Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Nov. 17, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 SurModics Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 SurModics Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 SurModics Pharmaceuticals [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Building and Improvements [Member] Alabama [Member]	Jan. 29, 2013 Government Authorities in Alabama [Member]	Sep. 23, 2013 Government Authorities in Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Government Authorities in Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Government Authorities in Alabama [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Termination Agreement [Member]	Apr. 17, 2013 Termination Agreement [Member]
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total consideration received from the Pharma Sale	$ 30,000,000
Restricted time period for competition	5 years
Gain (Loss) on sale of discontinued operations, before income taxes				(1,691,000)								1,300,000
Gain (Loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes				(1,074,000)
Asset impairment charges totaling						28,100,000			23,300,000
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										23,300,000
Goodwill recognized during the period		8,010,000	8,010,000	8,010,000		5,700,000	5,700,000
Goodwill impairment charge							5,700,000	13,800,000
Payment on settlement of retained liability		600,000									325,000		325,000
Retained liability settled amount											1,500,000					200,000
Current liabilities of discontinued operations		139,000	139,000	1,640,000										1,700,000
Gain in discontinued operations															$ 200,000