Hologic (HOLX) 10-Q 2 May 14 2014 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Apr. 28, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	29-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q2	'
Entity Registrant Name	'HOLOGIC INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000859737	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--09-27	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	276,320,003

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product	$521,135	$516,116	$1,033,517	$1,049,370
Service and other	103,873	96,547	203,939	194,655
Total revenues	625,008	612,663	1,237,456	1,244,025
Costs of revenues:	'	'	'	'
Product	185,724	207,227	362,602	429,554
Amortization of intangible assets	76,883	75,733	153,549	151,020
Impairment of intangible assets	26,567	'	26,567	'
Service and other	53,722	50,377	107,030	102,452
Gross Profit	282,112	279,326	587,708	560,999
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Research and development	49,915	49,621	98,584	101,130
Selling and marketing	78,657	88,614	161,914	183,057
General and administrative	62,109	64,233	129,928	118,624
Amortization of intangible assets	29,100	28,667	55,316	57,193
Impairment of intangible assets	522	'	522	'
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	'	29,388	0	58,874
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	'	799	'	10,839
Gain on sale of intellectual property	'	'	'	-53,884
Restructuring and divestiture charges	11,559	12,462	29,909	16,395
Costs and expenses, total	231,862	273,874	476,173	492,228
Income (loss) from operations	50,250	5,542	111,535	68,771
Interest income	149	207	505	467
Interest expense	-54,449	-76,049	-115,739	-148,130
Debt extinguishment loss	-4,437	-3,247	-7,377	-3,247
Other (expense) income, net	-3,263	-201	-2,093	1,038
Loss before income taxes	-11,750	-73,748	-13,169	-81,101
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	5,015	-22,644	8,947	-33,115
Net (loss) income	($16,765)	($51,104)	($22,116)	($47,986)
Net loss per common share:	'	'	'	'
Basic	($0.06)	($0.19)	($0.08)	($0.18)
Diluted	($0.06)	($0.19)	($0.08)	($0.18)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic	274,589	268,175	273,648	267,259
Diluted	274,589	268,175	273,648	267,259

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net loss	($16,765)	($51,104)	($22,116)	($47,986)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	-5,763	-8,288	-6,951	-6,319
Changes in unrealized holding (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities	-1,048	2,687	-2,228	2,130
Changes in pension plans, net of taxes of $152 for the six months ended March 29, 2014	'	'	-615	'
Other comprehensive loss	-6,811	-5,601	-9,794	-4,189
Comprehensive (loss) income	($23,576)	($56,705)	($31,910)	($52,175)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'
Tax Adjustment of pension plans in other comprehensive income	$152

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Un

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$484,522	$822,490
Restricted cash	5,857	6,914
Accounts receivable, less reserves of $10,930 and $8,798, respectively	387,633	409,273
Inventories	310,980	289,363
Deferred income tax assets	34,398	'
Prepaid income taxes	'	44,745
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,170	48,361
Other current assets - assets held-for-sale	'	2,997
Total current assets	1,264,560	1,624,143
Property, plant and equipment, net	472,154	491,528
Intangible assets, net	3,667,597	3,906,722
Goodwill	2,809,814	2,814,528
Other assets	148,270	163,902
Total assets	8,362,395	9,000,823
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	89,497	563,812
Accounts payable	68,197	80,534
Accrued expenses	248,287	271,931
Deferred revenue	144,702	132,319
Deferred income tax liabilities	'	39,810
Total current liabilities	550,683	1,088,406
Long-term debt, net of current portion	4,183,958	4,242,098
Deferred income tax liabilities	1,450,342	1,535,306
Deferred service obligations - long-term	22,458	25,456
Other long-term liabilities	174,851	168,044
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - 1,623 shares authorized; 0 shares issued	'	'
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 750,000 shares authorized; 276,236 and 272,036 shares issued, respectively	2,762	2,720
Additional paid-in-capital	5,606,759	5,536,312
Accumulated deficit	-3,640,024	-3,616,392
Accumulated other comprehensive income	10,606	20,391
Treasury stock, at cost - 219 shares at September 28, 2013	'	-1,518
Total stockholders' equity	1,980,103	1,941,513
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$8,362,395	$9,000,823

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Un1

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable, reserves	$10,930	$8,798
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,623	1,623
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	750,000	750,000
Common stock, shares issued	276,236	272,036
Treasury stock, shares	'	219

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net loss	($22,116)	($47,986)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation	48,998	46,218
Amortization	208,865	208,213
Non-cash interest expense	35,820	41,387
Stock-based compensation expense	26,098	31,079
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards	-4,134	-4,437
Deferred income taxes	-164,788	-92,502
Gain on sale of intellectual property	'	-53,884
Fair value adjustments to contingent consideration	'	10,839
Fair value write-up of inventory sold	'	52,397
Asset impairment charges	33,308	47
Debt extinguishment loss	7,377	3,247
Cost-method equity investment impairment	3,705	1,733
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	3,438	2,198
Other	-744	1,976
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	21,544	8,627
Inventories	-23,827	-3,719
Prepaid income taxes	44,745	-16,700
Prepaid expenses and other assets	9,769	1,225
Accounts payable	-12,317	-12,939
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	-6,511	-11,799
Deferred revenue	9,085	4,308
Net cash provided by operating activities	218,315	169,528
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Acquisition of a business	'	-3,918
Payment of additional acquisition consideration	'	-16,808
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash transferred	2,431	86,250
Purchase of property and equipment	-19,777	-25,888
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements	-17,964	-20,955
Net sales (purchases) of insurance contracts	13,841	-4,000
Purchases of mutual funds	-29,732	'
Sales of mutual funds	18,564	'
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property	'	60,000
Purchase of cost-method equity investments	'	-3,625
Increase in other assets	-1,932	-4,951
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-34,569	66,105
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	-562,500	-32,500
Payment of debt issuance cost	-2,446	-7,019
Payment of contingent consideration	'	-42,433
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	-4,965	'
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans	53,718	37,623
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards	4,134	4,437
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlements of equity awards	-9,163	-9,972
Net cash used in financing activities	-521,222	-49,864
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-492	-1,203
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-337,968	184,566
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	822,490	560,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$484,522	$744,996

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	(1) Basis of Presentation
	The consolidated financial statements of Hologic, Inc. (“Hologic” or the “Company”) presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended September 28, 2013 included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 26, 2013. In the opinion of management, the financial statements and notes contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates if past experience or other assumptions do not turn out to be substantially accurate. Operating results for the three and six months ended March 29, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or the entire fiscal year ending September 27, 2014.
	Subsequent Events Consideration
	The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the financial statements to provide additional evidence for certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. Subsequent events have been evaluated as required. There were no material recognized subsequent events recorded in the unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended March 29, 2014.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	(2) Fair Value Measurements
	Assets/Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
	The Company has an equity investment in a publicly-traded company and mutual funds, both of which are valued using quoted market prices, representing Level 1 assets. The Company has a payment obligation to the participants under its Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (“DCP”). This liability is recorded at fair value based on the underlying value of certain hypothetical investments under the DCP as designated by each participant for their benefit. Since the value of the DCP obligation is based on market prices, the liability is classified within Level 1. In addition, in fiscal 2013, the Company had contingent consideration liabilities related to its acquisitions that were recorded at fair value and were based on Level 3 inputs (see Note 5(a)).
	Assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following at March 29, 2014:
					Fair Value at Reporting Date Using
		Balance as of			Quoted Prices in			Significant			Significant
		March 29,			Active Market for			Other			Unobservable
		2014			Identical Assets			Observable			Inputs (Level 3)
					(Level 1)			Inputs (Level 2)
	Assets:
	Marketable securities:
	Equity security	$	15,859		$	15,859		$	—		$	—
	Mutual funds		18,744			18,744			—			—
	Total	$	34,603		$	34,603		$	—		$	—
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation liabilities	$	40,464		$	40,464		$	—		$	—
	Contingent consideration		3,393			—			—			3,393
	Total	$	43,857		$	40,464		$	—		$	3,393
	Changes in the fair value of recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), which solely consisted of contingent consideration liabilities, were as follows:
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		March 29,			March 30,			March 29,			March 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	3,647		$	93,000		$	3,780		$	86,368
	Fair value adjustments		—			799			—			10,839
	Payments		(254	)		(90,172	)		(387	)		(93,580	)
	Balance at end of period	$	3,393		$	3,627		$	3,393		$	3,627
	The contingent consideration liability at March 29, 2014 is related to the Company’s acquisition of Interlace Medical, Inc. (“Interlace”) and represents the remaining amounts withheld from payments made to the former stockholders of Interlace for legal indemnification provisions. As of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Interlace contingent liability was no longer being remeasured as the final measurement period lapsed. The withheld amount is being used to pay qualifying legal expenses in connection with the litigation with Smith & Nephew, Inc. (“Smith & Nephew”) (see Note 5(b)).
	Assets Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
	The Company remeasures the fair value of certain assets and liabilities upon the occurrence of certain events. Such assets are comprised of cost-method equity investments and long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill.
	In the second quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company evaluated its MRI breast coils product line asset group, which is within its Breast Health segment, for impairment due to the Company’s current expectation that it will be sold or disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. The undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by this asset group over its estimated remaining useful life were not sufficient to recover its carrying value. The Company has estimated the fair value of the asset group using market participant assumptions, which is based on underlying cash flow estimates, resulting in an impairment charge of $28.6 million. Pursuant to ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment-Other, subtopic 10-35-28, the impairment charge has been allocated to the long-lived assets, with $27.1 million to intangible assets and $1.5 million to property and equipment. The property and equipment charge has been recorded to cost of product revenues and general and administrative expenses in the amounts of $0.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The estimated fair value of this asset group is subject to change and additional charges may be recorded in the future. The Company believes this adjustment falls within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
	In the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company recorded a $3.1 million impairment charge to record certain of its buildings at fair value related to the Hitec organic photoconductor manufacturing line shutdown (see Note 3). The Company believes this adjustment falls within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
	The Company holds certain cost-method equity investments in non-publicly traded securities aggregating $8.7 million and $12.6 million at March 29, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively, which are included in other long-term assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. These investments are generally carried at cost, less any write-downs for other-than-temporary impairment charges. To determine the fair value of these investments, the Company uses all available financial information related to the entities, including information based on recent or pending third-party equity investments in these entities. In certain instances, a cost method investment’s fair value is not estimated as there are no identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment and to do so would be impractical. In the three and six month periods ended March 29, 2014, the Company recorded other-than-temporary impairment charges of $3.0 million and $3.7 million, respectively, related to its cost-method equity investments. In the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $1.7 million related to one of these investments. These represent Level 3 measurements.
	The following chart depicts the level of inputs within the fair value hierarchy used to estimate the fair value of assets measured on a nonrecurring basis for which the Company recorded impairment charges in fiscal 2014:
					Fair Value Measurements Using
		Fair Value			Quoted Prices in		Significant	Significant			Total Gains
					Active Market for		Other	Unobservable			(Losses)
					Identical Assets		Observable	Inputs (Level 3)
					(Level 1)		Inputs (Level 2)
	Fiscal 2014:
	Intangible assets	$	18,272					$	18,272		$	(27,089	)
	Property and equipment		1,015						1,015			(1,505	)
	Buildings		1,388						1,388			(3,132	)
	Cost-method equity investments		778						778			(3,705	)
											$	(35,431	)
	Disclosure of Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The Company’s financial instruments mainly consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, marketable securities, cost-method equity investments, insurance contracts, DCP liability, accounts payable and debt obligations. The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company’s marketable securities are recorded at fair value. The carrying amount of the insurance contracts are recorded at the cash surrender value, as required by U.S. GAAP, which approximates fair value, and the related DCP liability is recorded at fair value. The Company believes the carrying amounts of its cost-method equity investments approximate fair value.
	Amounts outstanding under the Company’s Credit Agreement of $2.08 billion aggregate principal are subject to variable rates of interest based on current market rates, and as such, the Company believes the carrying amount of these obligations approximates fair value. The Company’s Senior Notes had a fair value of approximately $1.06 billion as of March 29, 2014 based on their trading price, representing a Level 1 measurement. The fair value of the Company’s Convertible Notes is based on the trading prices of the respective notes at the dates noted and represents a Level 1 measurement. Refer to Note 4 for the carrying amounts of the various components of the Company’s debt.
	The estimated fair values of the Company’s Convertible Notes were as follows:
		March 29,			September 28,
		2014			2013
	2007 Notes	$	—		$	405,000
	2010 Notes		507,800			510,800
	2012 Notes		502,800			518,800
	2013 Notes		390,900			385,700
		$	1,401,500		$	1,820,300
	As disclosed in Note 4, the Company redeemed the outstanding 2007 Notes in December 2013.

Restructuring_and_Divestiture_

Restructuring and Divestiture Charges	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Divestiture Charges	'
	(3) Restructuring and Divestiture Charges
	The Company evaluates its operations for opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency, including facility and operations consolidation, and to better align expenses with revenues. As a result of these assessments, the Company has undertaken various restructuring actions which are described below. The following table displays charges taken related to restructuring actions in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 and a rollforward of the charges to the accrued balances as of March 29, 2014:
	Restructuring and Divestiture Charges	Consolidation of			Closure of			Fiscal 2014			Fiscal 2013			Other			Total
		Diagnostics			Indianapolis			Actions			Actions			Operating
		Operations			Facility									Cost
														Reductions
	Fiscal 2012 charges:
	Non-cash impairment charge	$	585		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	585
	Purchase orders and other contractual obligations		—			—			—			—			351			351
	Workforce reductions		14,202			879			—			—			168			15,249
	Facility closure costs		—			—			—			—			430			430
	Other		—			900			—			—			—			900
	Fiscal 2012 restructuring and divestiture charges	$	14,787		$	1,779		$	—		$	—		$	949		$	17,515
	Fiscal 2013 charges:
	Workforce reductions	$	13,950		$	4,805		$	—		$	11,332		$	1,127		$	31,214
	Facility closure costs		—			173			—			—			377			550
	Other		—			651			—			42			236			929
	Fiscal 2013 restructuring charges	$	13,950		$	5,629		$	—		$	11,374		$	1,740		$	32,693
	Divestiture net charges																	112
	Fiscal 2013 restructuring and divestiture charges																$	32,805
	Fiscal 2014 charges:
	Workforce reductions	$	1,671		$	238		$	15,948		$	932		$	7,194		$	25,983
	Property impairment		—			—			—			—			3,132			3,132
	Facility closure costs		—			445			—			—			—			445
	Other		—			—			—			—			128			128
	Fiscal 2014 restructuring charges	$	1,671		$	683		$	15,948		$	932		$	10,454		$	29,688
	Divestiture net charges																	221
	Fiscal 2014 restructuring and divestiture charges																$	29,909
	Rollforward of Accrued Restructuring
	Fiscal 2012 charges	$	14,787		$	1,779		$	—		$	—		$	949		$	17,515
	Non-cash impairment charges		(585	)		—			—			—			—			(585	)
	Stock-based compensation		(3,500	)		—			—			—			—			(3,500	)
	Severance payments		(2,423	)		—			—			—			(206	)		(2,629	)
	Other payments		—			—			—			—			(781	)		(781	)
	Acquired		83			—			—			—			—			83
	Foreign exchange and other adjustments		22			—			—			—			91			113
	Balance at September 29, 2012	$	8,384		$	1,779		$	—		$	—		$	53		$	10,216
	Fiscal 2013 restructuring charges	$	13,950		$	5,629			—		$	11,374		$	1,740		$	32,693
	Stock-based compensation		(6,322	)		—			—			(1,595	)		—			(7,917	)
	Non-cash impairment charges		—			—			—			—			(54	)		(54	)
	Severance payments		(13,068	)		(3,048	)		—			(4,425	)		(897	)		(21,438	)
	Other payments		—			(566	)		—			(25	)		(560	)		(1,151	)
	Rollforward of Accrued Restructuring	Consolidation of			Closure of			Fiscal 2014			Fiscal 2013			Other			Total
		Diagnostics			Indianapolis			Actions			Actions			Operating
		Operations			Facility									Cost
														Reductions
	Foreign exchange and other adjustments		(2	)		—			—			(14	)		6			(10	)
	Balance at September 28, 2013	$	2,942		$	3,794		$	—		$	5,315		$	288		$	12,339
	Fiscal 2014 restructuring charges	$	1,671		$	683		$	15,948		$	932		$	10,454		$	29,688
	Stock-based compensation		—			—			(4,731	)		(30	)		—			(4,761	)
	Non-cash impairment charges		—			—			—			—			(3,132	)		(3,132	)
	Severance payments		(421	)		(3,946	)		(6,123	)		(4,176	)		(1,322	)		(15,988	)
	Other payments		—			(353	)		—			(9	)		(128	)		(490	)
	Foreign exchange and other adjustments		—			—			—			(3	)		5			2
	Balance at March 29, 2014	$	4,192		$	178		$	5,094		$	2,029		$	6,165		$	17,658
	Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations
	In connection with its acquisition of Gen-Probe Incorporated (“Gen-Probe”), the Company implemented restructuring actions to consolidate its Diagnostics operations, including streamlining product development initiatives, reducing overlapping functional areas in sales, marketing and general and administrative functions, and consolidating manufacturing resources, field services and support. As a result, the Company terminated certain employees from Gen-Probe and its legacy diagnostics business in research and development, sales, marketing, and general and administrative functions. The Company recorded severance and benefit charges in fiscal 2012 of $13.3 million related to this action pursuant to ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations (ASC 420). The majority of these employees ceased working in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, and their full severance charge was recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. In addition, certain of the terminated Gen-Probe employees had unvested stock options, which were accelerated at termination pursuant to the stock options’ original terms. As such, the severance charges in fiscal 2012 include $3.5 million of stock-based compensation expense. In fiscal 2013, the Company recorded $10.8 million of severance charges, including $6.3 million for stock-based compensation. Included in these charges is $9.7 million recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 related to the termination of certain Gen-Probe executives, including Carl Hull, Gen-Probe’s former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The charge was for the acceleration of certain retention payments and equity awards pursuant to the original terms of the related agreements. No additional charges were recorded in fiscal 2014 under this portion of the action. The Company recorded $9.7 million and $10.5 million of severance charges in the three and six months ended March 30, 2013, respectively.
	In addition, the Company is in the process of moving its legacy molecular diagnostics operations from Madison, Wisconsin to Gen-Probe’s facilities in San Diego, California. This transfer is expected to be finalized by the end of fiscal 2014 and, as a result, many of the employees in Madison will be terminated. The Company is recording severance and benefit charges pursuant to ASC 420 and estimates the total severance and benefits charge to be approximately $7.3 million, which is being recorded ratably over the estimated service period of the affected employees. The Company recorded $0.9 million and $1.7 million in the three and six months ended March 29, 2014, respectively, and $1.0 million and $2.0 million in the three and six months ended March 30, 2013, respectively. In fiscal 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded $3.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for severance and benefits related to this action.
	Closure of Indianapolis Facility
