Equity Method Investments Narrative (Detail) - USD ($)				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 08, 2016	Feb. 02, 2015	Dec. 22, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses) of equity method investments					$ 710,000	$ (73,000)	$ 869,000	$ (605,000)
Equity method investments					25,093,000		25,093,000		$ 24,308,000
Debt conversion, converted instrument, rate				9.00%
BioCision, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture interest, percentage				22.00%					20.00%
Investment cost				$ 4,000,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of equity method investments					0	(300,000)	(300,000)	(500,000)
Equity method investments					2,300,000		2,300,000		$ 2,700,000
Warrants aggregate fair value					0		0		100,000
Recognized measurement gains					100,000		$ 300,000
Additional loan amount	$ 150,000
Royalty payments, percentage of revenue (percent)							15.00%
Accounts payable for unpaid products and services					$ 43,000		$ 43,000
ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture interest, percentage					50.00%		50.00%
Equity in earnings (losses) of equity method investments					$ 800,000	0	$ 1,300,000	400,000
Equity method investments					22,700,000		22,700,000		21,500,000
Management fee payments received					200,000		400,000	300,000
Charges incurred from related parties					100,000	$ 0	200,000	$ 100,000
Accounts payable for unpaid products and services					98,000		98,000		54,000
Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Joint venture interest, percentage						50.00%		50.00%
Equity in earnings (losses) of equity method investments					200,000		(500,000)
Charges incurred from related parties						$ 500,000		$ 900,000
Impairment charge of the equity investment						700,000
Revenues earned from joint ventures						$ 1,000,000		$ 2,100,000
Due from joint venture									0
Convertible Debt Securities | BioCision, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment maturity period				5 years
Payments to acquire investments		$ 5,000,000	$ 2,500,000
Convertible debt securities					5,700,000		5,700,000		$ 5,300,000
Permanent Term Loan | BioCision, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of bridge loans	1,500,000
Aggregate amount of royalty proceeds					1,500,000		$ 1,500,000
Permanent Term Loan, Tranche One | BioCision, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Annual interest rate (percent)							10.00%
Aggregate principal amount of bridge loans	750,000				600,000		$ 600,000
Permanent Term Loan, Tranche One | Other Assets | BioCision, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Principal amount of bridge loans					$ 750,000		$ 750,000
Permanent Term Loan, Tranche Two | BioCision, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of bridge loans	$ 750,000