Harvard Bioscience (HBIO) 10-Q 6 Nov 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document period end date	30-Sep-14	'
Amendment flag	'false	'
Document Period Focus	'Q3	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Current fiscal year end date	'--12-31	'
Entity central index key	'0001123494	'
Entity current reporting status	'Yes	'
Entity filer category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity registrant name	'HARVARD BIOSCIENCE INC	'
Entity voluntary filers	'No	'
Entity well known seasoned issuer	'No	'
Entity common stock shares outstanding	'	32,419,655

Statements_of_Financial_Positi

Statements of Financial Position (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$26,734	$25,771
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $312 and $358, respectively	14,281	13,884
Inventories	18,063	15,777
Deferred income tax assets - current	1,546	1,547
Assets Held For Sale Current	'	0
Other receivables and other assets	4,062	3,771
Total current assets	65,001	60,750
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,109	4,375
Deferred income tax assets - non-current	12,765	13,116
Amortizable intangible assets, net	16,691	19,009
Goodwill	35,938	36,605
Other indefinite lived intangible assets	1,265	1,289
Other assets	359	316
Total Assets	136,128	135,460
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion, long-term debt	5,000	5,000
Accounts payable	5,052	4,682
Deferred revenue	592	640
Accrued income taxes payable	29	99
Accrued expenses	4,132	5,078
Other liabilities - current	823	586
Total current liabilities	15,628	16,085
Long-term debt	18,200	19,750
Deferred income tax liabilities - non-current	119	160
Other liabilities- non current	5,405	4,980
Total liabilities	39,352	40,975
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Stockholders Equity Abstract	'	'
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 80,000,000 shares authorized; 40,122,271 and 39,384,974 shares issued and 32,376,764 and 31,639,467 shares outstanding, respectively	395	390
Additional paid-in-capital	205,388	202,446
Accumulated deficit	-92,670	-95,039
Treasury stock at cost, 7,745,507 common shares	-10,668	-10,668
Total stockholders' equity	96,776	94,485
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$136,128	$135,460

Statements_of_Financial_Positi1

Statements of Financial Position (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$312	$358
Preferred Stock Par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred Stock - Shares Authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Common stock par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common Stock- Shares Authorized	80,000,000	80,000,000
Common Stock- Shares Issued	40,122,271	39,384,974
Common Stock- Shares Outstanding	32,376,764	31,639,467
Treasury Stock common shares	7,745,507	7,745,507

Statements_of_Operations_and_C

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$25,448	$25,137	$78,299	$77,317
Cost of product revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)	14,006	13,838	42,818	41,669
Gross profit	11,442	11,299	35,481	35,648
Sales and marketing expenses	4,113	4,174	13,102	13,106
General and administrative expenses	4,130	4,646	12,378	13,227
Research and development expenses	1,059	1,101	3,316	3,036
HART transaction costs	0	268	0	1,788
Restructuring charges (credits)	97	96	349	51
Amortization of intangible assets	618	600	1,839	1,955
Total Operating Expenses	10,017	10,885	30,984	33,163
Operating income	1,425	414	4,497	2,485
Other (expense) income:	'	'	'	'
Foreign exchange	0	-84	-148	-74
Interest expense	-239	-276	-752	-650
Interest income	19	10	45	28
Other income (expense), net	-249	-7	-397	-87
Other expense, net	-469	-357	-1,252	-783
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	956	57	3,245	1,702
Total Income Tax Expense	323	105	871	725
Income from continuing operations	633	-48	2,374	977
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	-935	0	-2,051
Net income (loss)	633	-983	2,374	-1,074
Earnings (loss) per share:	'	'	'	'
Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations	$0.02	$0	$0.07	$0.03
Discontinued operations	$0	($0.03)	$0	($0.07)
Basic earnings per common share	$0.02	($0.03)	$0.07	($0.04)
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations	$0.02	$0	$0.07	$0.03
Discontinued operations	$0	($0.03)	$0	($0.06)
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	$0.02	($0.03)	$0.07	($0.03)
Weighted average common shares:	'	'	'	'
Basic	32,341,586	30,574,815	32,079,744	30,154,788
Diluted	33,414,857	30,574,815	33,097,012	31,762,466
Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	633	-983	2,374	-1,074
Unrealized losses on pension benefit obligation, net of tax	0	0	-484	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-3,168	2,381	-2,584	540
Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Loss on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges	23	-23	-57	-69
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income	31	29	100	26
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, total	($2,481)	$1,404	($651)	($577)

Statements_of_Cash_Flows

Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	$2,374,000	($1,074,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	1,534,000	2,000,000
Depreciation	913,000	990,000
Receivable for the earn-out related to discontinued assets	0	440,000
(Gain) loss on sales of fixed assets	8,000	1,000
Non cash restructuring charge	-120,000	51,000
Amortization Of Catalog Costs	37,000	84,000
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	-34,000	69,000
Amortization of intangible assets	1,839,000	1,955,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	46,000	29,000
Deferrred Income Taxes	259,000	-1,712,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	-557,000	948,000
Increase in inventories	-2,649,000	-227,000
Increase in other receivables and other assets	466,000	1,015,000
Increase in trade accounts payable	446,000	-15,000
(Decrease) increase in accrued income taxes	-107,000	406,000
Increase in accrued expenses	-486,000	615,000
(Decrease) increase in deferred revenue	-38,000	143,000
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	89,000	3,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,088,000	2,811,000
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities:	'	'
Additions to property, plant and equipment	-1,224,000	-1,089,000
Additions to catalog costs	0	-57,000
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment	76,000	66,000
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations	0	1,709,000
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,148,000	629,000
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:	'	'
Repayments of debt	-3,750,000	-1,500,000
Net proceeds from issuance of debt	2,200,000	12,049,000
Payments of debt issuance costs	0	292,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,415,000	2,290,000
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-135,000	12,547,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-842,000	263,000
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	963,000	16,250,000
Cash and cash equivalents at the begining of period	25,771,000	20,681,000
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period	26,734,000	20,681,000
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information [Abstract]	'	'
Cash paid for interest	757,000	534,000
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	$451,000	$1,244,000

Basis_of_Presentation_and_Summ

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Basis of Presentation
	The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Harvard Bioscience” or the “Company”) as of September 30, 2014 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The December 31, 2013 consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2014.
	In the opinion of management, all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments necessary to present a fair statement of financial position as of September 30, 2014, results of operations and comprehensive (loss) income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, as applicable, have been made. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	The accounting policies underlying the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are those set forth in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2014.

Recently_Issued_Accounting_Pro

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]	'
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	2. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” a new accounting standard that provides for a comprehensive model to use in the accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers that will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Under this standard, revenue will be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard will be effective as of the beginning of the Company’s 2017 fiscal year. The Company is assessing the new standard and has not yet determined the impact to the consolidated financial statements.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	3. Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
	Changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax are as follows:
			Foreign currency		Derivatives
			translation		qualifying as		Defined benefit
	(in thousands)		adjustments		hedges		pension plans		Total
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,283	$	-49	$	-3,878	$	-2,644
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications		-2,584		-57		-484		-3,125
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		-		100		-		100
	Net other comprehensive (loss) income		-2,584		43		-484		-3,025
	Balance at September 30, 2014	$	-1,301	$	-6	$	-4,362	$	-5,669

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets consist of the following:
											Weighted
											Average
			30-Sep-14					31-Dec-13			Life	(a)
			(in thousands)
	Amortizable intangible assets:		Gross			Accumulated Amortization		Gross		Accumulated Amortization
	Existing technology	$	13,136		$	-11,244	$	13,464	$	-11,091	3.7	Years
	Trade names		6,065			-2,451		6,178		-2,185	10.2	Years
	Distribution agreements/customer relationships		21,348			-10,392		21,827		-9,447	10	Years
	Patents		267			-38		271		-8	4.4	Years
	Total amortizable intangible assets		40,816		$	-24,125		41,740	$	-22,731
	Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
	Goodwill		35,938					36,605
	Other indefinite-lived intangible assets		1,265					1,289
	Total goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets		37,203					37,894
	Total intangible assets	$	78,019				$	79,634
	(a) Weighted average life as of September 30, 2014.
	The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 is as follows:
				(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	36,605
		Effect of change in currency translation		-667
	Balance at September 30, 2014		$	35,938
	Intangible asset amortization expense was $0.6 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Intangible asset amortization expense was $1.8 million and $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amortization expense of existing amortizable intangible assets is currently estimated to be $2.4 million for the year ending December 31, 2014, $2.2 million for the year ending December 31, 2015, $2.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2016, $1.8 million for the year ending December 31, 2017 and $1.6 million for the year ending December 31, 2018.

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventories Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	5. Inventories
	Inventories consist of the following:
					September 30,		December 31,
					2014		2013
					(in thousands)
		Finished goods		$	9,140	$	7,039
		Work in process			512		752
		Raw materials			8,411		7,986
			Total	$	18,063	$	15,777

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	6. Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
			September 30,		December 31,
			2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Land, buildings and leasehold improvements	$	2,276	$	3,082
	Machinery and equipment		9,597		9,471
	Computer equipment and software		5,351		4,927
	Furniture and fixtures		1,125		1,281
	Automobiles		57		59
			18,406		18,820
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-14,297		-14,445
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	4,109	$	4,375

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C

Restructuring and Other Exit Costs	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring And Other Exit Costs Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	7. Restructuring and Other Exit Costs
	2013 Restructuring Plans
	During the fourth quarter of 2013, the management of Harvard Bioscience initiated a plan to realign global operations to improve organizational efficiencies and reduce operating expenses throughout the Company. The plan included an approximately 13% reduction in the workforce, as well as the elimination of the position of Chief Operating Officer. During 2013, the Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $2.1 million representing severance payments. Additional charges related to this plan are expected to be incurred through the fourth quarter of 2014, and include, but are not limited to, contract termination costs, as well as moving and employee relocation costs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded net restructuring charges of approximately $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, representing severance and other payments. Payments related to this plan are expected to be made through the end of 2014. Activity and liability balances related to these charges were as follows:
			Severance and			Fixed Asset
			Related Costs			Write Offs			Other		Total
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges - 2013	$	2,100		$	-		$	-	$	2,100
	Cash payments		-666			-			-		-666
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013		1,434			-			-		1,434
	Restructuring charges		199			13			257		469
	Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-117			-13			-		-130
	Cash payments		-1,447			-			-234		-1,681
	Restructuring balance at September 30, 2014	$	69		$	-		$	23	$	92
	As part of the 2013 Restructuring Plan, the Company decided to close one of its facilities in the United Kingdom. As of September 30, 2014, the facility met the criteria to be classified as an asset held-for-sale under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 360), Property, Plant, and Equipment. The facility has been included as a current asset, at its net book value at the time it was classified as held-for-sale, in the consolidated balance sheet as it is anticipated the facility will be sold within one year of the balance sheet date.
	During the third quarter of 2013, the management of Harvard Bioscience initiated a plan to reduce operating expenses at one of its foreign subsidiaries. No further charges are expected to be incurred on this matter. Activity and liability balances related to these charges were as follows:
			Severance
			and Related Costs
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	96
	Cash payments		-96
	Restructuring balance at September 30, 2013	$	-
	2012 Restructuring Plan
	During 2012, the management of Harvard Bioscience initiated a plan to reduce operating expenses at one of its foreign subsidiaries. The Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $0.3 million representing severance payments. No further charges are expected to be incurred on this matter. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had no remaining liability related to this plan on its balance sheet. Activity and liability balances related to these charges were as follows:
			Severance
			and Related Costs		Other		Total
			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	312	$	11	$	323
	Cash payments		-179		-		-179
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2012		133		11		144
	Cash payments		-84		-11		-95
	Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-46		-		-46
	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013		3		-		3
	Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-3		-		-3
	Restructuring balance at September 30, 2014	$	-	$	-	$	-
	Aggregate net restructuring charges relating to the 2013 Restructuring Plans and the 2012 Restructuring Plan were as follows:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2014			2013			2014		2013
			(in thousands)						(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	97		$	96		$	349	$	51

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operations Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	8. Discontinued Operations
	UBI
	In September 2008, the Company completed the sale of assets of its Union Biometrica Division (“UBI”) including its German subsidiary, Union Biometrica GmbH, to UBIO Acquisition Company. During 2013, the Company received earn-out payments, including interest, from UBIO Acquisition Company, of $1.8 million related to the 2008 acquisition. The Company received its final payment under the earn-out obligation from UBIO Acquisition Company in October 2013.
	HART
	On November 1, 2013, the spin-off of Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. (“HART”) from the Company was completed. Through the spin-off date, the historical operations of HART were reported as continuing operations in the consolidated statements of operations of the Company. Following the spin-off, the historical operations of HART have been reclassified and reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. As a result of the spin-off and related separation, HART became an independent company that operates the regenerative medicine business previously owned by Harvard Bioscience. The spin-off was completed through the distribution to Harvard Bioscience’s stockholders of record all of the shares of common stock of HART (the “Distribution”).  In the Distribution, the Company distributed to its stockholders one share of HART common stock for every four shares of Harvard Bioscience common stock outstanding as of the close of business on October 21, 2013, the record date for the Distribution. Fractional shares of HART common stock were not included in the distribution. Instead, Registrar & Transfer Company aggregated fractional shares into whole shares, sold the whole shares in the open market and distributed the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales pro rata to each holder who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the Distribution.
	Effective with the spin-off, the Company contributed $15.0 million in cash to HART to fund its operations. In addition, the Company transferred approximately $0.9 million in assets, made up primarily of property, plant and equipment, to HART as part of the spin-off.
	In connection with the spin-off of HART, certain required adjustments were made to the Company’s outstanding equity compensation awards under its employee benefit plans. Each outstanding option to purchase Harvard Bioscience common stock was converted on the date of the Distribution into both an adjusted Harvard Bioscience option to purchase Harvard Bioscience common stock and an option to purchase HART common stock. Black-Scholes valuation modeling was used to determine the value that each Harvard Bioscience option had lost at the time of the Distribution and to ensure the holder maintained such lost value, 80% of such lost value was provided back to the holder by making appropriate adjustments to the share amount and exercise price of the existing Harvard Bioscience option and 20% of such lost value was provided back to the holder through the issuance of an option to purchase HART common stock. Similar to the adjustment of the existing Harvard Bioscience options, with respect to each unvested Harvard Bioscience restricted stock unit outstanding at the time of the Distribution, such Harvard Bioscience restricted stock unit was converted on the date of the Distribution into both an adjusted Harvard Bioscience restricted stock unit and a HART restricted stock unit.  The market prices of Harvard Bioscience and HART common stock were used to determine the value that each Harvard Bioscience restricted stock unit lost at the time of the Distribution and then to ensure the holder maintained such lost value, 80% of such lost value was provided back to the holder by making the appropriate increases of the share amount of the existing Harvard Bioscience restricted stock unit and 20% of such lost value was provided back to the holder through the issuance of a HART restricted stock unit. The share amounts and exercise prices of the adjusted Harvard Bioscience options and HART options, as well as the share amounts of the adjusted Harvard Bioscience restricted stock units and HART restricted stock units, were each adjusted and set in a manner to ensure the intrinsic value held by the holder pertaining to the existing Harvard Bioscience award was maintained immediately following the Distribution and was determined such that tax was not triggered under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.   As part of these required adjustments, the Company issued approximately 1.7 million options and approximately 0.1 million restricted stock units to holders of its outstanding equity compensation awards.
	In connection with the spin-off, on October 31, 2013, the Company entered into various commercial agreements with HART which contain many of the key terms, conditions and arrangements related to the Distribution.  A description of certain of these agreements can be found in Note 9.
	Harvard Bioscience intends for the Distribution and related separation, taken together, to qualify as a reorganization pursuant to which no gain or loss is recognized by Harvard Bioscience or its stockholders for federal income tax purposes under Sections 355, 368(a)(1)(D) and related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. On June 28, 2013, Harvard Bioscience received a Supplemental Ruling to the Private Letter Ruling dated March 22, 2013 from the IRS to the effect that, among other things, the spin-off will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code continuing in effect.  Harvard Bioscience has also received an opinion from its outside tax advisor to such effect. In connection with the ruling and the opinion, Harvard Bioscience made certain representations regarding it and its business.  The Company has agreed that it will not take or fail to take any action which prevents or could reasonably be expected to prevent the tax-free status of the spin-off. HART has agreed to certain restrictions that are intended to preserve the tax-free status of the contribution and the Distribution. HART may take certain actions otherwise prohibited by these covenants if Harvard Bioscience receives a private letter ruling from the IRS or if HART obtains, and provides to Harvard Bioscience, an opinion from a U.S. tax counsel or accountant of recognized national standing, in either case, acceptable to Harvard Bioscience in its sole and absolute discretion to the effect that such action would not jeopardize the tax-free status of the contribution and the Distribution. These covenants include restrictions on HART’s:
	• issuance or sale of stock or other securities (including securities convertible into HART’s stock but excluding certain compensatory arrangements);
	• sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business; and
	• entering into any other corporate transaction which would cause HART to undergo a 50% or greater change in HART’s stock ownership.
	In addition, current U.S. federal income tax law creates a presumption that the spin-off of HART would be taxable to the Company, but not its stockholders, if such spin-off is part of a “plan or series of related transactions” pursuant to which one or more persons acquire directly or indirectly stock representing a 50% or greater interest (by vote or value) in the Company or HART. Acquisitions that occur during the four-year period that begins two years before the date of the spin-off are presumed to occur pursuant to a plan or series of related transactions, unless it is established that the acquisition is not pursuant to a plan or series of transactions that includes the spin-off. U.S. Treasury regulations currently in effect generally provide that whether an acquisition and a spin-off are part of a plan is determined based on all of the facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to, specific factors described in the U.S. Treasury regulations. In addition, the U.S. Treasury regulations provide several “safe harbors” for acquisitions that are not considered to be part of a plan. These rules will limit the Company’s ability during the two-year period following the spin-off to enter into certain transactions that may be advantageous to the Company and its stockholders, particularly issuing equity securities to satisfy financing needs, repurchasing equity securities, disposing of certain assets, engaging in mergers and acquisitions, and, under certain circumstances, acquiring businesses or assets with equity securities or agreeing to be acquired.
	The following table sets forth the impact of discontinued operations on the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2014		2013		2014		2013
			(in thousands)				(in thousands)
	Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, UBI	$	-	$	101	$	-	$	440
	(Loss) from discontinued operations, HART		-		-1,467		-		-4,467
	Income tax (benefit)		-		-431		-		-1,976
	(Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	-	$	-935	$	-	$	-2,051

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	9. Related Party Transactions
	In connection with the HART spin-off, the Company entered into various commercial agreements with HART.  These agreements include: (i) a Separation and Distribution Agreement to effect the separation and spin-off distribution and provide other agreements to govern the Company’s relationship with HART after the spin-off; (ii) an Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, which governs various intellectual property related arrangements between the Company and HART, including the separation of intellectual property rights between the Company and HART, as well as certain related cross-licenses between the two companies; (iii) a Product Distribution Agreement, which provides that each company will become the exclusive distributor for the other party for products such other party develops for sale in the markets served by the other; (iv) a Tax Sharing Agreement, which governs the Company’s and HART’s respective rights, responsibilities and obligations with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and other matters regarding taxes for periods before, during and after the spin-off; and (v) a Transition Services Agreement, which provides for certain services to be performed on a transitional basis by the Company to facilitate HART’s transition into a separate public reporting company. As part of the Transition Services Agreement, and for one year following the spin-off date, the Company will provide certain support services to HART, including, among others, accounting, payroll, human resources and information technology services, with the charges for the transition services generally intended to allow the Company to fully recover the costs directly associated with providing the services, plus all out-of-pocket costs and expenses. The Transition Services Agreement expired on November 1, 2014.
	The Company recorded revenues of approximately $45,000 and $154,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, as a result of the exclusive distribution rights pursuant to the Product Distribution Agreement. The Company’s operating expenses were reduced by $18,000 and $119,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, as a result of the fees the Company charged to HART for services provided pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement. In addition, the Company’s rent expense was reduced by $44,000 and $125,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, as a result of sublease rent charged to HART pursuant to a sublease between the two companies.
	David Green, who is currently a Director of the Company and was also formerly the Company’s President and interim CEO, is currently the Chairman and CEO of HART.

Warranties

Warranties	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Warranties Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Warranties Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	10. Warranties
	Warranties are estimated and accrued at the time revenues are recorded. A rollforward of product warranties is as follows:
			Beginning				Ending
			Balance	Payments	Additions		Balance
			(in thousands)
	Year ended December 31, 2013	$	222	-179	262	$	305
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014	$	305	-56	28	$	277

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	11. Employee Benefit Plans
	Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, or UK, Harvard Apparatus Limited and Biochrom Limited, maintain contributory, defined benefit or defined contribution pension plans for substantially all of their employees. As of September 30, 2014, the principal employer of the Harvard Apparatus Limited pension plan was changed from Harvard Apparatus Limited to Biochrom Limited. As of September 30, 2014, these defined benefit pension plans were closed to new employees, as well as closed to the future accrual of benefits for existing employees. The components of the Company’s defined benefit pension expense were as follows:
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2014		2013		2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Components of net periodic benefit cost:
	Service cost	$	-	$	84	$	-	$	235
	Interest cost		200		209		649		583
	Expected return on plan assets		-147		-137		-478		-383
	Net amortization loss		40		65		131		181
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	93	$	221	$	302	$	616
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company contributed $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, to its defined benefit pension plans. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company contributed $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, to its defined benefit pension plans. The Company expects to contribute approximately $0.2 million to its defined benefit pension plans during the remainder of 2014.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Company wrote down its Level 3 investment in a longevity fund by an additional $0.6 million, which reduced its value to $0. The impact on accumulated other comprehensive loss was $0.5 million, net of tax. The longevity fund invests in a portfolio of physical life insurance settlements that had been historically valued using the net asset values provided by the fund. Since June 2011, the fund has been closed to all activity. The write down during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was due, in part, to communication from the longevity fund regarding its continued illiquidity and inactivity.
	As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had an underfunded pension liability of approximately $5.4 million and $4.9 million, respectively, included in the other liabilities – non-current line item in the consolidated balance sheets.

Leases

Leases	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Leases Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	12. Leases
	Rent expense was $0.3 million and $1.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Rent expense was $0.3 million and $0.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company entered into Amendment No. 3 (the “Third Amendment”) amending the terms of the lease on the Company’s corporate headquarters in Holliston, MA. The Third Amendment extended the term of the lease through August 31, 2024, while also expanding the Company’s rentable square feet in the building by approximately 22,000 square feet to a total of approximately 83,000 square feet. The commencement date of the Third Amendment is October 1, 2014.
	Future minimum lease payments for operating leases, with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at September 30, 2014, are as follows:
			Operating
			Leases
			(in thousands)
	2015	$	1,816
	2016		1,351
	2017		1,329
	2018		1,299
	2019		1,160
	Thereafter		4,941
	Net minimum lease payments	$	11,896

Capital_Stock

Capital Stock	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Capital Stock Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Capital Stock Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	13. Capital Stock
	Common Stock
	On February 5, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan and declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 6, 2008. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with the shares of the Company’s common stock. Under the Shareholder Rights Plan, the rights generally will become exercisable if a person becomes an “acquiring person” by acquiring 20% or more of the common stock of the Company or if a person commences a tender offer that could result in that person owning 20% or more of the common stock of the Company. If a person becomes an acquiring person, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person) would be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, such number of shares of preferred stock which are equivalent to shares of the Company’s common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the right. If the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction after any such event, each holder of a right would then be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, shares of the acquiring company’s common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the right.
	Preferred Stock
	The Company’s Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 5.0 million shares of preferred stock and to determine the price privileges and other terms of the shares. The Board of Directors may exercise this authority without any further approval of stockholders. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had no preferred stock issued or outstanding.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended, the “ESPP”)
	In 2000, the Company approved the ESPP. Under this ESPP, participating employees can authorize the Company to withhold a portion of their base pay during consecutive six-month payment periods for the purchase of shares of the Company’s common stock. At the conclusion of the period, participating employees can purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the beginning or end of the period. Shares are issued under the ESPP for the six-month periods ending June 30 and December 31. Under this plan, 750,000 shares of common stock are authorized for issuance of which 558,456 shares were issued as of September 30, 2014. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company issued 31,116 and 27,305 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock under the ESPP. There were no shares issued under the ESPP during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
	Stock-Based Payment Awards
	The Company accounts for stock-based payment awards in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, which requires that compensation expense is recognized for all stock-based payment awards made to employees and directors including stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchases related to the ESPP.
	Stock option and restricted stock unit activity under the Company’s Third Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2000 Plan”) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was as follows:
				Stock Options					Restricted Stock Units
							Weighted
				Stock			Average		Restricted
				Options			Exercise		Stock Units			Grant Date
				Outstanding			Price		Outstanding			Fair Value
	Balance at December 31, 2013			6,690,845		$	3.42		463,973		$	4.32
		Granted		993,000			4.14		116,400			4.12
		Exercised		-535,413			3		-			-
		Vested (RSUs)		-			-		-233,098			-
		Cancelled / forfeited		-832,263			4.69		-40,878			4.36
	Balance at September 30, 2014			6,316,169		$	3.4		306,397		$	4.3
	The weighted average fair value of the options granted under the 2000 Plan during the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $2.64, using the Black Scholes option-pricing model. There were no stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2013. The weighted average fair value of the options granted under the 2000 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $2.20 and $2.64, respectively. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Volatility	56.96	%		-	%		56.83	%		57.2	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.9	%		-	%		1.79	%		1.18	%
	Expected holding period (in years)	5.93			-			5.75			5.64
	Dividend Yield	-	%		-	%		-	%		-	%
	The Company used historical volatility to calculate the expected volatility as of September 30, 2014. Historical volatility was determined by calculating the mean reversion of the daily adjusted closing stock price. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed U.S. Treasury bill interest rates (risk-free) appropriate for the term of the Company’s stock options. The expected holding period of stock options represents the period of time options are expected to be outstanding and is based on historical experience. The vesting period ranges from one to four years and the contractual life is ten years.
	Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options, restricted stock units and the ESPP for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was allocated as follows:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
			(in thousands)
	Cost of product revenues	$	36		$	39		$	94		$	91
	Sales and marketing		100			47			244			130
	General and administrative		463			632			1,160			1,685
	Research and development		16			16			36			33
	Discontinued operations		-			29			-			61
	Total stock-based compensation	$	615		$	763		$	1,534		$	2,000
	The Company did not capitalize any stock-based compensation.
	Earnings per share
	Basic earnings per share is based upon net income divided by the number of weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. The calculation of diluted earnings per share assumes conversion of stock options and restricted stock units into common stock using the treasury method. The weighted average number of shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share consists of the following:
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
			September 30,					September 30,
			2014		2013			2014		2013
	Basic		32,341,586		30,574,815			32,079,744		30,154,788
	Effect of assumed conversion of employee and director stock options and restricted stock units		1,073,271		-			1,017,268		1,607,678
	Diluted		33,414,857		30,574,815			33,097,012		31,762,466
	Excluded from the shares used in calculating the diluted earnings per common share in the above table are options to purchase approximately 2,449,873 and 6,316,169 shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as the impact of these shares would be anti-dilutive. Excluded from the shares used in calculating the diluted earnings per common share in the above table are options to purchase approximately 2,535,314 and 2,541,300 shares of common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as the impact of these shares would be anti-dilutive.

Long_Term_Debt

Long Term Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Long Term Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long Term Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	14. Long Term Debt
	On August 7, 2009, the Company entered into an amended and restated $20.0 million revolving credit loan agreement with Bank of America, as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders (the “2009 Credit Agreement”). On September 30, 2011, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Loan Agreement (the “First Amendment”) with Bank of America as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders. The First Amendment extended the maturity date of the credit facility to August 7, 2013 and reduced the interest rate to the London Interbank Offered Rate plus 3.0%. On October 4, 2012, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Loan Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) with Bank of America as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders. The Second Amendment extended the maturity date of the credit facility to August 7, 2014.
	On March 29, 2013, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, as agent, and Bank of America and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co as lenders, that amended and restated the 2009 Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement converted the Company’s existing outstanding revolving advances into a term loan in the principal amount of $15.0 million (the “Term Loan”), provides a revolving credit facility in the maximum principal amount of $25.0 million (“Revolving Line”) and provides a delayed draw term loan of up to $15.0 million (the “DDTL”) to fund capital contributions to the Company’s former subsidiary, HART. The maximum amount available under the Credit Agreement is $50.0 million as borrowings against the DDTL in excess of $10.0 million results in a dollar for dollar reduction in the Revolving Line capacity. The Revolving Line has a maturity date of March 29, 2016, while the Term Loan and DDTL have a maturity date of March 29, 2018.
	On October 31, 2013, the Company amended the Credit Agreement to reduce the DDTL from up to $15.0 million to up to $10.0 million and allow for an additional $5.0 million to be available for drawing as advances under the Revolving Line.
	Borrowings under the Term Loan and the DDTL shall bear interest at a rate based on either the effective London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) for certain interest periods selected by the Company, or a daily floating rate based on the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) LIBOR as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR), plus in either case, a margin of 3.0%. The Revolving Line shall bear interest at a rate based on either the effective LIBOR for certain interest periods selected by the Company, or a daily floating rate based on the BBA LIBOR, plus in either case, a margin of 2.5%. The Company was required to fix the rate of interest on at least 50% of the Term Loan and the DDTL through the purchase of interest rate swaps. The Term Loan and DDTL each have interest payments due at the end of the applicable LIBOR period, or monthly with respect to BBA LIBOR borrowings, and principal payments due quarterly. The Revolving Line has interest payments due at the end of the applicable LIBOR period, or monthly with respect to BBA LIBOR borrowings.
	The loans evidenced by the Credit Agreement, or the Loans, are guaranteed by all of the Company’s direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries, and secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors. The Loans are subject to restrictive covenants under the Credit Agreement, and financial covenants that require the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain certain financial ratios on a consolidated basis, including a maximum leverage, minimum fixed charge coverage and minimum working capital. Prepayment of the Loans is allowed by the Credit Agreement at any time during the terms of the Loans. The Loans also contain limitations on the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness and requires lender approval for acquisitions funded with cash, promissory notes and/or other consideration in excess of $6.0 million and for acquisitions funded solely with equity in excess of $10.0 million.
	As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had borrowings of $23.2 million and $24.8 million, respectively, outstanding under its Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Credit Agreement, was subject to a working capital borrowing restriction and had an unused Revolving Line balance under its Credit Agreement of $20.3 million.
	As of September 30, 2014, the weighted effective interest rates on the Company’s Term Loan, DDTL and Revolving Line borrowings were 3.96%, 3.54% and 2.65%, respectively.
	As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s borrowings were comprised of:
			September 30,		December 31,
			2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Long-term debt:
	Term loan	$	10,500	$	12,750
	DDTL		8,000		9,500
	Revolving line		4,700		2,500
	Total debt		23,200		24,750
	Less: current installments		-5,000		-5,000
	Long-term debt	$	18,200	$	19,750

Derivatives

Derivatives	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	15. Derivatives
	The Company uses interest-rate-related derivative instruments to manage its exposure related to changes in interest rates on its variable-rate debt instruments. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging. The Company does not speculate using derivative instruments.
	By using derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, the Company exposes itself to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Company, which creates credit risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, the Company owes the counterparty and, therefore, the Company is not exposed to the counterparty’s credit risk in those circumstances. The Company minimizes counterparty credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with carefully selected major financial institutions based upon their credit profile.
	Market risk is the adverse effect on the value of a derivative instrument that results from a change in interest rates. The market risk associated with interest-rate contracts is managed by establishing and monitoring parameters that limit the types and degree of market risk that may be undertaken.
	The Company assesses interest rate risk by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities. The Company maintains risk management control systems to monitor interest rate risk attributable to both the Company’s outstanding or forecasted debt obligations as well as the Company’s offsetting hedge positions. The risk management control systems involve the use of analytical techniques, including cash flow sensitivity analysis, to estimate the expected impact of changes in interest rates on the Company’s future cash flows.
	The Company uses variable-rate London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) debt to finance its operations. The debt obligations expose the Company to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. Management believes that it is prudent to limit the variability of a portion of its interest payments. To meet this objective, management enters into LIBOR based interest rate swap agreements to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in the benchmark interest rate of LIBOR. These swaps change the variable-rate cash flow exposure on the debt obligations to fixed cash flows. Under the terms of the interest rate swaps, the Company receives LIBOR based variable interest rate payments and makes fixed interest rate payments, thereby creating the equivalent of fixed-rate debt for the notional amount of its debt hedged. In accordance with its Credit Agreement, the Company was required to fix the rate of interest on at least 50% of its Term Loan and the DDTL through the purchase of interest rate swaps. On June 5, 2013, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract with an original notional amount of $15.0 million and a maturity date of March 29, 2018 in order to hedge the risk of changes in the effective benchmark interest rate (LIBOR) associated with the Company’s Term Loan. On November 29, 2013, the Company entered into a second interest rate swap contract with an original notional amount of $5.0 million and a maturity date of March 29, 2018 in order to hedge the risk of changes in the effective benchmark interest rate (LIBOR) associated with the DDTL. The notional amount of the Company’s derivative instruments as of September 30, 2014 was $14.5 million. The Term Loan swap contract converted specific variable-rate debt into fixed-rate debt and fixed the LIBOR rate associated with the Term Loan at 0.96% plus a bank margin of 3.0%. The DDTL swap contract converted specific variable-rate debt into fixed-rate debt and fixed the LIBOR rate associated with the Term Loan at 0.93% plus a bank margin of 3.0%.The interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging.
	The following table presents the notional amount and fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
						30-Sep-14		30-Sep-14
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	14,500	$	-6
						31-Dec-13		31-Dec-13
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	17,500	$	-49
		(a) See Note 16 for the fair value measurements related to these financial instruments.
	All of the Company’s derivative instruments are designated as hedging instruments.
	The Company has structured its interest rate swap agreements to be 100% effective and as a result, there was no impact to earnings resulting from hedge ineffectiveness. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated as hedging instruments that effectively offset the variability of cash flows associated with variable-rate, long-term debt obligations are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). These amounts subsequently are reclassified into interest expense as a yield adjustment of the hedged interest payments in the same period in which the related interest affects earnings. The Company’s interest rate swap agreement was deemed to be fully effective in accordance with ASC 815, and, as such, unrealized gains and losses related to these derivatives were recorded as AOCI.
	The following table summarizes the effect of derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments and their classification within comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
	Derivatives in Hedging Relationships	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)
		Three months ended					Nine months ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2014			2013		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap	$	23		$	-23	$	-57	$	-69
	The following table summarizes the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
	Details about AOCI Components	Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)									Location of gain or (loss)
		Three months ended					Nine months ended				reclassified from AOCI
		September 30,					September 30,				into income (effective portion)
		2014			2013		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap	$	-31		$	-29	$	-100	$	-26	Interest expense
	As of September 30, 2014, $0.1 million of deferred losses on derivative instruments accumulated in AOCI are expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months. Transactions and events expected to occur over the next twelve months that will necessitate reclassifying these derivatives’ losses to earnings include the repricing of variable-rate debt. There were no cash flow hedges discontinued during 2014 or 2013.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	'
	16. Fair Value Measurements
	Fair value measurement is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:
	Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2—Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.
	Level 3—Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions.
	The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for those liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
		Fair Value as of September 30, 2014
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	6	$	-	$	6
		Fair Value as of December 31, 2013
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	49	$	-	$	49
	The Company uses the market approach technique to value its financial liabilities. The Company’s financial liabilities carried at fair value include derivative instruments used to hedge the Company’s interest rate risks. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements was based on LIBOR yield curves at the reporting date.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	17. Income Tax
	The effective income tax rate for continuing operations was 33.8% and 184.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The difference between the effective tax rate quarter over quarter was primarily attributable to discrete expense items related to certain non-deductible costs, UK tax rate changes and stock options, offset by a beneficial mix of earnings between taxing jurisdictions and higher research and development tax credits in 2013 versus 2014 due, in part, to the expiration of the U.S. research credit at the end of 2013. The rate for 2014 included discrete expense items related to certain non-deductible acquisition costs.
	The effective income tax rate for continuing operations was 26.8% and 42.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The difference between the effective tax rate year over year was primarily attributable to discrete expense items related to certain non-deductible costs, UK tax rate changes and stock options, offset by a beneficial mix of earnings between taxing jurisdictions and higher research and development tax credits in 2013 versus 2014 due, in part, to the expiration of the U.S. research credit at the end of 2013. The rate for 2014 included discrete expense items related to certain non-deductible acquisition costs.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	'
	18. Subsequent Events
	Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH
	On October 1, 2014, the Company, through its wholly-owned Biochrom Limited subsidiary, acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH (“MCS”), which has its principal offices in Germany, for approximately $9.5 million. The Company funded the acquisition from its existing cash balances.
	MCS is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology instrumentation for extracellular recording and stimulation. This acquisition is complementary to the in vitro electrophysiology line currently offered by the Company’s wholly-owned Warner Instruments subsidiary.
	The Company is in the process of determining the fair value of the various tangible and intangible assets acquired as a result of this acquisition.
	The Company considers this acquisition immaterial for the purposes of proforma financial statement disclosures.
	Triangle BioSystems, Inc.
	On October 1, 2014, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Triangle BioSystems, Inc. (“TBSI”), which has its principal offices in North Carolina, for approximately $1.6 million, net of cash acquired. The Company funded the acquisition from borrowings under its credit facility. See Note 14 for a further description of such credit facility.
	TBSI is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of wireless neural interface equipment to aid in vivo neuroscience research, especially in the fields of electrophysiology, psychology, neurology and pharmacology. This acquisition is complementary to the behavioral neuroscience lines currently offered by the Company’s wholly-owned Panlab and Coulbourn subsidiaries.
	The Company is in the process of determining the fair value of the various tangible and intangible assets acquired as a result of this acquisition.
	The Company considers this acquisition immaterial for the purposes of proforma financial statement disclosures.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]	'
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	2. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” a new accounting standard that provides for a comprehensive model to use in the accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers that will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP. Under this standard, revenue will be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard will be effective as of the beginning of the Company’s 2017 fiscal year. The Company is assessing the new standard and has not yet determined the impact to the consolidated financial statements.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	'
			Foreign currency		Derivatives
			translation		qualifying as		Defined benefit
	(in thousands)		adjustments		hedges		pension plans		Total
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,283	$	-49	$	-3,878	$	-2,644
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications		-2,584		-57		-484		-3,125
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		-		100		-		100
	Net other comprehensive (loss) income		-2,584		43		-484		-3,025
	Balance at September 30, 2014	$	-1,301	$	-6	$	-4,362	$	-5,669
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	'
	Details about AOCI Components	Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)										Location of gain or (loss)
		Three months ended						Nine months ended				reclassified from AOCI
		September 30,						September 30,				into income (effective portion)
		2014			2013			2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap	$	-31		$	-29		$	-100	$	-26	Interest expense

