Segment Reporting and Foreign Operations - Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 705,309	$ 447,017	$ 369,480
Depreciation and amortization	22,534	19,194	14,856
Capital expenditures	64,643	59,195	23,648
Cardiovascular Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	692,689	434,747	355,718
Depreciation and amortization	21,441	18,219	13,851
Capital expenditures	64,059	58,775	23,494
Endoscopy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	12,620	12,270	13,762
Depreciation and amortization	1,093	975	1,005
Capital expenditures	$ 584	$ 420	$ 154