Business segment information - additional information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015		Mar. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 429,430		$ 438,546
Operating profit	65,608		59,020
Depreciation and amortization	29,850		31,413
Property, plant and equipment, net	310,106				317,435
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	231,206		216,461
Property, plant and equipment, net	177,431				174,893
Other Americas
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	13,441		14,771
Europe
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	140,682		168,775
Malaysia
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	36,173				36,427
Czech Republic
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	32,541				35,655
All Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	44,101		38,539
Property, plant and equipment, net	63,961				70,460
Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	83,654	[1]	81,717	[1]
Unallocated expenses
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	(18,046)	[2]	(22,697)	[2]
Vascular North America
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	67,913		62,506
Depreciation and amortization	8,477		7,855
Vascular North America | Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	12,702		9,392
Anesthesia Respiratory North America
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	55,390		54,714
Depreciation and amortization	3,195		4,428
Anesthesia Respiratory North America | Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	7,752		5,687
Surgical North America
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	38,059		35,231
Depreciation and amortization	2,478		2,369
Surgical North America | Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	12,327		10,548
EMEA
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	129,282		150,245
Depreciation and amortization	7,898		8,937
EMEA | Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	26,335		26,881
Asia
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	48,529		49,602
Depreciation and amortization	2,398		1,838
Asia | Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	8,146		12,837
OEM
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	34,715		33,182
Depreciation and amortization	1,667		1,456
OEM | Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	8,043		6,604
All Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenue	55,542		53,066
Depreciation and amortization	3,737		4,530
All Other | Operating Segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Operating profit	$ 8,349		$ 9,768

[1] Segment operating profit includes segment net revenues from external customers reduced by its standard cost of goods sold, adjusted for fixed manufacturing cost absorption variances, selling, general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses and an allocation of corporate expenses. Corporate expenses are allocated among the segments in proportion to the respective amounts of one of several items (such as sales, numbers of employees, and amount of time spent), depending on the category of expense involved.

[2] Unallocated expenses primarily include manufacturing variances, with the exception of fixed manufacturing cost absorption variances, and restructuring and impairment charges.