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block]	'
											Weighted
											Average
			30-Sep-14					31-Dec-13			Life	(a)
			(in thousands)
	Amortizable intangible assets:		Gross			Accumulated Amortization		Gross		Accumulated Amortization
	Existing technology	$	13,136		$	-11,244	$	13,464	$	-11,091	3.7	Years
	Trade names		6,065			-2,451		6,178		-2,185	10.2	Years
	Distribution agreements/customer relationships		21,348			-10,392		21,827		-9,447	10	Years
	Patents		267			-38		271		-8	4.4	Years
	Total amortizable intangible assets		40,816		$	-24,125		41,740	$	-22,731
	Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
	Goodwill		35,938					36,605
	Other indefinite-lived intangible assets		1,265					1,289
	Total goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets		37,203					37,894
	Total intangible assets	$	78,019				$	79,634
	(a) Weighted average life as of September 30, 2014.
Goodwill Rollforward [Table Text Block]	'
				(in thousands)
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	36,605
		Effect of change in currency translation		-667
	Balance at September 30, 2014		$	35,938

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventories Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory [Table Text Block]	'
					September 30,		December 31,
					2014		2013
					(in thousands)
		Finished goods		$	9,140	$	7,039
		Work in process			512		752
		Raw materials			8,411		7,986
			Total	$	18,063	$	15,777

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Property Plant And Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
			September 30,		December 31,
			2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Land, buildings and leasehold improvements	$	2,276	$	3,082
	Machinery and equipment		9,597		9,471
	Computer equipment and software		5,351		4,927
	Furniture and fixtures		1,125		1,281
	Automobiles		57		59
			18,406		18,820
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-14,297		-14,445
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	4,109	$	4,375

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C1

Restructuring and Other Exit Costs (Tables)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014			Sep. 30, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'			'
Restructuring Plan Table [Table Text Block]	'			'
			Severance			Severance and			Fixed Asset
			and Related Costs			Related Costs			Write Offs			Other		Total
			(in thousands)			(in thousands)
	Restructuring charges	$	96	Restructuring charges - 2013	$	2,100		$	-		$	-	$	2,100
	Cash payments		-96	Cash payments		-666			-			-		-666
	Restructuring balance at September 30, 2013	$	-	Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013		1,434			-			-		1,434
				Restructuring charges		199			13			257		469
				Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-117			-13			-		-130
				Cash payments		-1,447			-			-234		-1,681
				Restructuring balance at September 30, 2014	$	69		$	-		$	23	$	92
						Severance
						and Related Costs		Other		Total
						(in thousands)
				Restructuring charges	$	312	$	11	$	323
				Cash payments		-179		-		-179
				Restructuring balance at December 31, 2012		133		11		144
				Cash payments		-84		-11		-95
				Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-46		-		-46
				Restructuring balance at December 31, 2013		3		-		3
				Non-cash reversal of restructuring charges		-3		-		-3
				Restructuring balance at September 30, 2014	$	-	$	-	$	-
						Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
						September 30,						September 30,
						2014			2013			2014		2013
						(in thousands)						(in thousands)
				Restructuring charges	$	97		$	96		$	349	$	51

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2014		2013		2014		2013
			(in thousands)				(in thousands)
	Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, UBI	$	-	$	101	$	-	$	440
	(Loss) from discontinued operations, HART		-		-1,467		-		-4,467
	Income tax (benefit)		-		-431		-		-1,976
	(Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	-	$	-935	$	-	$	-2,051

Warranties_Tables

Warranties (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Warranties Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Warranty Rollforward Disclosure [Table Text Block]	'
			Beginning				Ending
			Balance	Payments	Additions		Balance
			(in thousands)
	Year ended December 31, 2013	$	222	-179	262	$	305
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014	$	305	-56	28	$	277

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Costs Of Retirement Plans [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2014		2013		2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Components of net periodic benefit cost:
	Service cost	$	-	$	84	$	-	$	235
	Interest cost		200		209		649		583
	Expected return on plan assets		-147		-137		-478		-383
	Net amortization loss		40		65		131		181
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	93	$	221	$	302	$	616

Leases_Tables

Leases (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]	'
			Operating
			Leases
			(in thousands)
	2015	$	1,816
	2016		1,351
	2017		1,329
	2018		1,299
	2019		1,160
	Thereafter		4,941
	Net minimum lease payments	$	11,896

Capital_Stock_Tables

Capital Stock (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Capital Stock Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Stock Options And Restricted Stock Units Activity Rollforward [Table Text Block]	'
				Stock Options					Restricted Stock Units
							Weighted
				Stock			Average		Restricted
				Options			Exercise		Stock Units			Grant Date
				Outstanding			Price		Outstanding			Fair Value
	Balance at December 31, 2013			6,690,845		$	3.42		463,973		$	4.32
		Granted		993,000			4.14		116,400			4.12
		Exercised		-535,413			3		-			-
		Vested (RSUs)		-			-		-233,098			-
		Cancelled / forfeited		-832,263			4.69		-40,878			4.36
	Balance at September 30, 2014			6,316,169		$	3.4		306,397		$	4.3
Table Of Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Volatility	56.96	%		-	%		56.83	%		57.2	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.9	%		-	%		1.79	%		1.18	%
	Expected holding period (in years)	5.93			-			5.75			5.64
	Dividend Yield	-	%		-	%		-	%		-	%
Stock Based Compensation Expense Activity By Function [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
			2014			2013			2014			2013
			(in thousands)
	Cost of product revenues	$	36		$	39		$	94		$	91
	Sales and marketing		100			47			244			130
	General and administrative		463			632			1,160			1,685
	Research and development		16			16			36			33
	Discontinued operations		-			29			-			61
	Total stock-based compensation	$	615		$	763		$	1,534		$	2,000
Basic and Diluted Shares [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
			September 30,					September 30,
			2014		2013			2014		2013
	Basic		32,341,586		30,574,815			32,079,744		30,154,788
	Effect of assumed conversion of employee and director stock options and restricted stock units		1,073,271		-			1,017,268		1,607,678
	Diluted		33,414,857		30,574,815			33,097,012		31,762,466

Long_Term_Debt_Tables

Long Term Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Long Term Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	'
			September 30,		December 31,
			2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Long-term debt:
	Term loan	$	10,500	$	12,750
	DDTL		8,000		9,500
	Revolving line		4,700		2,500
	Total debt		23,200		24,750
	Less: current installments		-5,000		-5,000
	Long-term debt	$	18,200	$	19,750

