Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Chapter 1

-Section B

-Paragraph 11A

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The initial payment for the accelerated share repurchase agreement.

+ Details

Name:	var_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseInitialPayment
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of initial cash payment recorded as an equity forward contract.

+ Details

Name:	var_AcceleratedShareRepurchasePercentageOfInitialCashPaymentAsEquityForwardContract
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of shares delivered upon execution of repurchase agreement.

+ Details

Name:	var_AcceleratedShareRepurchasePercentageOfSharesToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares received upon the execution of the accelerated share repurchase agreement.

+ Details

Name:	var_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesInitialNumberOfSharesReceived
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate cash payments for accelerated share repurchase agreements and for shares repurchased in open market.

+ Details

Name:	var_CashPaymentForAcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementsAndShareRepurchasedInOpenMarket
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash payment upon settlement of repurchase agreement recorded as equity forward contract.

+ Details

Name:	var_CashPaymentUponSettlementOfRepurchaseAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Closing stock price.

+ Details

Name:	var_ClosingStockPrice
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Initial cash payment recorded as equity forward contract.

+ Details

Name:	var_EquityForwardContractInitialCashPayment
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Shares received upon settlement of repurchase agreement.

+ Details

Name:	var_SharesReceivedUponSettlementOfRepurchaseAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stockholders Equity [Line Items]

+ Details

Name:	var_StockholdersEquityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of shares received upon settlement of repurchase agreement.

+ Details

Name:	var_ValueOfSharesReceivedUponSettlementOfRepurchaseAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	var
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 01, 2010	Oct. 02, 2009	Feb. 28, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011 August 2010 Repurchase Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 August 2010 Repurchase Agreement [Member]	Aug. 24, 2010 August 2010 Repurchase Agreement [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 February 2011 Repurchase Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 February 2011 Repurchase Agreement [Member]	Feb. 23, 2011 February 2011 Repurchase Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 August 2011 Repurchase Agreement [Member]	Aug. 25, 2011 August 2011 Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Common stock repurchased, shares	9,028,033	9,788,249	2,248,000
Aggregate cash payments for accelerated share repurchase agreements and for shares repurchased in open market	$ 611	$ 520	$ 101
Remaining shares of common stock available for repurchase under authorization	7,433,718
Repurchase agreement, amount paid							225			280		250
Repurchase agreement, shares received							3,888,249			3,547,474		3,849,638
Percentage of shares delivered by BofA upon execution of repurchase agreement							90.00%			85.00%		85.00%
Closing stock price	$ 52.16
Remaining initial cash payment recorded as an equity forward contract						22.5			42.0		37.5
VMS common stock received upon settlement								630,921
Value of VMS common stock received upon settlement								41.3
Percentage of initial cash payment recorded as an equity forward contract						10.00%			15.00%		15.00%
Cash payment upon settlement recorded as an equity forward contract					$ 26.1
Number of shares authorized to be repurchased by VMS Board of Directors				12,000,000