Goodwill and other intangible assets, net - Changes in carrying amount of goodwill, by reporting segment (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 25, 2016 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,295,852
Goodwill related to acquisitions	3,947
Currency translation adjustment	5,279
Goodwill, ending balance	1,305,078
Vascular North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	345,546
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	0
Goodwill, ending balance	345,546
Anesthesia North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	141,122
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	318
Goodwill, ending balance	141,440
Surgical North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	250,912
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	0
Goodwill, ending balance	250,912
EMEA
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	306,009
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	1,363
Goodwill, ending balance	307,372
Asia
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	141,067
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	6,729
Goodwill, ending balance	147,796
OEM
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,194
Goodwill related to acquisitions	3,947
Currency translation adjustment	0
Goodwill, ending balance	5,141
All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	110,002
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	(3,131)
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 106,871

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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