Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Accounts Receivable, Net Of Allowances) (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Subsequent Event, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended
Jul. 26, 2012
Subsequent Event
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Subsequent cash collection from account receivable	$ 29.4
Subsequent cash collection from account receivable greater than 365 days past due	$ 16.1

Subsequent Cash Collection from Account Receivable Three Hundred Sixty Five Days Past Due

No definition available.

Name:	bcr_SubsequentCashCollectionFromAccountReceivableThreeHundredSixtyFiveDaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	bcr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration