SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
Dec. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of Business Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (“VMS”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) designs, manufactures, sells and services hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and brachytherapy. The Company also designs, manufactures, sells and services X-ray imaging components for use in a range of applications, including radiographic or fluoroscopic imaging, mammography, special procedures, computed tomography, computer-aided diagnostics and industrial applications. In addition, the Company designs, manufactures, sells and services linear accelerators, image processing software and image detection products for security and inspection purposes. The Company also develops, designs, manufactures, sells and services proton therapy products and systems for cancer treatment. On May 23, 2016, the Company announced its intention to separate its Imaging Components business from the remainder of its businesses through a pro rata distribution of the common stock of a new entity, named Varex Imaging Corporation (“Varex”). Varex was incorporated in Delaware on July 18, 2016 for the purpose of holding the assets and liabilities associated with the Company's Imaging Components business. Each Varian stockholder received 0.4 of a share of Varex common stock for every one share of Varian common stock held on the close of business on January 20, 2017 (the "Record date"). On January 28, 2017, the Company completed the distribution of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Varex to Varian stockholders. Following the separation and distribution, Varex became an independent publicly traded company. In the three months ended December 30, 2016, the Company incurred $14.9 million of costs relating to the separation. Separation costs include expenses for transaction advisory services, consulting services, restructuring and other expenses. See Note 17, "Subsequent Events" for additional information. Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016 (the “2016 Annual Report”). In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements herein include adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of December 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016, results of operations and statements of comprehensive earnings for the three months ended December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016, and cash flows for the three months ended December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016. The results of operations for the three months ended December 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future period. Reclassifications In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company began presenting debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of its debt on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and adjusted prior year amounts as discussed further in "Accounting Pronouncement Recently Adopted" below. Fiscal Year The fiscal years of the Company as reported are the 52- or 53-week periods ending on the Friday nearest September 30. Fiscal year 2017 is the 52-week period ending September 29, 2017. Fiscal year 2016 was the 52-week period that ended on September 30, 2016. The fiscal quarters ended December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016 were both 13-week periods. Principles of Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include those of VMS and its wholly-owned and majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. Intercompany balances, transactions and stock holdings have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Accounting Standards Recently Adopted In March 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to the presentation of debt issuance costs. The amendment requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The Company has retrospectively adopted this amendment in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, resulting in a $0.6 million change from prepaid expenses and other current assets to current maturities of long-term debt and a $0.6 million change from other assets to long-term debt as of September 30, 2016 on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Recent Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective In January 2017, the FASB clarified its guidance to simplify the measurement of goodwill by eliminating the Step 2 impairment test. The new guidance requires companies to perform goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2021. The amendment is required to be adopted prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB clarified its guidance on the definition of a business in accounting for transactions when determining whether they represent acquisitions or disposals of assets or of a business. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The amendment is required to be adopted prospectively. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB amended its guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flow. The amendment requires entities to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in its cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019 with early adoption permitted. The amendment is required to be adopted retrospectively. The amendment is not expected to have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In October 2016, the FASB amended its guidance for tax accounting for intra-entity asset transfers. The amendment removes the prohibition against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The amendment is required to be adopted on a modified retrospective basis. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The amendment was issued to reduce the diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019 with early adoption permitted. The amendment is required to be adopted retrospectively unless it is impracticable. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to impairment of financial instruments. The amendment adds a new impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2021 with early adoption permitted beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to employee share-based payments. The amendment simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payments including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued a new standard on accounting for leases. The new standard is intended to provide enhanced transparency and comparability by requiring lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The new standard will continue to classify leases as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of earnings. The new standard is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective method to each prior reporting period presented with various optional practical expedients. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this new standard to its consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The amendment addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements. In July 2015, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to inventory measurement. The amendment requires inventory measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost to be subsequently measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance that requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2018. The amendment is not expected to have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued a new revenue standard, which sets forth a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability. The new standard requires revenue recognition to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, the FASB amended the principal-versus-agent implementation guidance and illustrations in the new standard. In April 2016, the FASB amended the guidance on identifying performance obligations and the implementation guidance on licensing in the new standard. In May 2016, the FASB amended the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, presentation of sales tax and transition in the new standard. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019, with early adoption permitted, but not before the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. The new standard can be applied either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (i.e., full retrospective adoption) or with the cumulative effect of initially applying the update recognized at the date of the initial application (i.e., modified retrospective adoption) along with additional disclosures. The Company currently anticipates adopting this standard using the full retrospective method to restate each prior period presented. The Company is evaluating the timing and the impact of adopting this standard to its consolidated financial statements.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (“VMS”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) designs, manufactures, sells and services hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and brachytherapy. The Company also designs, manufactures, sells and services X-ray imaging components for use in a range of applications, including radiographic or fluoroscopic imaging, mammography, special procedures, computed tomography, computer-aided diagnostics and industrial applications. In addition, the Company designs, manufactures, sells and services linear accelerators, image processing software and image detection products for security and inspection purposes. The Company also develops, designs, manufactures, sells and services proton therapy products and systems for cancer treatment.

