Segment Data - Summary of Net Sales and Other Information by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 1,222.9	$ 1,106.0	$ 1,182.9	$ 1,161.5	$ 1,240.7	$ 1,074.3	$ 1,169.5	$ 1,138.9	$ 4,673.3	$ 4,623.4	$ 4,471.7
Depreciation and amortization									375.8	358.5	363.1
Inventory step-up and certain other inventory and manufacturing related charges									(21.2)	(70.5)	(4.8)
Certain claims									(21.5)	(47.0)	(15.0)
Goodwill impairment									0	0	(96.0)
Special items									(356.5)	(216.7)	(155.4)
Operating profit									1,034.7	1,035.6	1,047.4
Long-lived assets	1,288.8				1,224.7				1,288.8	1,224.7	1,210.7
Total assets	9,634.7				9,580.6				9,634.7	9,580.6	9,012.4
Additions to instruments									197.4	192.9	148.9
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									144.9	100.0	114.7
Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									1,433.9	1,369.8	1,318.6
Americas [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									2,594.2	2,619.8	2,476.3
Depreciation and amortization									79.6	70.9	73.7
Long-lived assets	877.6				810.8				877.6	810.8	776.0
Total assets	2,856.9				2,814.9				2,856.9	2,814.9	2,690.6
Additions to instruments									0.2	0.2
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									9.8	9.0	0.7
Americas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									1,288.4	1,302.6	1,256.3
Europe [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									1,269.5	1,212.6	1,177.4
Depreciation and amortization									72.0	72.6	73.6
Long-lived assets	301.4				306.3				301.4	306.3	326.1
Total assets	2,113.1				2,343.8				2,113.1	2,343.8	2,308.0
Additions to instruments									17.0	14.8	14.0
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									14.1	10.3	21.9
Europe [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									398.6	359.7	369.1
Asia Pacific [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Net Sales									809.6	791.0	818.0
Depreciation and amortization									31.7	30.7	36.3
Long-lived assets	109.8				107.6				109.8	107.6	108.6
Total assets	530.3				541.9				530.3	541.9	578.3
Additions to instruments									6.0	6.5	7.1
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									9.1	7.6	6.4
Asia Pacific [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									351.0	342.3	311.1
Global Operations and Corporate Functions [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									192.5	184.3	179.5
Total assets	4,134.4				3,880.0				4,134.4	3,880.0	3,435.5
Additions to instruments									174.2	171.4	127.8
Additions to other property, plant and equipment									111.9	73.1	85.7
Global Operations and Corporate Functions [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									$ (604.1)	$ (634.8)	$ (617.9)