Stock compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Stock compensation
Stock compensation expense	$ 17,600	$ 15,500	$ 52,800	$ 46,300
Weighted-average fair value assumptions
Valuation method			Black-Scholes valuation model
Dividend yield (as a percent)			0.00%
Assumed annualized forfeiture rate (as a percent)			5.00%
Research and Development Expense.
Stock compensation
Stock compensation expense	10,000	8,400	$ 30,400	25,200
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Stock compensation
Stock compensation expense	$ 7,600	$ 7,100	$ 22,400	$ 21,100
Stock options and awards
Weighted-average fair value assumptions
Average risk-free interest rates (as a percent)	1.22%	1.30%	1.35%	1.21%
Average expected life (in years)	4 years 5 months 9 days	4 years 6 months	5 years 15 days	4 years 6 months 15 days
Volatility (as a percent)	47.00%	51.00%	50.00%	51.00%
Weighted-average fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 46.08	$ 21.82	$ 34.29	$ 25.56
Unrecognized compensation
Unrecognized compensation cost for nonvested option (in dollars)	$ 42,300		$ 42,300
Vesting period of recognition of the unrecognized compensation cost of nonvested awards			3 years
Employee Stock
Weighted-average fair value assumptions
Average risk-free interest rates (as a percent)	0.64%	0.56%	0.64%	0.56%
Average expected life (in years)	6 months	6 months	6 months	6 months
Volatility (as a percent)	51.00%	48.00%	51.00%	48.00%
Weighted-average fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 13.45	$ 9.36	$ 13.45	$ 9.36
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Unrecognized compensation
Unrecognized compensation cost for nonvested option (in dollars)	$ 26,600		$ 26,600
Vesting period of recognition of the unrecognized compensation cost of nonvested awards			3 years
Performance Shares
Stock compensation
Stock compensation expense			$ 0
Unrecognized compensation
Unrecognized compensation cost for nonvested option (in dollars)	$ 1,000		$ 1,000
Vesting period of recognition of the unrecognized compensation cost of nonvested awards			3 years

Represents the expected annualized forfeiture rate for options granted.

No definition available.

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

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The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

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- Definition

For each plan, identification of the award pricing model or other valuation method used in calculating the weighted average fair values disclosed. The model is also used to calculate the compensation expense that is shown within the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow. Examples of valuation techniques are lattice models (binomial model), closed-form models (Black-Scholes-Merton formula), and a Monte Carlo simulation technique. Fair value is the amount at which an asset or liability could be bought or incurred or sold or settled in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. May include disclosures about the assumptions underlying application of the method selected.

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The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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