Total			$ 3,900	$ 1,100
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | License and Supply Agreement [Member]
Contractual Obligation, to be Paid, Year One			3,500
Contractual Obligation, to be Paid, Year Two			500
Contractual Obligation, to be Paid, Year Three			500
Contractual Obligation, to be Paid, Year Four			500
Contractual Obligation, to be Paid, Year Five			$ 500