New Accounting Pronouncements Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, TotalAccounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $235 at June 30, 2009 and $320 at December 31, 2008 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning BalanceAccumulated other comprehensive income Payments to Acquire Businesses and Interest in Affiliates Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, TotalBusiness acquisition, net of cash acquired Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning BalanceAdditional paid-in capital Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning BalanceAllowance for doubtful accounts Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Cash, cash equivalents and investment securities Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments, TotalCash, cash equivalents and investment securities Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Beginning BalanceCash and cash equivalents CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period Increase (Decrease) in Accounts ReceivableAccounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, TotalInventories Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets, TotalPrepaid expenses and other assets Cash provided (used) by changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, TotalAccounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities, TotalAccrued liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]Commitments and Contingencies Common Stock, Shares AuthorizedCommon stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning BalanceBALANCE, shares - end of year BALANCE, shares - beginning of year Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning BalanceCommon stock, $0.10 par value-Authorized-80,000 shares; Issued 14,784 shares at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, outstanding 14,781 shares at June 30, 2009 and 14,731 shares at December 31, 2008 Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent, TotalComprehensive income Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block]Major Customer Cost of Goods Sold, TotalCOST OF GOODS SOLD CURRENT LIABILITIES: Liabilities, Current, TotalTotal current liabilities Earnings Per Share, Diluted, TotalDiluted (in dollars per share) Consolidation, Policy [Text Block]Basis of Presentation Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents, TotalEffect of exchange rate changes on cash Share-based CompensationStock compensation Gain on sale of building Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment, TotalLoss on disposal of property and equipment Gross profit Gross Profit, TotalGross profit Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]Income Taxes Cash paid during the year for income taxes Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash, TotalChange in restricted cash Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), TotalINTANGIBLE ASSETS, net Inventory, Net, TotalInventories Investment Securities LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity, TotalTotal liabilities and stockholders' equity Available-for-sale Securities, Noncurrent, TotalINVESTMENT SECURITIES - non-current portion Available-for-sale Securities, Current, TotalInvestment securities MINORITY INTEREST Minority interest CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, TotalNet cash provided by financing activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, TotalNet cash provided by (used in) investing activities CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, TotalNet cash provided by operating activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), TotalNET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Proceeds from Stock PlansProceeds from employee stock purchase plan Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]New Accounting Pronouncements Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Nonoperating Income (Expense), TotalOTHER INCOME Income from operations Operating Income (Loss), TotalIncome from operations REVENUES: Revenues, TotalTOTAL REVENUE Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of TaxUnrealized gain (loss) on investments Preferred Stock, Shares AuthorizedConvertible preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, TotalConvertible preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) Prepaid TaxesPrepaid income taxes Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities, TotalProceeds from sale of investment securities Proceeds from sale of assets Proceeds from Stock Options ExercisedProceeds from exercise of stock options Assets Held-for-sale, Property, Plant and EquipmentPROPERTY HELD FOR SALE Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning BalancePROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net Provision for Doubtful AccountsProvision for doubtful accounts Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities, TotalPurchases of investment securities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, TotalPurchases of property and equipment Payments for Repurchase of Common StockPurchase of treasury stock Restricted cash Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, NoncurrentRESTRICTED CASH MedScanSonics, Inc Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning BalanceRetained earnings Sales Revenue, Goods, Net, TotalNet sales Other Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]Inventories Subsequent Event Selling, General and Administrative Expense, TotalSelling, general and administrative Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION CURRENT ASSETS: Assets, Current, TotalTotal current assets Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, TotalDiluted (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, TotalBasic (in shares) Common Stock Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]Property and Equipment Research and Development Expense, TotalResearch and development Assets, TotalTotal assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent, TotalDEFERRED INCOME TAXES - non-current portion Share Based Awards Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning BalanceDeferred income taxes - current portion Deferred Tax Liabilities, NoncurrentDEFERRED INCOME TAXES - non-current portion ASSETS: Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]Fair Value Measurement Quarterly Financial Data - Unaudited Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning BalanceTreasury stock, at cost - 2 and 53 shares at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 Earnings Per Share, Basic, TotalBasic (in dollars per share) Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing ActivitiesTax benefits from exercise of stock options Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per ShareConvertible preferred stock, par value per share (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares, Issued, TotalCommon stock, shares issued (in shares) OTHER ASSETS Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning BalanceConvertible preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) OPERATING EXPENSES: Operating Expenses, TotalTotal operating expenses, net NET INCOME PER SHARE Net income per share Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, TotalIncome before income taxes Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per ShareCommon stock, par value per share (in dollars per share) Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning BalanceTreasury stock, shares (in shares) Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of TaxForeign currency translation adjustment Tax effect of foreign currency translation adjustment Income before income taxes Total stockholders' equity BALANCE, beginning of year BALANCE, end of year Income Tax Expense (Benefit), TotalPROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES Convertible Preferred Stock, Nonredeemable or Redeemable, Issuer Option, ValueConvertible preferred stock, $1.00 par value Authorized - 500 shares; issued and outstanding - none Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Minority interest share transfer Goodwill, Beginning BalanceGOODWILL Stock compensation Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan Exercise of stock options and related excess income tax benefits Proceeds from employee stock purchase plans Exercise of stock options and related excess income tax benefits Purchase of treasury stock Liability for Uncertain Tax Positions, NoncurrentINCOME TAXES PAYABLE - non-current portion Comprehensive Income Purchase of treasury stock Payments for (Proceeds from) Loans Receivable, TotalProceeds from finance loan repayments Income tax benefits from exercise of stock options Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, TotalNET INCOME Net income Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, TotalDepreciation and amortization Income Taxes Receivable, NoncurrentINCOME TAXES RECEIVABLE - non-current portion STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning BalanceTotal stockholders' equity Accounts Payable, CurrentAccounts payable Accrued Liabilities, CurrentAccrued liabilities Commitments and ContingenciesCOMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Prepaid expenses and other current assets Sum of the amounts paid in advance for prepaid costs that will be expensed and non-trade receivables. Prepaid Expenses And Other Assets, Current Prepaid and deferred income taxes The net change during the reporting period in the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of payments made in advance Increase Decrease In Prepaid And Deferred Income Taxes Other Revenue earned during the period from sources other than specified elsewhere in the taxonomy Revenue, Other Document and Entity Information Notes To Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Schedule of Earnings Per Share, by Common Class [Text Block] Net Income Per Share This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's basic and diluted earnings per share Restricted Cash and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Restricted Cash / Intangible Assets Change in Restricted Cash and Intangible Assets recorded as a result of a small business acquisition completed during the period. WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES