Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales	$ 578,988	$ 564,370	$ 545,635
Cost of sales	139,186	131,716	138,450
Gross profit	439,802	432,654	407,185
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing	233,609	230,942	215,943
General and administrative	86,468	88,628	88,866
Research and development	25,148	30,350	31,460
Amortization of intangible assets	5,595	5,763	7,041
Net gain on sale of vascular operations (Note 20)		(12,019)
Charges related to U.S. Government resolutions (Note 15)	56,463
Total operating expenses	407,283	343,664	343,310
Operating income	32,519	88,990	63,875
Other income (expense)
Interest income	326	330	193
Interest expense	(9,789)	(17,228)	(24,820)
Loss on refinancing of credit facility		(550)
Gain on interest rate swap		1,254	1,852
Other expense, net	(2,353)	(398)	(1,079)
Total nonoperating income (expense)	(11,816)	(16,592)	(23,854)
Income before income taxes	20,703	72,398	40,021
Income tax expense	(21,776)	(28,190)	(15,549)
Net income (loss)	$ (1,073)	$ 44,208	$ 24,472
Net income (loss) per common share-basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ 2.51	$ 1.43
Net income (loss) per common share-diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ 2.47	$ 1.42
Weighted average number of common shares-basic (in shares)	18,219,343	17,601,956	17,119,474
Weighted average number of common shares-diluted (in shares)	18,219,343	17,913,545	17,202,943