	In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company finalized its decision to transfer production of the majority of its interventional breast products, which are included within the Breast Health reporting segment, from its Indianapolis, Indiana facility to its facility in Costa Rica. The transfer was completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, and the termination of employees at the Indianapolis location was completed. The Company recorded severance and benefit charges pursuant to ASC 420 and the total severance and benefits charge under this action was $5.9 million, which was recorded ratably over the required service period of the affected employees. The Company recorded severance and benefits charges of $0.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The Company recorded severance and benefit charges of $1.5 million and $3.0 million in the three and six months ended March 30, 2013, respectively. In fiscal 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded $4.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for severance and benefits related to this action. In addition, the Company recorded charges of $0.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 related to the termination of its lease and remaining lease payments as of the cease-use date. The Company also recorded miscellaneous charges of $0.8 million in fiscal 2013 and $0.9 million in fiscal 2012 for amounts owed to the state of Indiana for employment credits. This action is complete and no additional charges will be recorded.
	Fiscal 2014 Actions
	During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company implemented a cost reduction initiative comprised of reducing headcount and evaluating research projects and operating costs. In connection with this plan, the Company terminated certain employees on a worldwide basis. The Company recorded the severance and benefit charges pursuant to ASC 420 and ASC 712, Compensation-Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits (ASC 712), depending on the nature of the benefits. The Company recorded $6.3 million of severance and benefit charges in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, which includes $0.4 million of stock-based compensation.
	On December 6, 2013, Stephen P. MacMillan was appointed as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company. The employment of John W. Cumming, the Company’s prior President and Chief Executive Officer, terminated upon Mr. MacMillan’s appointment. The Company provided separation benefits to Mr. Cumming pursuant to his employment letter dated July 18, 2013 resulting in a charge of $6.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, which included $4.4 million of stock-based compensation related to the acceleration of all of Mr. Cumming’s outstanding equity awards in accordance with the existing terms of Mr. Cumming’s share based payment arrangements. An additional $0.2 million was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
In the second quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company terminated certain executives and employees and recorded severance and benefit charges of $3.0 million pursuant to ASC 712.
Fiscal 2013 Actions
During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company implemented a cost reduction initiative comprised of reducing headcount and evaluating research projects and operating costs. In connection with this plan, the Company terminated certain employees on a worldwide basis. The Company primarily recorded severance and benefit charges pursuant to ASC 420, and the total severance and benefits charge was $5.4 million related to this plan. For those employees who continued to be employed beyond the minimum retention period, charges were recorded ratably over the estimated service period of the affected employees. The Company recorded severance and benefit charges of $0.2 million and $0.9 million in the three and six months ended March 29, 2014, respectively. The Company recorded $4.6 million of severance and benefit charges in the second half of fiscal 2013 related to this action.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, Robert A. Cascella resigned as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, and effective at the same time, Mr. Cumming was appointed as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with this management change, additional headcount reductions were implemented. As a result of this action, the Company recorded $6.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 for severance and benefits charges. All employees were notified prior to September 28, 2013 and primarily ceased employment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. The severance and benefit charges were recorded pursuant to ASC 712 for those employees with contractual arrangements and under ASC 420 for the remainder of the affected employees. In addition to the acceleration of stock options pursuant to the stock options’ original terms for certain employees, the Company also modified the terms of equity awards to certain employees resulting in aggregate stock-based compensation charges of $1.4 million recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.
Other Operating Cost Reductions:
Hitec-Imaging Organic Photoconductor Manufacturing Line Shut-down
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, in connection with the Company’s cost reduction initiatives, the Company decided to shut-down its Hitec-Imaging organic photoconductor manufacturing line located in Germany. This production line is included within the Breast Health segment. As a result, the Company terminated certain employees, primarily in manufacturing, in fiscal 2014. During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company completed its negotiations with the local Works Council to determine severance benefits for the approximately 95 affected employees. The Company is recording severance and benefit charges pursuant to ASC 420 and estimates the severance and related charges will be approximately $9.1 million. The Company recorded charges of $7.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 in connection with terminating these employees. Additional charges will be recorded in fiscal 2014 and 2015 based on the terms of the benefit arrangements to certain employees.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $3.1 million to record certain buildings at this location in Germany to their estimated fair value. This charge is included within restructuring and divestiture charges.
Consolidation of Selenium Panel Coating Production
During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company finalized its decision to consolidate its Selenium panel coating process and transfer the production line to its Newark, Delaware facility from its Hitec-Imaging German subsidiary. This production line is included within the Breast Health segment. The transfer was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. In connection with this consolidation plan, the Company terminated certain employees, primarily manufacturing personnel. Severance charges were recorded pursuant to ASC 420. The termination communications began in January 2013 and the Company recorded severance charges of $0.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. In connection with this action, the Company recorded severance charges of $1.1 million in fiscal 2013.
Divestitures
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company designated the assets of its Elucigene product line as assets held-for-sale, and recorded a charge of $0.7 million to record the assets at fair value. In the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company finalized the sale of the assets for $2.8 million, resulting in additional charges of $0.2 million for the six months ended March 29, 2014. At September 28, 2013, assets held-for-sale consisted of inventory and certain equipment valued at $2.4 million and goodwill of $0.6 million.
The Company completed the sale of its Lifecodes business and recorded a net gain of $0.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. For the year ended September 28, 2013, the Company recorded a charge of $0.3 million related to the disposition of certain other assets held-for-sale.

