Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	33 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 22, 2007 Hernia Repair Products [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Hernia Repair Products [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Hernia Repair Products [Member] Superior Court Of State Of Rhode Island [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Hernia Repair Products [Member] Federal Law Claims [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Hernia Repair Products [Member] State Law Claims [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Hernia Repair Products [Member] State Law Claims [Member] Superior Court Of State Of Rhode Island [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Hernia Product Claims [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 W.L. Gore [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 W.L. Gore [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 W.L. Gore [Member]	Dec. 31, 2007 W.L. Gore [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Women's Health Product Claims [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Women's Health Product Claims [Member] Federal Law Claims [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Filter Product Claims [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Hernia Products Claims [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Hernia Products Claims [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Hernia Products Claims [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Brachytherapy Matter [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 Attorney Fees [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 Prejudgment Interest [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 United States [Member] lawsuit	Apr. 19, 2012 United States [Member] Hernia Repair Products [Member]	Apr. 19, 2012 Canadian Provinces [Member] Hernia Repair Products [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits						1,930	1,460	1,440							510								1
Number of individual plaintiffs				3,540										650		60
Number of putative class actions																								2	4
Number of previously filed class action lawsuits																							10
Number of Multidistrict Litigations			1
Total insurance coverage																	$ 25
U. S. District Court award for plaintiff's damages					1.5
U. S. District Court award for damages											109	371	185								19	20
Product Claims, charges incurred before taxes																		184.3
Product Claims, charges incurred after tax																		180.6
Legal settlement costs, gross																				51.0
Legal settlement costs, net of tax																				40.8
Court-assessed royalty rate, lower limit											12.50%
Court-assessed royalty rate, upper limit											20.00%
Escrow deposit representing an estimation of liability										332.0
Accruals for product liability and other legal matters	272.4	287.3
Payments to qualified settlement fund																	149.2		149.2
Cumulative payments from qualified settlement fund to qualified claimants																			19.4
Payment from qualified settlement fund to qualified claimants	17.3
Cumulative other payments to qualified claimants from qualified settlement funds																			5.2
Other payments to qualified claimants from qualified settlement funds									2.6
Receivables from insurance companies	56.2	51.0
Receivable insurance coverage disputed																	$ 25