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Dollar value assigned per share to acquisition of stock units of acquired entity as part of the purchase price consideration paid to acquired entity. Dollar value includes per share cash paid to acquire common stock outstanding, non-vested restricted stock awards and non-vested performance shares (each at 100% of target) and purchase price amount paid before (less) exercise price for non-vested in-the-money stock options.

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The total cost of the acquired entities non-vested in-the money stock options. Cost includes cash price per share less exercise price.

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The total cost of the acquired entities vested in-the money stock options. Cost includes cash price per share less exercise price.

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The target percent used to calculate the amount of shares paid at $52 per share to Varian for the non-vested performance shares as part of the purchase price of Varian.

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Date when the debt instrument were issued for funding current period acquisitions, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter, etc.).

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The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph d

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Month, day and year when the business acquisition agreement was executed.

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Month, date and year when the results of operations of the acquired entity began to be included in the income statement of the combined entity. For disclosure purposes, the effective date of an acquisition equates to the acquisition date, when acquisition date is defined as the date on which the acquirer obtained control of the acquired entity. The effective date of an acquisition may be either earlier or later than the date on which the acquisition agreement was executed (closed).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Publisher FASB
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-Number 141R
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-Subparagraph b

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The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Subparagraph r(2, 3)

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

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The pro forma net income (loss) for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period

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Acquisition of Varian (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	May 14, 2010
Acquisition of Varian [Abstract]
Varian business acquisition completion date	2010-05-14	2010-05-14
Varian business acquisition agreement date	2009-07-26
Total purchase price of Varian				$ 1,507
Cash price per share of Varian's outstanding common stock (in dollars per share)				$ 52
Acquisition cost of Varian's vested in-the money stock options				17
Acquisition cost of Varian's non-vested in-the money stock options				12
Percent of target for Varian's non-vested restricted stock awards, non-vested performance shares (in hundredths)				100.00%
Issuance date of Senior Notes funding Varian acquisition	September 2009
Net revenue - Pro forma operating results as if Varian had been included in Company's Statement of Operations	1,413		4,292
Net income - Pro forma operating results as if Varian had been included in Company's Statement of Operations	$ 248		$ 338
Net income (loss) per share basic - Pro forma operating results as if Varian had been included in Company's Statement of Operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.71		$ 0.97
Net income (loss) per share diluted - Pro forma operating results as if Varian had been included in Company's Statement of Operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70		$ 0.96