Segment Reporting And Foreign Operations Total Assets By Business Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	$ 59,195	$ 23,648	$ 18,478
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	19,194	14,856	12,271
Assets	447,017	369,480	271,513
Cardiovascular Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	58,775	23,494	18,475
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	18,219	13,851	11,406
Assets	434,747	355,718	249,726
Endoscopy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	420	154	3
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	975	1,005	865
Assets	$ 12,270	$ 13,762	$ 21,787