Borrowings_and_Credit_Arrangem

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements	'
	(4) Borrowings and Credit Arrangements
	The Company’s borrowings consisted of the following:
		March 29, 2014		September 28, 2013
	Current debt obligations, net of debt discount:
	Term Loan A	$	74,628	$	49,713
	Term Loan B		14,869		113,966
	Convertible Notes		—		400,133
	Total current debt obligations		89,497		563,812
	Long-term debt obligations, net of debt discount:
	Term Loan A		845,782		894,834
	Term Loan B		1,127,581		1,159,272
	Senior Notes		1,000,000		1,000,000
	Convertible Notes		1,210,595		1,187,992
	Total long-term debt obligations		4,183,958		4,242,098
	Total debt obligations	$	4,273,455	$	4,805,910
	Credit Agreement
	On October 31, 2013, the Company voluntarily pre-paid $100.0 million of its Term Loan B facility, which was reflected in current debt obligations as of September 28, 2013. Pursuant to ASC 470, Debt (ASC 470), the Company recorded a debt extinguishment loss of $2.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 to write-off the pro-rata amount of unamortized debt discount and deferred issuance costs related to this voluntary prepayment.
	On February 26, 2014, the Company, the Guarantors, Goldman Sachs, and the Lenders entered into Refinancing Amendment No. 3 to the credit and guaranty agreement among the parties (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”). The Refinancing Amendment No. 3 refinanced the Company’s existing senior secured tranche B term loan facility (the “Existing Term Loan B”) with a new senior secured tranche B term loan facility (the “New Term Loan B”) with an issue price of 99.875% of the principal amount of the Existing Term Loan B (subject also to the prepayment referenced below). This amendment resulted in a 50 basis point reduction in the interest rate on the New Term Loan B as of the Refinancing Amendment No. 3 closing date. Amounts outstanding under the New Term Loan B will bear interest, at the Company’s option: (A) at the Base Rate, with a floor of 1.75%, plus 1.50% per annum, or (B) at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (i.e., the Libor rate), with a floor of 0.75% plus 2.50% per annum. In addition, the Company voluntarily prepaid $25.0 million of the New Term Loan B.
	Pursuant to ASC 470, the accounting for this refinancing is required to be evaluated on a creditor-by-creditor basis to determine whether each transaction should be accounted for as a modification or extinguishment. Certain creditors under the Credit Agreement did not participate in this refinancing transaction and ceased being creditors of the Company, and certain creditors reduced their positions. As a result, the Company recorded a debt extinguishment loss of $4.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 to write-off the pro-rata amount of unamortized debt discount and deferred issuance costs related to these creditors. For the remainder of the creditors, this transaction has been accounted for as a modification because the present value of the cash flows on a creditor-by-creditor basis between the two debt instruments was less than 10%. Pursuant to ASC 470, subtopic 50-40, third-party costs of $1.0 million related to this transaction were expensed.
	Borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement for the three and six months ended March 29, 2014 had weighted-average interest rates of 2.96% and 3.01%, respectively. The interest rates on the outstanding Term Loan A and Term Loan B borrowings at March 29, 2014 were 2.15% and 3.25%, respectively. Interest expense under the Credit Agreement totaled $19.2 million and $39.6 million for the three and six months ended March 29, 2014, respectively, which includes non-cash interest expense of $3.2 million and $6.5 million, respectively, related to the amortization of the deferred financing costs and accretion of the debt discount. Interest expense totaled $28.5 million and $58.6 million for the three and six months ended March 30, 2013, respectively, which includes non-cash interest expense of $4.1 million and $7.8 million related to the amortization of the deferred financing costs and accretion of the debt discount.
	In the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company executed Refinancing Amendment No.1 to the Credit Agreement which reduced the interest rate on the Term Loan A facility. Consistent with the accounting treatment noted above for Refinancing Amendment No. 3, in connection with this transaction, the Company recorded a debt extinguishment loss of $3.2 million and expensed $2.4 million of third-party costs to interest expense.
	Senior Notes
	The Company’s 6.25% senior notes due 2020 (the “Senior Notes”) mature on August 1, 2020 and bear interest at the rate of 6.25% per year, payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing on February 1, 2013. The Company recorded interest expense of $16.0 million and $32.0 million in both the three and six month periods ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively, which includes non-cash interest expense of $0.4 million and $0.8 million in both the three and six month periods ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively, related to the amortization of the deferred financing costs.
	Convertible Notes
	On November 14, 2013, the Company announced that it had issued a notice of redemption to the holders of its 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2037 (“2007 Notes”) to redeem any 2007 Notes outstanding on December 18, 2013 at a redemption price payable in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2007 Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, December 18, 2013. Holders of the 2007 Notes also had the option of putting the 2007 Notes to the Company as of December 13, 2013. The 2007 Notes were redeemed at their par value aggregating $405.0 million. Under ASC 470, the derecognition of the 2007 Notes did not result in a gain or loss as the fair value of the liability component of the 2007 Notes was determined to be equal to the consideration paid to redeem the 2007 Notes, and as a result, no value was allocated to the reacquisition of the conversion option.
	Interest expense under the Convertible Notes is as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,		March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Amortization of debt discount	$	8,341	$	13,621	$	19,887	$	29,265
	Amortization of deferred financing costs		413		790		1,063		1,698
	Principal accretion		3,810		1,789		7,584		1,789
	Non-cash interest expense		12,564		16,200		28,534		32,752
	2.00% accrued interest		4,751		8,616		12,870		17,226
		$	17,315	$	24,816	$	41,404	$	49,978

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	(5) Commitments and Contingencies
	(a) Contingent Earn-Out Payments
	In connection with certain of its acquisitions, the Company incurred obligations to make contingent earn-out payments tied to performance criteria, principally revenue growth of the acquired businesses over a specified period.
	In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company made its final contingent consideration payment of $16.8 million to the former shareholders of Adiana, Inc., which was net of amounts withheld for qualifying legal costs, and its final contingent consideration payment of $3.4 million to the former shareholders of Sentinelle Medical Inc.
	In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Interlace in fiscal 2011, the Company had an obligation to the former Interlace stockholders to make contingent payments over a two-year period. Pursuant to ASC 805, Business Combinations, the Company recorded its estimate of the fair value of the contingent consideration liability based on future revenue projections of the Interlace business. The final measurement period ended during the second quarter of fiscal 2013, resulting in a contingent consideration liability of $93.8 million. Of this amount, $86.9 million was paid to the former Interlace stockholders in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. The remainder was withheld for legal indemnification provisions and is being used to pay qualifying legal expenses. At March 29, 2014, the Company had accrued $3.4 million.
	In connection with the Company’s acquisition of TCT International Co., Ltd. (“TCT”) in June 2011, the Company had an obligation to certain of the former TCT shareholders, based on future employment, to make contingent payments over a two year period. These earnouts were recorded as compensation expense ratably over the required service periods. The second and final earn-out period was completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2013, and the Company paid $87.4 million of this earn-out in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. The remaining $31.1 million of this earn-out was paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2014.
	There was no contingent consideration expense recorded in the first six months of fiscal 2014. A summary of amounts recorded to the Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
	Statement of Operations Line Item – 3 Months Ended March 30, 2013	Interlace		TCT		Total
	Contingent consideration – compensation expense	$	—	$	29,388	$	29,388
	Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		799		—		799
		$	799	$	29,388	$	30,187
	Statement of Operations Line Item – 6 Months Ended March 30, 2013	Interlace		TCT		Total
	Contingent consideration – compensation expense	$	—	$	58,874	$	58,874
	Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		10,839		—		10,839
		$	10,839	$	58,874	$	69,713
	(b) Litigation and Related Matters
	On June 9, 2010, Smith & Nephew filed suit against Interlace, which the Company acquired on January 6, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The complaint alleged that the Interlace MyoSure hysteroscopic tissue removal device infringed U.S. patent 7,226,459. On November 22, 2011, Smith & Nephew filed suit against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The complaint alleged that use of the MyoSure hysteroscopic tissue removal system infringed U.S. patent 8,061,359. Both complaints sought permanent injunctive relief and unspecified damages. On September 4, 2012, following a two week trial, the jury returned a verdict of infringement of both the ‘459 and ‘359 patents and assessed damages of $4.0 million. A bench trial regarding the Company’s assertion of inequitable conduct on the part of Smith & Nephew with regard to the ‘359 patent was held on December 9, 2012 and oral arguments on the issue of inequitable conduct were presented on February 27, 2013. On June 27, 2013, the Court denied the Company’s motions related to inequitable conduct and allowed Smith & Nephew’s request for injunction, but ordered that enforcement of the injunction be stayed until final resolution, including appeal, of the current re-examinations of both patents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). The Court also rejected the jury’s damage award and ordered the parties to identify a mechanism for resolving the damages issue. On September 12, 2013, a status conference was held, and the Court invited the parties to submit briefs on the relevance of recent activity in the re-examinations at the USPTO. A hearing on this topic was held on October 29, 2013, and the parties are awaiting the Court’s ruling. The Company intends to file post-trial motions seeking to reverse the jury’s verdict. On January 14, 2014, the USPTO issued a final decision that the claims of the ‘459 patent asserted as part of the litigation are not patentable. The re-examination of the ‘359 patent is on-going. It is expected that patentability decisions made by the USPTO for both patents will proceed to appeal. At this time, based on available information regarding this litigation, the Company is unable to reasonably assess the ultimate outcome of this case or determine an estimate, or a range of estimates, of potential losses.
	On March 6, 2012, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc. (“Enzo”) filed suit against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleged that certain of the Company’s molecular diagnostics products, including without limitation products based on its proprietary Invader chemistry, such as Cervista HPV HR and Cervista HPV 16/18, infringe Enzo’s U.S. patent 6,992,180. The complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief and unspecified damages. The Company was formally served with the complaint on July 3, 2012, and a trial is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2015. In January 2012, Enzo filed suit against Gen-Probe in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The Gen-Probe complaint alleged that certain of Gen-Probe’s diagnostics products, including products that incorporate Gen-Probe’s patented HPA technology, such as the Aptima Combo 2 and Aptima HPV assays, infringe Enzo’s U.S. patent 6,992,180. On September 30, 2013, Enzo amended its list of accused products to include Prodesse, MilliPROBE, PACE and Procleix assays. The complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief and unspecified damages, and a trial is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2015. At this time, based on available information regarding this litigation, the Company is unable to reasonably assess the ultimate outcome of this case or determine an estimate, or a range of estimates, of potential losses.
	On October 29, 2013, the Interlace stockholder representatives filed a complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery alleging breach of contract for issues related to the payment of contingent consideration under the Interlace acquisition agreement, and are seeking $14.7 million in additional payments. The Company believes that Interlace has been paid all amounts due under the acquisition agreement and the claims are without merit. The Company is currently preparing its answer to the complaint. At this time, the Company is unable to reasonably assess the ultimate outcome of this case or determine an estimate, or range of estimates, of potential losses.
	The Company is a party to various other legal proceedings and claims arising out of the ordinary course of its business. The Company believes that except for those described above there are no other proceedings or claims pending against it of which the ultimate resolution would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. In all cases, at each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether or not a potential loss amount or a potential range of loss is probable and reasonably estimable under ASC 450, Contingencies. Legal costs are expensed as incurred.

Sale_of_Makena

Sale of Makena	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Sale of Makena	'
	(6) Sale of Makena
	In fiscal 2008, the Company sold the rights of its Makena (formerly Gestiva) pharmaceutical product to K-V Pharmaceutical Company (“KV”) upon FDA approval of the then pending Makena new drug application. The Company executed certain amendments to this agreement that resulted in an increase in the total sales price to $199.5 million and a change in the timing of when payments were due to the Company. On February 3, 2011, the Company received FDA approval of Makena, and all rights to Makena were transferred to KV. The Company had received scheduled payments as required under the agreement until August 2012 when KV and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court. At that time, additional payments were still owed to the Company, and in December 2012 the Company and KV executed a settlement agreement, which released KV from all claims in consideration of a $60.0 million payment. The Company recorded this amount in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, net of certain costs, resulting in a gain of $53.9 million. The Company will receive no further payments from KV.

Marketable_Securities

Marketable Securities	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Marketable Securities	'
	(7) Marketable Securities
	The following reconciles the cost basis to the fair market value of the Company’s equity security that is classified as available-for-sale:
	Period Ended:	Cost		Gross Unrealized		Gross Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
	March 29, 2014	$	5,931	$	9,928	$	—	$	15,859
	September 28, 2013	$	5,931	$	12,156	$	—	$	18,087

Net_Loss_Per_Share

Net Loss Per Share	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Net Loss Per Share	'
	(8) Net Loss Per Share
	A reconciliation of basic and diluted share amounts is as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,		March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		274,589		268,175		273,648		267,259
	Weighted average common stock equivalents from assumed exercise of stock options and restricted stock units		—		—		—		—
	Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		274,589		268,175		273,648		267,259
	Weighted-average anti-dilutive shares related to:
	Outstanding stock options		7,950		8,081		7,575		9,104
	Restricted stock units		517		1,037		733		1,059
	As more fully discussed in Note 4, the Company has outstanding Convertible Notes. The Company’s policy is to net share settle its Convertible Notes, and any conversion premium, at the Company’s option, may be satisfied by issuing shares of common stock, cash or a combination of shares and cash. For all periods presented, shares potentially issuable for the conversion premium of the Convertible Notes were excluded from the calculation of earnings per share as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	(9) Stock-Based Compensation
	The following presents stock-based compensation expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations:
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		March 29,			March 30,			March 29,			March 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Cost of revenues	$	2,133		$	1,723		$	3,643		$	3,557
	Research and development		2,224			2,015			4,097			3,883
	Selling and marketing		2,352			2,567			4,101			4,768
	General and administrative		5,663			5,739			9,496			11,680
	Restructuring and divestiture		—			6,969			4,761			7,191
		$	12,372		$	19,013		$	26,098		$	31,079
	The Company granted approximately 2.2 million stock options during the six months ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013 with weighted-average exercise prices of $21.85 and $19.91, respectively. There were 11.1 million options outstanding at March 29, 2014 with a weighted-average exercise price of $19.89.
	The Company uses a binomial model to determine the fair value of its stock options. The weighted-average assumptions utilized to value these stock options are indicated in the following table:
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		March 29,			March 30,			March 29,			March 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Risk-free interest rate		1.3	%		0.5	%		1.2	%		0.5	%
	Expected volatility		41.4	%		43.7	%		41.4	%		43.7	%
	Expected life (in years)		4.5			4.4			4.4			4.4
	Dividend yield		—			—			—			—
	Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	7.82		$	5.83		$	7.65		$	6.99
	The Company granted approximately 2.3 million and 1.9 million restricted stock units (RSUs) during the six months ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively, with weighted-average grant date fair values of $21.53 and $19.86, respectively. As of March 29, 2014, there were 4.1 million unvested RSUs outstanding with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $20.29. The Company granted approximately 0.4 million performance stock units (PSUs) in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 to members of its senior management team, which have a weighted-average grant date fair value of $21.77. Each recipient of the PSUs is eligible to receive between zero and 200% of the target number of shares of the Company’s common stock at the end of three years provided the Company’s defined Return on Invested Capital metrics are achieved. The Company is recognizing compensation expense ratably over the required service period based on its estimate that it is probable the targeted number of shares will vest. If there is a change in the estimate of the number of shares that are probable of vesting, the Company will cumulatively adjust compensation expense in the period that the change in estimate is made.
	In connection with appointing its new President and Chief Executive Officer in December 2013, the Company granted approximately 0.1 million market stock units (MSUs). The MSUs vest in three separate tranches in an amount of 1/3rd of the total amount of the award based on the Company’s stock price meeting certain defined average stock prices for consecutive 30 trading day periods. These MSUs were valued at an average of $18.65 using the Monte Carlo simulation model and each tranche has its own derived service period. The Company is recognizing compensation expense under the accelerated method as prescribed by ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (ASC 718). In addition, per the terms of his employment agreement, the Company granted 0.2 million RSUs to match Mr. MacMillan’s purchase of 0.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market. The RSUs cliff vest three years from the date of grant, and the Company is accounting for this grant as a liability award pursuant to ASC 718 because this RSU award contains an additional vesting condition (the requirement that Mr. MacMillan retain the matching shares during the vesting period) that is not service, performance or market based.
	At March 29, 2014, there was $32.2 million and $79.6 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options and stock units (comprised of RSUs, MSUs and PSUs), respectively, to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.4 years and 3.0 years, respectively.

