Acquisition of Senhance Surgical Robotic System - Additional Information (Detail)			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 21, 2016	Sep. 21, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 21, 2015 EUR (€)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Securities consideration held in escrow percentage		10.00%
Escrow and security interest period		24 months
Intellectual property, net				$ 41,260,000		$ 46,898,000
Legal, consulting and other costs related to acquisition			$ 4,003,000		$ 4,003,000
Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization period				7 years
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Common shares issued | shares		15,543,413
Cash consideration		$ 25,000,000
Percentage of securities consideration released from lock out restrictions	50.00%
Percentage of securities consideration	50.00%
Acquisition agreement, description				The Lock-up Agreement provides that an additional twenty-five percent of the Securities Consideration remains locked-up until the eighteen-month anniversary of the Closing Date, and the remaining twenty-five percent of the Securities Consideration remains locked-up until the two-year anniversary of the Closing Date.
Intellectual property, net		$ 48,500,000
Amortization period		7 years
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Ending on Eighteen Month Anniversary [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of securities consideration	25.00%
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Ending on Two Year Anniversary [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of securities consideration	25.00%
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | First Tranche [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration		$ 25,000,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Second Tranche [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration payable | €							€ 10,000,000
Gross proceeds from financing		$ 50,000,000
Interest rate		9.00%					9.00%
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Second Tranche [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash on hand		$ 50,000,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Third Tranche [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration payable | €							€ 15,000,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Third Tranche [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Target revenue to be achieved | €							25,000,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Fourth Tranche [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration payable | €							2,500,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | U.S. Dollars [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration		$ 25,000,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Euro [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration payable | €							€ 27,500,000
TransEnterix Italia [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Membership interests percentage under Security agreement		10.00%					10.00%
Legal, consulting and other costs related to acquisition						$ 4,200,000