Intangible assets and royalty agreement (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Value	$ 17,526,000		$ 17,526,000
Impairment Adjustment	(1,798,495)
Accumulated Amortization	(4,586,161)		(3,468,515)
Net Carrying Value	11,141,344		14,057,485
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, gross carrying value	18,559,000		18,559,000
Impairment Adjustment	(1,798,495)
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,586,161)		(3,468,515)
Intangible assets, net carrying value	12,174,344		15,090,485
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
2012	262,595	[1]
2013	1,050,380
2014	1,046,047
2015	1,022,651
2016	976,998
Thereafter	6,782,673
Total	11,141,344		14,057,485
Trade names and trademarks [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life	indefinite	[2]
Gross Carrying Value	1,008,000	[2]	1,008,000	[2]
Net Carrying Value	1,008,000	[2]	1,008,000	[2]
In process research and development, other [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life	indefinite	[2]
Gross Carrying Value	25,000	[2]	25,000	[2]
Net Carrying Value	25,000	[2]	25,000	[2]
License-Shriners Hsp for Children & USF Research [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	10 years	[3]
Gross Carrying Value	996,000	[3]	996,000	[3]
Accumulated Amortization	(562,733)	[3]	(488,033)	[3]
Net Carrying Value	433,267	[3]	507,967	[3]
Acquisition price, one-time license fee	100,000
Shares issued for intangibles (in shares)	1,120,000
Value of shares issued for intangibles	896,000
Contingent payments to licensor	200,000
Contingent royalty to be paid to licensor (in hundredths)	3.00%
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	433,267	[3]	507,967	[3]
License - SaluMedica LLC Spine Repair [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	10 years	[4]
Gross Carrying Value	2,399,000	[4]	2,399,000	[4]
Impairment Adjustment	(851,676)	[4]
Accumulated Amortization	(1,535,586)	[4]	(1,313,573)	[4]
Net Carrying Value	11,738	[4]	1,085,427	[4]
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	11,738	[4]	1,085,427	[4]
License - Polyvinyl Alcohol Cryogel [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	10 years	[5]
Gross Carrying Value	2,667,000	[5]	2,667,000	[5]
Impairment Adjustment	(946,819)	[5]
Accumulated Amortization	(1,203,170)	[5]	(998,932)	[5]
Net Carrying Value	517,011	[5]	1,668,068	[5]
Shares issued for intangibles (in shares)	400,000
Value of shares issued for intangibles	2,596,000
Number of shares issuable upon meeting certain milestones (in shares)	600,000
Contingent payments to licensor, shares issued (in shares)	100,000
Contingent payment to licensor, value of shares issued	71,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	517,011	[5]	1,668,068	[5]
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	14 years	[2]
Gross Carrying Value	3,520,000	[2]	3,520,000	[2]
Accumulated Amortization	(440,000)	[2]	(251,429)	[2]
Net Carrying Value	3,080,000	[2]	3,268,571	[2]
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	3,080,000	[2]	3,268,571	[2]
Supplier Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	14 years	[2]
Gross Carrying Value	241,000	[2]	241,000	[2]
Accumulated Amortization	(30,125)	[2]	(17,215)	[2]
Net Carrying Value	210,875	[2]	223,785	[2]
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	210,875	[2]	223,785	[2]
Patents and know-how [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	14 years	[2]
Gross Carrying Value	5,530,000	[2]	5,530,000	[2]
Accumulated Amortization	(691,250)	[2]	(395,000)	[2]
Net Carrying Value	4,838,750	[2]	5,135,000	[2]
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	4,838,750	[2]	5,135,000	[2]
Micronized Processing Know-How [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	14 years	[2]
Gross Carrying Value	2,160,000	[2]	2,160,000	[2]
Accumulated Amortization	(115,714)	[2]	0	[2]
Net Carrying Value	2,044,286	[2]	2,160,000	[2]
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	2,044,286	[2]	2,160,000	[2]
Licenses and permits [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Amortization Lives	3 years	[2]
Gross Carrying Value	13,000	[2]	13,000	[2]
Accumulated Amortization	(7,583)	[2]	(4,333)	[2]
Net Carrying Value	5,417	[2]	8,667	[2]
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	$ 5,417	[2]	$ 8,667	[2]

[1] Estimated amortization expense for the year ending December 31, 2012 includes only amortization to be recorded after September 30, 2012.

[2] On January 5, 2011, the Company acquired Surgical Biologics, LLC. As a result, the Company recorded intangible assets for customer and supplier relationships, patents and know-how, licenses/permits, trade names and trademarks and in-process research and development.

[3] On January 29, 2007, the Company acquired a license from Shriners Hospitals for Children and University of South Florida Research Foundation, Inc. The acquisition price of this license was a one-time fee of $100,000 and 1,120,000 shares of common stock valued at $896,000 (based upon the estimated fair value of the common stock on the transaction date). Within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of approval by the FDA allowing the sale of the first licensed product, the Company is required to pay an additional $200,000 to the licensor. Due to its contingent nature, this amount is not recorded as a liability. The Company will also be required to pay a royalty of 3% on all commercial sales revenue from the licensed products.

[4] License from SaluMedica, LLC (SaluMedica) for the use of certain developed technologies related to spine repair. This license was acquired through the acquisition of SpineMedica Corp.

[5] On March 31, 2008, the Company entered into a license agreement for the use of certain developed technologies related to surgical sheets made of polyvinyl alcohol cryogel. The acquisition price of the asset was 400,000 shares of common stock valued at $2,596,000 (based upon the closing price of the common stock on the transaction date). The agreement also provides for the issuance of an additional 600,000 shares upon the Company meeting certain milestones related to future sales. On December 31, 2009, the Company completed the sale of its first commercial product and met its first milestone under this agreement. As a result, the Company issued an additional 100,000 shares of common stock to the licensor valued at $71,000. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, there are no additional amounts accrued for this obligation due to its contingent nature.