Derivative_Tables

Derivative (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Table Text Block]	'
						30-Sep-14		30-Sep-14
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	14,500	$	-6
						31-Dec-13		31-Dec-13
						Notional Amount		Fair Value (a)
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815			Balance sheet classification		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap			Other liabilities-non current	$	17,500	$	-49
		(a) See Note 16 for the fair value measurements related to these financial instruments.
Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in AOCI [Table Text Block]	'
	Derivatives in Hedging Relationships	Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)
		Three months ended					Nine months ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2014			2013		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap	$	23		$	-23	$	-57	$	-69
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	'
	Details about AOCI Components	Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)									Location of gain or (loss)
		Three months ended					Nine months ended				reclassified from AOCI
		September 30,					September 30,				into income (effective portion)
		2014			2013		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate swap	$	-31		$	-29	$	-100	$	-26	Interest expense

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	'
		Fair Value as of September 30, 2014
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	6	$	-	$	6
		Fair Value as of December 31, 2013
	(In thousands)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	-	$	49	$	-	$	49

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policy (Details 1)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Developed Technology Rights [Member]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'3 years 8 months 12 days	[1]
Trade Names [Member]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'10 years 2 months 12 days	[1]
Customer Relationships [Member]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'10 years 0 months 0 days	[1]
Patents [Member]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'4 years 4 months 24 days	[1]
[1]	(a) Weighted average life as of September 30, 2014.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Foreign currency translation adjustment [Member]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Opening Balance	$1,283
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications	-2,584
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-2,584
Closing Balance	-1,301
Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Opening Balance	-49
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications	-57
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	100
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	43
Closing Balance	-6
Defined benefit pension plans [Member]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Opening Balance	-3,878
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications	-484
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-484
Closing Balance	($4,362)

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Amortization of intangible assets	$618,000	$600,000	$1,839,000	$1,955,000
Estimated 2014 Amortization Expense	2,400,000	'	2,400,000	'
Estimated 2015 Amortization Expense	2,200,000	'	2,200,000	'
Estimated 2016 Amortization Expense	2,000,000	'	2,000,000	'
Estimated 2017 Amortization Expense	1,800,000	'	1,800,000	'
Estimated 2018 Amortization Expense	$1,600,000	'	$1,600,000	'

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details 1) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$40,816		$41,740
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-24,125		-22,731
Goodwill	35,938		36,605
Other indefinite lived intangible assets	1,265		1,289
Total goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets	37,203		37,894
Total intangible assets	78,019		79,634
Developed Technology Rights [Member]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	13,136		13,464
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-11,244		-11,091
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'3 years 8 months 12 days	[1]	'
Trade Names [Member]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	6,065		6,178
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-2,451		-2,185
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'10 years 2 months 12 days	[1]	'
Customer Relationships [Member]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	21,348		21,827
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-10,392		-9,447
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'10 years 0 months 0 days	[1]	'
Patents [Member]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'		'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	267		271
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	($38)		($8)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'4 years 4 months 24 days	[1]	'
[1]	(a) Weighted average life as of September 30, 2014.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$36,605
Acquired during the period	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments related to goodwill balance	-667
Goodwill, Ending Balance	$35,938

Inventories_Details_1

Inventories (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Finished Goods	$9,140	$7,039
Work in Process	512	752
Raw Materials	8,411	7,986
Total Inventories, Net	$18,063	$15,777

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$18,406	$18,820
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	-14,297	-14,445
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,109	4,375
Land, Buildings and Improvements [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,276	3,082
Machinery and Equipment [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	9,597	9,471
Computer Equipment [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	5,351	4,927
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,125	1,281
Automobiles [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$57	$59

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C2

Restructuring and Other Exit Cots (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Fixed Assets Write Off [Member]

Fixed Assets Write Off [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring charges (credits)

$97

$96

$349

$51

$323

$469

$2,100

$312

$96

$199

$2,100

$13

$0

$11

$257

$0

Restructuring number of positions eliminated, percent

'

'

'

'

'

'

13.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring_and_Other_Exit_C3

Restructuring and Other Exit Costs (Details 1) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Fixed Assets Write Off [Member]

Fixed Assets Write Off [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Other Costs [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan 2012 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Plan December 2013 [Member]

Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring Reserve, Beginning Balance

'

'

'

'

$3

$144

'

$1,434

'

$3

$133

'

'

$1,434

'

$0

'

$0

$11

'

$0

'

Restructuring charges (credits)

97

96

349

51

'

'

323

469

2,100

'

'

312

96

199

2,100

13

0

'

'

11

257

0

Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash

'

'

'

'

'

-95

-179

-1,681

-666

'

-84

-179

-96

-1,447

-666

0

0

'

-11

0

-234

0

Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment

'

'

'

'

-3

-46

'

-130

'

-3

-46

'

'

-117

'

-13

'

0

0

'

0

'

Restructuring Reserve, Ending Balance

'

'

'

'

$0

$3

$144

$92

$1,434

$0

$3

$133

$0

$69

$1,434

$0

$0

$0

$0

$11

$23

$0

Discontinued_Operations_Narrat

Discontinued Operations (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified

Oct. 31, 2013

Nov. 01, 2013

Oct. 21, 2013

Jun. 28, 2013

Mar. 22, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Union Biometrica Division [Member]

Union Biometrica Division [Member]

Union Biometrica Division [Member]

Union Biometrica Division [Member]

Union Biometrica Division [Member]

Harvard Apparatus Regnerative Technology [Member]

Harvard Apparatus Regnerative Technology [Member]

Harvard Apparatus Regnerative Technology [Member]

Harvard Apparatus Regnerative Technology [Member]

Income Taxes [Member]

Income Taxes [Member]

Income Taxes [Member]

Income Taxes [Member]

Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent

'

'

'

'

'

$0

($935,000)

$0

($2,051,000)

$0

$101,000

$0

$440,000

'

$0

($1,467,000)

$0

($4,467,000)

$0

($431,000)

$0

($1,976,000)

Assets transferred as part of HART spin-off

'

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Transfer of cash and cash equivalents to HART

'

-15,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Date of Separation Plan Completed

'

'November 1, 2013

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends Payable Date Of Record Day Month And Year

'

'

21-Oct-13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Spin-off distribution ratio spinnee to spinnor

'

'1 for 4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Date Entered Into Commerical Agreements With Spinnee

'31-Oct-13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Lost Value Adjustment Maintained To Share And Exercise Price Of Existing Options

'

80.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percent Lost Value Provided Back To Option Holder

'

20.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Lost Value Adjustment To Share Amount Of Existing Outstanding Restricted Stock Units

'

80.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percent Lost Value Provided Back To Restricted Stock Unit Holder

'

20.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Options Granted due to the Spin-off of HART

'

1.7

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted Stock Units Granted due to the Spin-off of HART

'

0.1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Date of Private Letter Ruling

'

'

'

'

'22-Mar-13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Date of Supplemental Ruling to Private Letter Ruling

'

'

'

'28-Jun-13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percent of Acquired Stock to Create Taxable Spin-off

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0

$1,709,000

'

'

'

'

$1,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Related_Party_Transactions_Nar

Related Party Transactions (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'	'
HART Sublease Rent	$44,000	$125,000
Transition Services Charged to HART	18,000	119,000
Distribution Revenues From Spinnee	$45,000	$154,000

Warranties_Details_1

Warranties (Details 1) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Product Warranty Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Warranty, Beginning Balance	$305	$222
Warranty payments	-56	-179
Warranty additions	28	262
Warranty, Ending Balance	$277	$305