On May 23, 2016, the Company announced its intention to separate its Imaging Components business from the remainder of its businesses through a pro rata distribution of the common stock of a new entity, named Varex Imaging Corporation (“Varex”). Varex was incorporated in Delaware on July 18, 2016 for the purpose of holding the assets and liabilities associated with the Company's Imaging Components business. Each Varian stockholder received 0.4 of a share of Varex common stock for every one share of Varian common stock held on the close of business on January 20, 2017 (the "Record date"). On January 28, 2017, the Company completed the distribution of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Varex to Varian stockholders. Following the separation and distribution, Varex became an independent publicly traded company. In the three months ended December 30, 2016, the Company incurred $14.9 million of costs relating to the separation. Separation costs include expenses for transaction advisory services, consulting services, restructuring and other expenses. See Note 17, "Subsequent Events" for additional information.

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016 (the “2016 Annual Report”). In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements herein include adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of December 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016, results of operations and statements of comprehensive earnings for the three months ended December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016, and cash flows for the three months ended December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016. The results of operations for the three months ended December 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future period.

Reclassifications

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company began presenting debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of its debt on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and adjusted prior year amounts as discussed further in "Accounting Pronouncement Recently Adopted" below.

Fiscal Year

The fiscal years of the Company as reported are the 52- or 53-week periods ending on the Friday nearest September 30. Fiscal year 2017 is the 52-week period ending September 29, 2017. Fiscal year 2016 was the 52-week period that ended on September 30, 2016. The fiscal quarters ended December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016 were both 13-week periods.

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include those of VMS and its wholly-owned and majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. Intercompany balances, transactions and stock holdings have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

In March 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to the presentation of debt issuance costs. The amendment requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The Company has retrospectively adopted this amendment in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, resulting in a $0.6 million change from prepaid expenses and other current assets to current maturities of long-term debt and a $0.6 million change from other assets to long-term debt as of September 30, 2016 on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Recent Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective

In January 2017, the FASB clarified its guidance to simplify the measurement of goodwill by eliminating the Step 2 impairment test. The new guidance requires companies to perform goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2021. The amendment is required to be adopted prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB clarified its guidance on the definition of a business in accounting for transactions when determining whether they represent acquisitions or disposals of assets or of a business. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The amendment is required to be adopted prospectively. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB amended its guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flow. The amendment requires entities to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in its cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019 with early adoption permitted. The amendment is required to be adopted retrospectively. The amendment is not expected to have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB amended its guidance for tax accounting for intra-entity asset transfers. The amendment removes the prohibition against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The amendment is required to be adopted on a modified retrospective basis. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The amendment was issued to reduce the diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019 with early adoption permitted. The amendment is required to be adopted retrospectively unless it is impracticable. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to impairment of financial instruments. The amendment adds a new impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2021 with early adoption permitted beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to employee share-based payments. The amendment simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payments including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new standard on accounting for leases. The new standard is intended to provide enhanced transparency and comparability by requiring lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The new standard will continue to classify leases as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of earnings. The new standard is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective method to each prior reporting period presented with various optional practical expedients. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this new standard to its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The amendment addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to inventory measurement. The amendment requires inventory measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost to be subsequently measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance that requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2018. The amendment is not expected to have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued a new revenue standard, which sets forth a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability. The new standard requires revenue recognition to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, the FASB amended the principal-versus-agent implementation guidance and illustrations in the new standard. In April 2016, the FASB amended the guidance on identifying performance obligations and the implementation guidance on licensing in the new standard. In May 2016, the FASB amended the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, presentation of sales tax and transition in the new standard. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2019, with early adoption permitted, but not before the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. The new standard can be applied either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (i.e., full retrospective adoption) or with the cumulative effect of initially applying the update recognized at the date of the initial application (i.e., modified retrospective adoption) along with additional disclosures. The Company currently anticipates adopting this standard using the full retrospective method to restate each prior period presented. The Company is evaluating the timing and the impact of adopting this standard to its consolidated financial statements.