Discontinued Operations (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011 Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Alabama [Member] Land [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Alabama [Member] Buildings and improvements [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Alabama [Member] Buildings and improvements [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Alabama [Member] Laboratory Fixtures and Equipment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Surmodics Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Surmodics Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Surmodics Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2007 Surmodics Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Discontinued Operations (Textual) [Abstract]
Asset impairment charges totaling					$ 28,100,000	$ 23,300,000	$ 1,900,000
Impairment of long lived fixed assets disposed					23,300,000
Impairment of long lived intangible assets disposed					4,800,000
Impairment of long-lived asset		1,900,000						500,000	23,300,000	1,200,000	200,000
Goodwill impairment charge												5,700,000	13,800,000		19,500,000
Additional purchase price													5,700,000	5,700,000	13,800,000
Discontinued Operations (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
Total Consideration received from the Pharma Sale	30,000,000
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(1,074,000)
Income tax benefit	1,100,000
Restricted time period for competition	5 years
Deferred tax assets and retained liability	$ 1,700,000
Stock price at October 1, 2009				$ 24.13
Stock price at impairment test date			$ 12.03