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Narrati

Employee Benefit Plans (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Expected employer contribution in current remaining fiscal year	'	'	$200,000	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Payments In Current Fiscal Year	200,000	200,000	600,000	500,000	'
Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent	5,400,000	'	5,400,000	'	4,900,000
Unrealized losses on pension benefit obligation, net of tax	$0	$0	$484,000	$0	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Service Cost	$0	$84,000	$0	$235,000
Interest Cost	200,000	209,000	649,000	583,000
Expected Return on Plan Assets	-147,000	-137,000	-478,000	-383,000
Net Amortization Loss	40,000	65,000	131,000	181,000
Curtailment Gain	0	0	0	0
Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	93,000	221,000	302,000	616,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Interest Cost	200,000	209,000	649,000	583,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Payments In Current Fiscal Year	$200,000	$200,000	$600,000	$500,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details1

Employee Benefit Plans (Details 4) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Unrealized Loss Gain	$0.60

Leases_Narratives_Details

Leases (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
	sqft		sqft
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	$0.30	$0.30	$1.10	$0.90
Square Footage of Real Estate Property	83,000	'	83,000	'
Lease Expiration Date	'	'	31-Aug-24	'
Expansion Area Of Real Estate Property	22,000	'	22,000	'

Leases_Details_1

Leases (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Leases Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2015	$1,816
2016	1,351
2017	1,329
2018	1,299
2019	1,160
Thereafter	4,941
Operating Leases, Total Future Minimum Payments Due	$11,896

Capital_Stock_Details_1

Capital Stock (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Capital Stock Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Opening Balance Stock Options Outstanding	'	'	6,690,845	'	'
Begining Balance Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'	$3.42	'	'
Options, Grants in Period, Gross	'	'	993,000	'	'
Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	'	$4.14	'	'
Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period	'	'	-832,263	'	'
Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'	$4.69	'	'
Closing Balance Stock Options Outstanding	6,316,169	'	6,316,169	'	'
Closing Balance Weighted Average Exercise Price	$3.40	'	$3.40	'	'
Begining Balance Restricted Stock Units Outstanding	'	'	463,973	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	'	'	116,400	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	'	'	-233,098	'	'
Closing Balance Restricted Stock Units Outstanding	306,397	'	306,397	'	'
Begining Balance Grant Date Fair Value Of Restricted Stock Units	'	'	$4.32	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	'	$4.12	'	'
Closing Balance Grant Date Fair Value Of Restricted Stock Units	$4.30	'	$4.30	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	56.96%	0.00%	56.83%	57.20%	'
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	1.90%	0.00%	1.79%	1.18%	'
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term	'5 years 11 months 4 days	'0 years 0 months 0 days	'5 years 9 months 0 days	'5 years 7 months 20 days	'
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	'
Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'	$3	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	'	$4.36	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period	'	'	-40,878	'	'
Preferred Stock - Shares Authorized	5,000,000	'	5,000,000	'	5,000,000
Stock Issued During Period Gross Stock Options Exercised	'	'	535,413	'	'

Capital_Stock_Narratives_Detai

Capital Stock (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		177 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 01, 2013
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Discount from Market Price, Offering Date	85.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares Authorized	750,000	'	750,000	'	750,000	'	'
Stock issued during the year, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans	31,116	27,305	'	'	558,456	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	'	'	116,400	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	2,449,873	6,316,169	2,535,314	2,541,300	'	'	'
Percentage Of Outstanding Common Stock	20.00%	'	20.00%	'	20.00%	'	'
Weighted Average Estimated Black Scholes Value Of Option Grants	$2.64	$0	$2.20	$2.64	'	'	'
Options Granted due to the Spin-off of HART	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,700,000
Restricted Stock Units Granted due to the Spin-off of HART	'	'	'	'	'	'	100,000
Preferred Stock - Shares Authorized	5,000,000	'	5,000,000	'	5,000,000	5,000,000	'

Capital_Stock_Details_2

Capital Stock (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation	$615	$763	$1,534	$2,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Basic	32,341,586	30,574,815	32,079,744	30,154,788
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment	1,073,271	0	1,017,268	1,607,678
Diluted	33,414,857	30,574,815	33,097,012	31,762,466
Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation	36	39	94	91
Research and Development Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation	16	16	36	33
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation	100	47	244	130
General and Administrative Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation	463	632	1,160	1,685
Discontinued Operations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation	$0	$29	$0	$61

Long_Term_Debt_Narratives_Deta

Long Term Debt (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2013

Aug. 07, 2009

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 29, 2013

Mar. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Mar. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]

Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]

Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]

Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]

Credit Agreement [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Previous Approved Credit Facility

'

$20,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Secured Debt

'

'

23,200,000

24,750,000

'

25,000,000

4,700,000

2,500,000

15,000,000

10,500,000

12,750,000

'

15,000,000

8,000,000

9,500,000

Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

50,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity Dates

'

'

'

'

'

29-Mar-16

'

'

29-Mar-18

'

'

'

29-Mar-18

'

'

Basis Spread Over LIBOR

'

'

'

'

'

2.50%

'

'

3.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Minimum percentage of Term Loan and the DDTL that company was required to fix the rate of interest on

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity

'

'

20,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest Rate In Excess Of LIBOR On Credit Facility

'

3.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum Borrowings Available Under The Current Credit Agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10,000,000

'

'

'

Interest Rate As Of Reporting Date

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.65%

'

'

3.96%

'

'

'

3.54%

'

DDTL Threshold For Dollar For Dollar Reduction In Revolving Line

'

'

'

'

10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Transfer Of Delayed Draw Down Term Loan Capacity To Revolver Capacity

5,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Lender Approval To Fund Acquisition With Cash Promissory Note In Excess Of Threshold

'

'

6,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Lender Approval To Fund Acquisition With Equity In Excess Of Threshold

'

'

$10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long_Term_Debt_Details_1

Long Term Debt (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 29, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Secured Debt	$23,200	$24,750	'
Current portion, long-term debt	-5,000	-5,000	'
Long-term debt	18,200	19,750	'
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Secured Debt	4,700	2,500	25,000
Term Loan [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Secured Debt	10,500	12,750	15,000
Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'
Secured Debt	$8,000	$9,500	$15,000

Derivative_Narratives_Details

Derivative (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 05, 2013
		Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]	Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]	Term Loan [Member]	Term Loan [Member]
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Minimum percentage of Term Loan and the DDTL that company was required to fix the rate of interest on	50.00%	'	'	'	'
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Swaps	$14,500,000	'	$5,000,000	'	$15,000,000
LIBOR Fixed Rate	'	0.93%	'	0.96%	'
Deferred losses on derivative instruments accumulated in AOCI expected to be reclassified to earnings	$100,000	'	'	'	'
Derivative Interest Rate Swap Effective Percentage	100.00%	'	'	'	'

Derivative_Details_1

Derivative (Details 1) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified		Other liabilities-non current [Member]
		Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Derivatives	$17,500	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	($49)	($6)	[1]
[1]	(a) See Note 16 for the fair value measurements related to these financial instruments.

Derivative_Details_2

Derivative (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion	$23	($23)	($57)	($69)
Derivative Instruments, Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion	($31)	($29)	($100)	($26)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (Derivatives qualifying as hedges [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	$6	$49
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	6	49
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	$0	$0

Income_Tax_Narratives_Details

Income Tax (Narratives) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate	33.80%	184.20%	26.80%	42.60%

Subsequent_Events_Narratives_D

Subsequent Events (Narratives) (Details) (Subsequent Event [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 01, 2014
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Cash Paid For Acquisitions	$9.50
Triangle BioSystems, Inc. [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Cash Paid For Acquisitions	$1.60