SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Components Of Company's Identifiable Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	$ (256,988)	$ (207,158)
Finite and indefinite-lived intangible assets, cost	1,416,615	768,333
Finite and indefinite-lived assets, net	1,159,627	$ 561,175
Codman trade name
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, cost	$ 162,900
Completed technology
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Life	19 years	17 years
Finite-lived intangible assets, cost	$ 869,174	$ 479,964
Accumulated Amortization	(124,096)	(94,991)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	$ 745,078	$ 384,973
Customer relationships
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Life	13 years	12 years
Finite-lived intangible assets, cost	$ 233,430	$ 152,335
Accumulated Amortization	(91,961)	(77,005)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	$ 141,469	$ 75,330
Trademarks/brand names
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Life	28 years	30 years
Finite-lived intangible assets, cost	$ 104,879	$ 90,507
Accumulated Amortization	(22,293)	(19,158)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	$ 82,586	$ 71,349
Supplier relationships
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Life	27 years	27 years
Finite-lived intangible assets, cost	$ 34,721	$ 34,721
Accumulated Amortization	(15,092)	(13,664)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	$ 19,629	$ 21,057
All other
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted Average Life	4 years	5 years
Finite-lived intangible assets, cost	$ 11,511	$ 10,806
Accumulated Amortization	(3,546)	(2,340)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	7,965	8,466
In-process research and development
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	$ 1,000	$ 1,000