Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Japanese Yen [Member] JPY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2011 Beckman Coulter [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Beckman Coulter [Member] USD ($)
Number of Japanese currency swap instruments bought, in thousands		184,000,000
Exchange rate of Japanese yen per United States dollar		102.25
Aggregate purchase commitment	$ 190	¥ 14,700
Pre-tax charge related to changes in the fair value of currency swap			$ 7	$ 7

Aggregate notional amount of foreign currency derivatives to purchase a foreign currency. Notional amount refers to the number of currency units specified in the foreign currency derivative contract.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5580258-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5579245-113959

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant