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Segment Reporting - Schedule of Business Segment Assets (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]    
Total Assets $ 38,211us-gaap_Assets $ 42,854us-gaap_Assets
Product Sales and Services [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]    
Total Assets 29,215us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_ProductSalesAndServicesMember
26,041us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_ProductSalesAndServicesMember
Technology Licensing [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]    
Total Assets 499us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_TechnologyLicensingMember
523us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_TechnologyLicensingMember
Technology Development [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]    
Total Assets 363us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_TechnologyDevelopmentMember
1,629us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_TechnologyDevelopmentMember
Shared Services [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]    
Total Assets 597us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_SharedServicesMember
836us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_SharedServicesMember
Unallocated Assets [Member]    
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]    
Total Assets $ 7,537us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_UnallocatedAssetsMember
$ 13,825us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= nrthf_UnallocatedAssetsMember