Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Select Balance Sheet Information - Additional Information (Detail) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 OctoPlus. [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 OctoPlus. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 OctoPlus. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Revenue [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 In Vitro Diagnostics [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 In Vitro Diagnostics [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ThermopeutiX, Inc [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ThermopeutiX, Inc [Member] Maximum [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 ViaCyte, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ViaCyte, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2006 ViaCyte, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ViaCyte, Inc. [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Nexeon MedSystems, Inc [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Nexeon MedSystems, Inc [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Nexeon MedSystems, Inc [Member] Maximum [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 CeloNova BioSciences, Inc [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Investment In Vessix Vascular, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Investment In Vessix Vascular, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Investment In Vessix Vascular, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2013 Investment In Vessix Vascular, Inc. [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Investment In Vessix Vascular, Inc. [Member] Maximum [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 OctoPlus N.V. [Member] EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2012 OctoPlus N.V. [Member] USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Depreciation expense		$ 2,100,000	$ 2,200,000	$ 2,400,000
Impairment loss on investment						800,000					1,200,000		100,000	5,300,000	4,700,000		6,500,000	4,100,000	100,000			2,500,000	2,400,000				900,000
Previous cost basis							1,700,000
Offer price to purchase all issued and outstanding ordinary shares																										€ 0.52
Gain on sale of investments					100,000
Company's ownership percentage												20.00%				1.00%				2.00%
Cost method of investment														500,000
Gain on sale of investment	1,200,000	1,430,000	228,000	380,000																	1,200,000
Potential proceeds on achievement of future milestones																									4,200,000
Clinical milestone payment to be received																								700,000
Revenue recognized from activity with companies in which it had strategic investment		100,000	100,000	100,000
Amortization expense		700,000	700,000	700,000
Goodwill		8,010,000	8,010,000						8,000,000	8,000,000
Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities		100,000	100,000	100,000
Product sales payment terms, general minimum		30 days
Product sales payment terms, general maximum		45 days
Deferred revenue		$ 200,000	$ 200,000
Major customer percentage of total revenue								19.00%
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding excluded outstanding stock options		0.4	0.6	1.1