Note 11 - Business Segment, Geographic and Concentration Risk Information - Business Segments Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2016
Sales revenue, net	$ 7,223	$ 2,554	$ 12,263	$ 4,616
Segment loss from operations	(10,723)	(8,250)	(23,272)	(15,333)
Unallocated operating expenses	14,407	9,541	29,585	17,631
Unallocated other expense, net	(515)	(511)	(1,088)	(570)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(11,238)	(8,761)	(24,360)	(15,903)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment loss from operations	(10,723)	(8,250)	(23,272)	(15,333)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Unallocated operating expenses
Nuvectra Segment [Member]
Sales revenue, net	6,049	1,233	9,888	2,159
Nuvectra Segment [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment loss from operations	(10,813)	(8,316)	(23,418)	(15,217)
NeuroNexus Segment [Member]
Sales revenue, net	1,174	1,321	2,375	2,457
NeuroNexus Segment [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment loss from operations	$ 90	$ 66	$ 146	$ (116)

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations, including income (loss) from equity method investments, before deduction of income tax expense (benefit), and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 940
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68072869&loc=d3e41242-110953

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(10))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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