Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance of none for 2011 and 2010 Amortization of discount or premium on investments Accretion (Amortization) of Discounts and Premiums, Investments Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Net Nonmonetary Assets Acquired (Liabilities Assumed) Acquisition of Tyvaso Inhalation System Business Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts Amortization of debt discount and debt issue costs Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments Gains/losses on trading securities Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Accounts receivable, allowance (in dollars) Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic (in dollars per share) Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross Acquisition of Tyvaso Inhalation System business Interest Paid, Net Cash paid for interest Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense Prepaid expenses Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, par value $.01, 245,000,000 shares authorized, 60,494,226 and 60,017,546 shares issued, and 57,990,569 and 57,555,893 shares outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Comprehensive Income Convertible Notes Payable, Current Convertible notes Convertible Notes Payable, Noncurrent Convertible senior notes Cost of Goods Sold Cost of product sales Cost of Services Cost of service sales Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred tax expense Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net, Current Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net, Noncurrent Deferred tax assets Derivative Assets, Noncurrent Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted (in dollars per share) Investment in Northern Therapeutics, Inc. Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block] Consolidation, Policy [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Equity loss in affiliate Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Share-based Compensation Share-based compensation Payments of transaction costs related to the mortgage financing Payments of Financing Costs Gain (Loss) on Investments Gains/losses on trading securities Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Taxes Paid, Net Cash paid for income taxes Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Restrictions on cash Interest Expense Interest expense Inventory, Net Inventories, net Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] Marketable Investments Capital Leases in Financial Statements of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block] Liabilities Total liabilities Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Held-to-maturity Securities, Current Marketable investments Held-to-maturity Securities, Noncurrent Marketable investments Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Recently Issued Accounting Standards Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block] Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted Recently Issued Accounting Standards Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total other (expense) income, net Convertible notes Notes Payable, Current Mortgage payable-noncurrent Notes Payable, Noncurrent Operating Income (Loss) Income from operations Revenues Total revenues Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Other Comprehensive Income, Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities Other Comprehensive Income, Defined Benefit Plan's Net Unamortized (Gain) Loss Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized loss on pension liability Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustments Total other comprehensive income (loss) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other Assets, Current Other current assets Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other, net Other Noncash Income Equity loss in affiliate and other Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Prepaid Expense, Current Prepaid expenses Proceeds from the sale of treasury stock Proceeds from Sale of Treasury Stock Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities Sales of trading investments Proceeds from Maturities, Prepayments and Calls of Available-for-sale Securities Proceeds from Maturities, Prepayments and Calls of Held-to-maturity Securities Maturities of held-to-maturity investments Redemptions of trading investments Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities Sales of available-for-sale investments Proceeds received from mortgage financing Proceeds from Issuance of Secured Debt Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Proceeds from the exercise of stock options Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, plant and equipment, net Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities Purchases of available-for-sale investments Payments to Acquire Held-to-maturity Securities Purchases of held-to-maturity investments Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property, plant and equipment Related Party Transaction Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Payment of lease obligation Repayments of Other Debt Principal payments on debt Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Licenses Revenue License fees Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Net product sales Sales Revenue, Services, Net Service sales Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Inventories Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Text Block] Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Text Block] Share Tracking Awards Plan Subsequent Event Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Assets, Current Total current assets Treasury Stock Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued Issuance of treasury stock Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic (in shares) Common Stock Research and Development Expense Research and development Preferred stock Assets Total assets License Agreements Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Investment Income, Interest Interest income Other Liabilities, Current Other current liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Deferred tax assets Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Share Tracking Awards Plan Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Statement [Table] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Equity loss in affiliate and other Statement Statement [Line Items] Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Capital Lease Obligations Incurred Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Temporary Equity, Redemption Value Common stock subject to repurchase Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Class of Stock [Domain] Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock at cost, 2,503,657 and 2,461,653 shares at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease) Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Other liabilities Class of Stock [Axis] Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury stock, shares Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax expense Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings (Deficit) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) Equity Component [Domain] Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid Non-cash investing activity: non-cash additions to property, plant and equipment Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash for Operating Activities Restrictions on cash Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities