Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) € in Millions									12 Months Ended
	Jan. 08, 2018	Dec. 27, 2017	Jan. 04, 2017 EUR (€)	Dec. 30, 2016 EUR (€) shares	Sep. 21, 2015 USD ($) shares	Jun. 12, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013	Nov. 02, 2009	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Contingent consideration related to acquisition											$ 23,900,000
Fair value of contingent consideration									$ 12,418,000	$ 22,800,000
Liability or related charge recorded for legal contingencies									0
Supply Commitment [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Commitments under Robotic Agreement										0	400,000
Corporate offices [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lease expiration date						Jun. 30, 2018
Operating lease agreement period								5 years
Operating lease amended extension period						3 years 2 months
Operating lease, renew option period						3 years
Warehouse [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Operating lease agreement period							4 years 4 months
Operating lease additional renewed period							6 years
Operating lease termination on lease effective date		Jan. 31, 2018
Operating leases, rent expense									1,135,000	907,000	$ 513,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Corporate offices [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lease expiration date	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating lease, lease not yet commenced, term of contract	18 months
Operating lease, lease not yet commenced, renewal term	5 years
Operating lease, lease not yet commenced, existence of option to extend	true
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Contingent consideration related to acquisition									2,000,000	$ 500,000
Common shares issued | shares					15,543,413
Fair value of contingent consideration					$ 23,900,000				12,400,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | License and Supply Agreements [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Commitments under agreements, in 2018									2,966,000
Commitments under agreements, in 2019									1,152,000
Commitments under agreements, in 2020									600,000
Commitments under agreements, in 2021									600,000
Commitments under agreements, in 2021									600,000
Commitments under agreements, thereafter until termination in 2027									$ 3,000,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Second Tranche [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Contingent consideration related to acquisition | €				€ (5.0)
Common shares issued | shares				3,722,685
Aggregate fair market value of common stock | €				€ 5.0
Fair value of contingent consideration | €			€ 5.0
TransEnterix Italia [Member] | Research and Development and Demonstration Facilities [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Operating lease agreement period									6 years