Note 6. Advances from Customers	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Deferred Revenue Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 6. Advances from Customers Exclusive Urology Supply Agreement with Stryker On September 22, 2010, we signed a three-year agreement under which we became the exclusive supplier to Stryker of Stryker-branded flexible video and fiber cystoscopes. These cystoscopes employ our patented EndoSheath technology, which are co-branded Stryker and Vision-Sciences. We will also supply Stryker with flexible ureteroscopes upon launch of this product line, expected to occur during the first half of fiscal 2013. Stryker initially has the exclusive rights to distribute products we manufacture, including cystoscopes, urology EndoSheath technology, and ureteroscopes, in North and Latin America, South America, China and Japan and 12 months post-launch, throughout the rest of the world, although we reached an agreement with Stryker to delay the rest of the world launch until at least December 2012. Stryker launched these product lines during April 2011 and introduced them at the American Urological Association annual meeting in May 2011. The purchase price for the products is based on our cost to manufacture plus a margin specified in the Stryker Agreement. We will recognize revenue for products sold to Stryker in a two-step process. The first step is recognition of revenue for our cost to manufacture these products when title passes to Stryker, generally upon shipment of our products F.O.B. shipping point. The second step is recognition of revenue for our specified margin of Stryker’s gross profit after Stryker sells the products to its end customers, based upon reports received from Stryker monthly. Such amounts have not been significant through March 31, 2012. There is no cost of sales associated with revenue under this second step. There is no required minimum amount of scopes and EndoSheath products which Stryker is required to purchase from us. During fiscal 2011, we received a prepayment from Stryker of $5 million, of which we received $2.5 million at signing and the balance in March 2011. The prepayment was recorded as an advance from customer in our consolidated balance sheet. In fiscal years 2012 and 2011, we recognized $4.3 million and $0.5 million in revenue, respectively, for delivery of cystoscopes and EndoSheath technology. At March 31, 2012, the advance from customer balance pertaining to Stryker was $0.1 million. We will continue to apply the amounts due from Stryker for purchases of scopes and EndoSheath technology to the prior advance by Stryker and recognize the associated revenue in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Stryker will thereafter pay us for products supplied. SpineView Development and Supply Agreement On June 19, 2008, we entered into a Development and Supply Agreement with SpineView (the “SpineView Agreement”), pursuant to which we were to develop and supply a CCD-based video surgical endoscope to SpineView for use with SpineView’s products. During fiscal 2011, we received a prepayment of $1.4 million from SpineView for the initial, firm stocking order of 50 SpineView surgical endoscope systems. We recorded this prepayment as an advance from customer in our consolidated balance sheet. In fiscal years 2012 and 2011, we recognized $0.8 million and $0.1 million in revenue, respectively, for delivery of SpineView surgical endoscope systems. At March 31, 2012, the advance from customer balance pertaining to SpineView was $0.4 million. We will continue to apply the amounts due from SpineView to the prior advance by SpineView for purchases of scopes and recognize the associated revenue until the balance is exhausted. SpineView will thereafter pay us for products supplied.

Note 6. Advances from Customers

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Deferred Revenue Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 6. Advances from Customers

Exclusive Urology Supply Agreement with Stryker

On September 22, 2010, we signed a three-year agreement under which we became the exclusive supplier to Stryker of Stryker-branded flexible video and fiber cystoscopes. These cystoscopes employ our patented EndoSheath technology, which are co-branded Stryker and Vision-Sciences. We will also supply Stryker with flexible ureteroscopes upon launch of this product line, expected to occur during the first half of fiscal 2013. Stryker initially has the exclusive rights to distribute products we manufacture, including cystoscopes, urology EndoSheath technology, and ureteroscopes, in North and Latin America, South America, China and Japan and 12 months post-launch, throughout the rest of the world, although we reached an agreement with Stryker to delay the rest of the world launch until at least December 2012. Stryker launched these product lines during April 2011 and introduced them at the American Urological Association annual meeting in May 2011.

The purchase price for the products is based on our cost to manufacture plus a margin specified in the Stryker Agreement. We will recognize revenue for products sold to Stryker in a two-step process. The first step is recognition of revenue for our cost to manufacture these products when title passes to Stryker, generally upon shipment of our products F.O.B. shipping point. The second step is recognition of revenue for our specified margin of Stryker’s gross profit after Stryker sells the products to its end customers, based upon reports received from Stryker monthly. Such amounts have not been significant through March 31, 2012. There is no cost of sales associated with revenue under this second step. There is no required minimum amount of scopes and EndoSheath products which Stryker is required to purchase from us.

During fiscal 2011, we received a prepayment from Stryker of $5 million, of which we received $2.5 million at signing and the balance in March 2011. The prepayment was recorded as an advance from customer in our consolidated balance sheet. In fiscal years 2012 and 2011, we recognized $4.3 million and $0.5 million in revenue, respectively, for delivery of cystoscopes and EndoSheath technology. At March 31, 2012, the advance from customer balance pertaining to Stryker was $0.1 million. We will continue to apply the amounts due from Stryker for purchases of scopes and EndoSheath technology to the prior advance by Stryker and recognize the associated revenue in accordance with our revenue recognition policy. Stryker will thereafter pay us for products supplied.

SpineView Development and Supply Agreement

On June 19, 2008, we entered into a Development and Supply Agreement with SpineView (the “SpineView Agreement”), pursuant to which we were to develop and supply a CCD-based video surgical endoscope to SpineView for use with SpineView’s products. During fiscal 2011, we received a prepayment of $1.4 million from SpineView for the initial, firm stocking order of 50 SpineView surgical endoscope systems. We recorded this prepayment as an advance from customer in our consolidated balance sheet. In fiscal years 2012 and 2011, we recognized $0.8 million and $0.1 million in revenue, respectively, for delivery of SpineView surgical endoscope systems. At March 31, 2012, the advance from customer balance pertaining to SpineView was $0.4 million. We will continue to apply the amounts due from SpineView to the prior advance by SpineView for purchases of scopes and recognize the associated revenue until the balance is exhausted. SpineView will thereafter pay us for products supplied.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for deferred revenues at the end of the reporting period, and description and amounts of significant changes that occurred during the reporting period. Deferred revenue is a liability as of the balance sheet date related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.

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