Net sales Gross profit Gross profit Marketing and selling Research and development General and administrative Restructuring charges Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating income Operating income Interest income, net Other income, net Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Provision for income taxes Net income Net income Net income Net income per share: Basic Basic (in dollars per share) Net income per share: Diluted Diluted (in dollars per share) Shares used to compute net income per share: Basic Basic (in shares) Shares used to compute net income per share: Diluted Diluted (in shares) Income Statement [Abstract] Operating expenses: Net income per share: Net income per share: Shares used to compute net income per share: Shares used to compute net income per share: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Short-term investments Accounts receivable Accounts Receivable Net Current Inventories Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Property, plant and equipment Goodwill Other intangible assets Other assets Total assets Total assets Accounts payable Accounts Payable Current Accrued liabilities Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Shares, par value CHF 0.25 - 191,606,620 issued and authorized and 50,000,000 conditionally authorized at June 30, 2010 and 40268 Shares, par value CHF 0.25 - 191,606 issued and authorized and 50,000 conditionally authorized at December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010 Balance (registered shares) Balance (registered shares) Less shares in treasury, at cost, 15,981,692 at December 31, 2009 and 12,124,078 at March 31, 2009 Treasury shares - Amount Balance (treasury shares) Balance (treasury shares) Less shares in treasury at cost, 13,643 shares at December 31, 2010 and 16,435 shares at March 31, 2010 Retained earnings Retained Earnings - beginning of period Retained Earnings - end of period Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated other comprehensive loss - beginning of period Accumulated other comprehensive loss - end of period Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Total shareholders' equity Total shareholders' equity Balance Balance Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] ASSETS Current assets: Current liabilities: LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Shareholders' equity: Share, par value CHF (in CHF per share) Shares, issued (in shares) Shares, conditionally authorized Shares authorized by shareholders for future issuance on conversion or exercise of derivative securities Shares, conditionally authorized (in shares) Treasury, shares (in shares) Treasury shares - Shares Balance (treasury shares (in shares)) Balance (treasury shares (in shares)) Additional paid-in capital Additional paid-in capital - beginning of period Additional paid-in capital - end of period Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock Cost of goods sold Non-cash items included in net income: Non-cash items included in net income: Depreciation Amortization of other intangible assets Share-based compensation Share-based compensation expense Write-down of investments Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Gain on cash surrender value of life insurance policies In-process research and development Deferred income taxes and other Accounts receivable Inventories Increase Decrease In Inventories Other assets Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Proceeds from cash surrender of life insurance policies Acquisitions and investments, net of cash acquired Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Premiums paid on cash surrender value life insurance policies Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Repayment of short- and long-term debt Purchases of treasury shares Purchases of treasury shares Proceeds from sale of shares upon exercise of options and purchase rights Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Changes in assets and liabilities: Cash flows from investing activities: Cash flows from financing activities: Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Registered shares Registered shares - Shares Share issued Balance (registered shares (in shares)) Balance (registered shares (in shares)) Additional paid-in capital Tax benefit from exercise of stock options Tax benefit from exercise of stock options Sale of shares upon exercise of options and purchase rights Value of shares issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options or an employee stock purchase plan Stock Issued During Period Value Option Exercises And Purchase Rights Share-based compensation expense Share-based compensation expense related to employee stock options and stock purchase rights Treasury shares Purchase of treasury shares (in shares) Number of shares issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options or an employee stock purchase plan Sale of shares upon exercise of options and purchase rights, (in shares) Stock Issued During Period Shares Option Exercises And Purchase Rights Number of shares issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options or an employee stock purchase plan Purchase of treasury shares Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Cumulative translation adjustment Minimum pension liability adjustment Pension liability adjustment Net deferred hedging gain (loss) Total comprehensive income (loss) Total comprehensive income (loss) Statement [Table] Statement Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Statement [Line Items] The Company Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Net Income per Share Fair Value Measurements Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investment Securities Acquisitions Details of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts Balance Sheet Components Balance Sheet Components [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Other Intangible Assets Financing Arrangements Shareholders' Equity Comprehensive Income Restructuring Disclosure of compensation-related costs, policies and plan details for defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, non-retirement post-employment benefits and share-based compensation including employee stock purchase plans. Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] Employee Benefit Plans Income Taxes Derivative Financial Instruments - Foreign Exchange Hedging Commitments and Contingencies Disclosures about identification of reportable segments, revenues from external customers recognized during the period by geographic region and for each product family, long-lived assets by geographic region, reliance on major customers, and geographic concentrations of net sales and long-lived assets. Segment Information Segment And Other Disclosures [Text Block] Document Information [Text Block] Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Description Document Period End Date Entity [Text Block] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Other liabilities Shares, authorized (in shares) Gain on disposal of fixed assets Subsequent Event Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment Payments To Acquire Marketable Securities Purchases of trading investments Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities Other, net