Business Combinations (Details Textual) (Progentix Orthobiology [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2009
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement [Member]
Business Combinations (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership Interests acquired	40.00%
Cash payment on purchase of outstanding shares	$ 10
Percentage of minority interest represented by preferred stock	18.00%
Percentage of cumulative dividend	cumulative 8% dividend
Percentage of cumulative dividend, percent	8.00%
Option Purchase Agreement [Member]
Business Combinations (Textual) [Abstract]
Term of distribution agreement years	10 years

Name:	nuva_BusinessCombinationsTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nuva_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of minority interest represented by preferred stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nuva_PercentageOfMinorityInterestRepresentedByPreferredStock
Namespace Prefix:	nuva_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of distribution agreement years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nuva_TermOfDistributionAgreementYears
Namespace Prefix:	nuva_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the rate or terms of the dividend requirements of preferred securities issued by the subsidiary and held by noncontrolling interest owners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 27

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestDividendRequirementsOfPreferredStock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on preferred stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendRatePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration