Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail)						3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares	Jan. 04, 2017 EUR (€)	Dec. 30, 2016 EUR (€) shares	Sep. 21, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 21, 2015 EUR (€) shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 21, 2015 EUR (€)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Additional consideration payable in cash, stock or cash and stock														$ 10,637,000		$ 12,418,000
Revenue														24,102,000		7,111,000	$ 1,519,000
Net loss						$ (6,441,000)	$ (20,206,000)	$ (34,248,000)	$ (882,000)	$ (76,156,000)	$ (38,513,000)	$ (14,713,000)	$ (15,414,000)	$ (61,777,000)		$ (144,796,000)	(119,980,000)
Securities consideration held in escrow percentage				10.00%	10.00%
Escrow and security interest period				24 months	24 months
Escrow and security interest expiration date				Sep. 21, 2017	Sep. 21, 2017
Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization period														10 years	10 years
Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization period														5 years	5 years
Medical Surgery Technologies Ltd. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 5,800,000
Acquisition agreement, description	The Lock-Up Agreement further provides that the Seller may sell, transfer or convey: (i) no more than 50% of the Securities Consideration during the period commencing on the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date and ending on the twelve-month anniversary of the Closing Date; and (ii) no more than 75% of the Securities Consideration during the period commencing on the twelve-month anniversary of the Closing Date and ending on the eighteen-month anniversary of the Closing Date. The restrictions on transfer contained in the Lock-Up Agreement cease to apply to the Securities Consideration following the eighteen-month anniversary of the closing date of the MST Acquisition, or earlier upon certain other conditions.
In-process research and development	$ 10,633,000
Revenue														$ 0
Net loss														400,000
Medical Surgery Technologies Ltd. [Member] | Ending on Twelve Month Anniversary [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of securities consideration	50.00%
Medical Surgery Technologies Ltd. [Member] | Ending on Eighteen Month Anniversary [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of securities consideration	75.00%
Medical Surgery Technologies Ltd. [Member] | First Tranche [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 5,800,000
Common shares issued | shares	3,150,000
Medical Surgery Technologies Ltd. [Member] | Second Tranche [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Additional consideration payable in cash, stock or cash and stock	$ 6,600,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration				$ 25,000,000
Common shares issued | shares				15,543,413	15,543,413
Additional consideration payable in cash, stock or cash and stock				$ 23,900,000										$ 10,600,000
In-process research and development				17,100,000
Intellectual property, net				$ 48,500,000
Amortization period				7 years	7 years
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 | €					€ 27,500,000
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]
Common shares issued | shares			3,722,685
Additional consideration payable in cash, stock or cash and stock | €		€ 5,000,000
Aggregate fair market value | €			€ 5,000,000
Aggregate fair market value payment | €			€ 5,000,000
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Second Tranche [Member] | Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gross proceeds from financing																	$ 50,000,000
Interest rate																	9.00%
Senhance Surgical Robotic System Acquisition [Member] | Second Tranche [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC [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 | €															€ 2,400,000
Cash consideration payable | €																		€ 2,500,000
TransEnterix Italia [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Membership interests percentage under Security agreement				10.00%														10.00%