Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 01, 2010	Oct. 02, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 398,933,000	$ 360,422,000	$ 319,022,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Share-based compensation expense	42,018,000	39,814,000	42,577,000
Tax benefits from exercises of share-based payment awards	24,441,000	18,282,000	8,270,000
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(22,570,000)	(15,072,000)	(9,639,000)
Depreciation	49,643,000	44,973,000	41,008,000
Amortization of intangible assets	2,948,000	3,320,000	3,601,000
Deferred taxes	35,230,000	30,111,000	(22,008,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	2,514,000	1,319,000	2,038,000
(Income) loss on equity investment in affiliate	(4,276,000)	732,000	905,000
Loss on sale of Research Instruments	0	0	(8,062,000)
Other	(398,000)	1,076,000	(1,414,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(41,577,000)	(12,874,000)	(86,012,000)
Inventories	(42,235,000)	(53,328,000)	(39,575,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(13,288,000)	(13,753,000)	(3,495,000)
Accounts payable	35,524,000	2,959,000	6,042,000
Accrued expenses	674,000	1,023,000	47,139,000
Product warranty	(4,026,000)	1,843,000	(1,492,000)
Deferred revenues	(1,743,000)	11,328,000	(10,819,000)
Advance payments from customers	23,373,000	49,201,000	22,349,000
Other long-term liabilities	(12,406,000)	(10,590,000)	(22,126,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	472,779,000	460,786,000	304,433,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(70,928,000)	(67,545,000)	(62,562,000)
Investment in debt security	(19,205,000)	0	0
Investment in a privately held company	(13,597,000)	0	0
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(9,124,000)	(1,800,000)	(2,550,000)
(Increase) decrease in cash surrender value of life insurance	48,000	591,000	(2,505,000)
Notes repayment (receivable) from affiliate and other	(781,000)	271,000	(5,662,000)
Other	(4,345,000)	(6,332,000)	(4,627,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(117,932,000)	(74,815,000)	(77,906,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchases of common stock	(505,284,000)	(497,500,000)	(101,485,000)
Equity forward contract	(105,562,000)	(22,500,000)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to employees	137,697,000	84,431,000	27,825,000
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	22,570,000	15,072,000	9,639,000
Employees' tax withheld and paid for restricted stock and restricted stock units	(14,815,000)	(8,034,000)	(3,193,000)
Net borrowings under line of credit agreements	161,400,000	15,598,000	4,171,000
Repayments on bank borrowings	(7,264,000)	(9,005,000)	(7,987,000)
Other	(77,000)	(237,000)	(251,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(311,335,000)	(422,175,000)	(71,281,000)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	724,000	2,896,000	977,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	44,236,000	(33,308,000)	156,223,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	520,221,000	553,529,000	397,306,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	564,457,000	520,221,000	553,529,000
Supplemental information:
Value of VMS stock received upon settlement of the February 2011 Repurchase Agreement	$ 41,300,000