CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Acquired in-process research and development	$ 1,000	$ 0
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	17,393	14,303
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	27,745	26,719
Losses on sales and/or abandonment of property and equipment	121	549
Write-off of patents and intangible assets	99	1,360
Amortization of deferred credits	(129)	(131)
Amortization of long-term debt issuance costs	741	741
Deferred income taxes	956	(184)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(1,972)	(243)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,643	1,004
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Trade receivables	(3,524)	(9,198)
Employee receivables	(37)	44
Other receivables	776	(885)
Inventories	(7,432)	(10,553)
Prepaid expenses	(499)	(608)
Prepaid income taxes	(43)	33
Income tax refund receivables	(218)	10
Other assets	(776)	(1,128)
Trade payables	9,738	655
Accrued expenses	7,017	4,686
Advances from employees	164	599
Income taxes payable	4,046	3,248
Liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits	(704)	(844)
Deferred compensation payable	298	644
Other long-term obligations	602	764
Total adjustments	39,612	17,282
Net cash provided by operating activities	57,005	31,585
Capital expenditures for:
Property and equipment	(39,501)	(24,262)
Intangible assets	(1,385)	(1,368)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	2,017	3,184
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	42	62
Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(11,868)	(4,202)
Net cash used in investing activities	(50,695)	(26,586)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	5,924	3,811
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	109,905	108,782
Payments on long-term debt	(124,177)	(117,772)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	1,972	243
Contingent payments related to acquisitions	(194)	(55)
Payment of taxes related to an exchange of common stock	(918)	(220)
Net cash used in financing activities	(7,488)	(5,211)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH	(318)	(809)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,496)	(1,021)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of period	7,355	7,459
End of period	5,859	6,438
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest (net of capitalized interest of $256 and $294, respectively)	4,713	7,204
Income taxes	2,905	2,679
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable	2,321	3,853
Merit common stock surrendered (185 and 108 shares, respectively) in exchange for exercise of stock options	3,802	1,641
Acquisition purchases in accrued expenses and other long-term obligations	$ 1,300	0
Cost-method Investments [Member] | Blockade Medical LLC [Member]
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cost method investment converted to intangible asset in acquisition in lieu of cash payment		$ 0