Stock issued in connection with conversion of Convertible Senior Notes Issuance of stock dividend Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Dividend Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities Stock issued in connection with conversion of Convertible Senior Notes (in shares) Issuance of stock dividend (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Dividend Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease) Comprehensive Income Costs and Expenses Total operating expenses Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Non-cash investing and financing activities: Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Treasury stock repurchases Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Tax benefit from exercises of non-qualified stock options Shares, Issued Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income Net income (loss) Net income Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Nontrade Receivables, Current Other receivable Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total other comprehensive income (loss) Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies: Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Text Block] Assignment and License Agreements Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block] Restricted Cash and Investments, Noncurrent Marketable investments and cash-restricted Nature of Operations [Text Block] Organization and Business Description Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Share-based compensation Document and Entity Information Stockholders' Equity Stockholders Equity Note Excluding Comprehensive Income Disclosure [Text Block] Disclosures related to statement of shareholders' equity, including earnings per share and stock options disclosure. Comprehensive Income is included in a separate note to the financial statements. Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Net income per common share: Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Operating expenses: Consolidated Statements of Operations Revenues [Abstract] Revenues: Income before income tax Income (Loss) before Income Taxes Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) including income (loss) from equity method investments, before income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest. Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental schedule of cash flow information: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Stockholders' Equity, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Assets [Abstract] Assets Consolidated Balance Sheets Goodwill and other intangibles, net Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets and goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity Series A junior participating preferred stock Series A junior participating preferred stock. Provision for Doubtful Accounts and Inventory Writedown Provisions for bad debt and inventory obsolescence Amount of the current period expense charged against operations, the offset which is generally to the allowance for doubtful accounts for the purpose of reducing receivables, including notes receivable, to an amount that approximates their net realizable value (the amount expected to be collected). This element also includes a charge to cost of goods sold that represents the reduction of the carrying amount of inventory, generally attributable to obsolescence or market conditions. Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other (expense) income: Lease Financing Obligation Lease obligation The carrying amount of a long-term financing obligation structured as a synthetic lease arrangement as of the balance sheet date. Increase (decrease) in Lease Financing Obligation Lease obligation incurred Noncash change in the carrying amount of a long-term financing obligation structured as a synthetic lease arrangement. Lease Financing Obligation [Text Block] Lease Obligation Description of lease obligations related to synthetic lease arrangement. Includes lease terms, assets capitalized under the terms, and periodic interest accretion. Organization and Business Description Basis of Presentation Inventories Fair Value Measurements Marketable Investments Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Share Tracking Awards Plan Debt Lease Obligation Stockholders' Equity Comprehensive Income. Income Taxes Segment Information Legal Proceedings Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Put Option, Current Other current assets measured under the fair value option (in dollars) This element represents a certain statement of financial position current asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Lease obligation-current Lease Financing Obligation Current This element represents current portion of the carrying amount of a long-term financing obligation structured as a synthetic lease arrangement as of the balance sheet date. Basis of Accounting Disclosure [Text Block] Describes the basis of accounting used to prepare the financial statements (for example, U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS). Basis of Presentation Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Recently Issued Accounting Standards Investment in Northern Therapeutics, Inc. Accrued Expenses Commitments and Contingencies. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Assignment and License Agreements Related Party Transaction Distribution Agreements Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale Disclosure [Text Block] This element represents the disclosure pertaining to the assets and liabilities held for sale during the reporting period by the entity. Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation Consolidation Significant Accounting Policies and Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] This element represents the entire disclosure of consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity, which also includes the entire disclosure for any concentrations existing at the date of the financial statements that make an entity vulnerable to a reasonably possible, near-term, severe impact. This disclosure informs about the general nature of the risk associated with the concentration of credit risk, suppliers, products, revenues and customers, and may indicate the percentage of concentration risk as of the balance sheet date. Distribution Agreements Distribution Agreements Disclosure [Text Block] This element represents the disclosure relating to distribution agreements. Disclosures may encompass the contractual responsibilities between supplier and distributor, ordering specifications, inventory requirements and the amounts and timing of fees. Accrued Expenses Schedule of Accrued Liabilities Table [Text Block] Tabular disclosure of the components of accrued liabilities. Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Legal Proceedings The entire disclosure for legal proceedings, legal contingencies, litigation, regulatory and environmental matters and other contingencies. Subsequent Event Assignment and License Agreements Assignment and License Agreements Text Block Describes the terms of license agreements including milestones, fees and royalties the company is, or may be required to pay under the agreements. Sale of Medicomp, Inc. Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations Disclosure [Text Block] Sale of Medicomp, Inc. Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Amendment Description 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