Business Segment, Geographic And Concentration Risk Information (Reconciliation of Segment Information) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2016	Jan. 02, 2015	Jan. 03, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income as reported	$ 13,146	$ 75,654	$ 61,339
Unallocated other income (expense), net	(28,846)	925	(12,501)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(15,700)	76,579	48,838
Total depreciation and amortization	67,618	37,457	35,966
Expenditures for tangible long-lived assets, excluding acquisitions	48,054	25,646	18,174
Total assets	2,982,136	955,122	889,629
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income as reported	67,466	103,056	81,321
Total depreciation and amortization	64,271	34,007	32,651
Expenditures for tangible long-lived assets, excluding acquisitions	41,606	20,459	15,376
Total assets	2,838,317	837,754	814,614
Operating Segments [Member] | Greatbatch Medical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income as reported	109,737	126,312	111,805
Total depreciation and amortization	30,160	31,906	31,112
Expenditures for tangible long-lived assets, excluding acquisitions	32,921	19,006	13,242
Total assets	798,609	761,225	758,369
Operating Segments [Member] | QiG [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income as reported	(25,855)	(23,256)	(30,484)
Total depreciation and amortization	1,862	2,101	1,539
Expenditures for tangible long-lived assets, excluding acquisitions	1,160	1,453	2,134
Total assets	68,637	76,529	56,245
Operating Segments [Member] | Lake Region Medical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income as reported	(16,416)	0	0
Total depreciation and amortization	32,249	0	0
Expenditures for tangible long-lived assets, excluding acquisitions	7,525	0	0
Total assets	1,971,071	0	0
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income as reported	(54,320)	(27,402)	(19,982)
Total depreciation and amortization	3,347	3,450	3,315
Expenditures for tangible long-lived assets, excluding acquisitions	6,448	5,187	2,798
Total assets	$ 143,819	$ 117,368	$ 75,015