Goodwill and other intangible assets, net - Changes in carrying amount of goodwill, by reporting segment (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,276,720
Goodwill related to acquisitions	550,274
Currency translation and other adjustments	59,163
Goodwill, ending balance	1,886,157
Vascular North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	345,546
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation and other adjustments	(1,590)
Goodwill, ending balance	343,956
Anesthesia North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	141,253
Goodwill related to acquisitions	15,594
Currency translation and other adjustments	458
Goodwill, ending balance	157,305
Surgical North America
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	250,912
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation and other adjustments	0
Goodwill, ending balance	250,912
EMEA
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	290,041
Goodwill related to acquisitions	9,139
Currency translation and other adjustments	33,665
Goodwill, ending balance	332,845
Asia
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	138,185
Goodwill related to acquisitions	2,927
Currency translation and other adjustments	8,585
Goodwill, ending balance	149,697
OEM
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	4,883
Goodwill related to acquisitions	0
Currency translation and other adjustments	0
Goodwill, ending balance	4,883
All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	105,900
Goodwill related to acquisitions	522,614
Currency translation and other adjustments	18,045
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 646,559

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
-Subparagraph (a)
-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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975

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