ACQUISITIONS AND PRO FORMA RESULTS (Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 24, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 15, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	363,888		$ 249,764
Metasurg
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	4,730
Property, plant, and equipment	1,171
Goodwill	469
Net assets acquired	27,150
Metasurg | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Technology	20,590
Medtronic MicroFrance
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory	3,765
Property, plant, and equipment	3,675
Goodwill	17,435
Cash	2,195
Prepaid expenses	620
Other current assets	5,025
Total assets acquired	67,415
Accounts payable and other liabilities	5,800
Net assets acquired	61,615
Medtronic MicroFrance | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Technology	4,580
Medtronic MicroFrance | Trade Name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Technology	11,990
Medtronic MicroFrance | Customer Relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Technology	18,130
Confluent Surgical, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment				438
Goodwill				105,331
Prepaid expenses				4,000
Deferred tax asset - long term				12
Total assets acquired				349,981
Contingent supply liability				5,891
Accounts payable and other liabilities				731
Deferred tax liability				87,464
Net assets acquired				255,895
Confluent Surgical, Inc. | Developed Technology Rights
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Technology				239,800
Confluent Surgical, Inc. | Other Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Technology				400
Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		116
Cash		85
Prepaid expenses		13
Deferred tax asset - long term		1,334
Total assets acquired		6,928
Accounts payable and other liabilities		111
Deferred tax liability		2,152
Net assets acquired		4,665
Tarsus Medical, Inc. | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Technology		5,040
In-Process Research And Development | Metasurg
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
In-process research and development	190
In-Process Research And Development | Tarsus Medical, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
In-process research and development		340
Maximum | Metasurg | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	14 years
Maximum | Medtronic MicroFrance | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	16 years
Maximum | Medtronic MicroFrance | Trade Name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	20 years
Maximum | Medtronic MicroFrance | Customer Relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	16 years
Maximum | Confluent Surgical, Inc. | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	20 years
Maximum | Tarsus Medical, Inc. | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:		14 years
Minimum | Metasurg | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	8 years
Minimum | Medtronic MicroFrance | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	15 years
Minimum | Medtronic MicroFrance | Customer Relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	12 years
Minimum | Confluent Surgical, Inc. | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:	3 years
Minimum | Tarsus Medical, Inc. | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Wtd. Avg. Life:		10 years