Other_Balance_Sheet_Informatio

Other Balance Sheet Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Other Balance Sheet Information	'
	(10) Other Balance Sheet Information
		March 29,			September 28,
		2014			2013
	Inventories
	Raw materials	$	117,356		$	115,575
	Work-in-process		59,635			51,171
	Finished goods		133,989			122,617
		$	310,980		$	289,363
	Property, plant and equipment
	Equipment and software	$	334,178		$	318,473
	Equipment under customer usage agreements		282,177			275,696
	Building and improvements		173,930			171,469
	Leasehold improvements		62,734			68,159
	Land		51,662			51,633
	Furniture and fixtures		16,972			22,628
			921,653			908,058
	Less – accumulated depreciation and amortization		(449,499	)		(416,530	)
		$	472,154		$	491,528

Business_Segments_and_Geograph

Business Segments and Geographic Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Business Segments and Geographic Information	'
	(11) Business Segments and Geographic Information
	The Company has four reportable segments: Diagnostics, Breast Health, GYN Surgical and Skeletal Health. Certain reportable segments represent an aggregation of operating units within each segment. The Company measures and evaluates its reportable segments based on segment revenues and operating income adjusted to exclude the effect of non-cash charges, such as intangible asset amortization expense, intangible asset and goodwill impairment charges, contingent consideration charges, acquisition related fair value adjustments and integration expenses, restructuring and divestiture charges and other one-time or unusual items and related tax effects.
	Identifiable assets for the four principal operating segments consist of inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, and property, plant and equipment. The Company fully allocates depreciation expense to its four reportable segments. The Company has presented all other identifiable assets as corporate assets. There were no intersegment revenues during the three and six months ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013. Segment information is as follows:
		Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,			March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013			2014		2013
	Total revenues:
	Diagnostics	$	290,802	$	296,507		$	576,568	$	602,423
	Breast Health		238,705		220,058			465,196		440,866
	GYN Surgical		72,043		73,692			150,897		154,601
	Skeletal Health		23,458		22,406			44,795		46,135
		$	625,008	$	612,663		$	1,237,456	$	1,244,025
	Operating income (loss):
	Diagnostics	$	15,243	$	(46,978	)	$	19,997	$	(32,683	)
	Breast Health		25,818		47,892			69,667		92,837
	GYN Surgical		6,579		2,241			17,702		2,863
	Skeletal Health		2,610		2,387			4,169		5,754
		$	50,250	$	5,542		$	111,535	$	68,771
	Depreciation and amortization:
	Diagnostics	$	94,612	$	89,402		$	186,798	$	180,944
	Breast Health		9,163		10,124			18,524		20,054
	GYN Surgical		26,042		26,524			52,088		53,003
	Skeletal Health		227		226			453		430
		$	130,044	$	126,276		$	257,863	$	254,431
	Capital expenditures:
	Diagnostics	$	14,841	$	13,464		$	25,097	$	27,318
	Breast Health		2,275		5,910			4,080		9,490
	GYN Surgical		2,194		2,171			3,980		4,916
	Skeletal Health		40		28			182		206
	Corporate		2,006		2,823			4,402		4,913
		$	21,356	$	24,396		$	37,741	$	46,843
		March 29,		September 28,
		2014		2013
	Identifiable assets:
	Diagnostics	$	4,528,340	$	4,667,942
	Breast Health		877,923		932,206
	GYN Surgical		1,802,207		1,849,518
	Skeletal Health		33,369		33,508
	Corporate		1,120,556		1,517,649
		$	8,362,395	$	9,000,823
	The Company had no customers with balances greater than 10% of accounts receivable as of March 29, 2014 or September 28, 2013, or any customer that represented greater than 10% of consolidated revenues during the three and six months ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013.
	The Company operates in the following major geographic areas as noted in the below chart. Revenue data is based upon customer location. Other than the United States, no single country accounted for more than 10% of consolidated revenues. The Company’s sales in Europe are predominantly derived from France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The Company’s sales in Asia-Pacific are predominantly derived from China, Australia and Japan. The “All others” designation includes Canada, Latin America and the Middle East.
	Revenues by geography as a percentage of total revenues were as follows:
		Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,			March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013			2014		2013
	United States		74%		75%			74%		74%
	Europe		15%		12%			15%		14%
	Asia-Pacific		7%		9%			7%		8%
	All others		4%		4%			4%		4%
			100%		100%			100%		100%

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	(12) Income Taxes
	In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740), each interim period is considered integral to the annual period and tax expense is measured using an estimated annual effective tax rate. An entity is required to record income tax expense each quarter based on its annual effective tax rate estimated for the full fiscal year and use that rate to provide for income taxes on a current year-to-date basis, adjusted for discrete taxable events that occur during the interim period. If, however, the entity is unable to reliably estimate its annual effective tax rate, then the actual effective tax rate for the year-to-date may be the best annual effective tax rate estimate. For the six months ended March 30, 2013, the Company determined that it was unable to make a reliable annual effective tax rate estimate due to the rate sensitivity as it related to its forecasted fiscal 2013 results. Therefore, the Company recorded a tax benefit for the six months ended March 30, 2013 based on the effective rate for the six months ended March 30, 2013.
	The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and six month periods ended March 29, 2014 was a provision of 42.7% and 67.9%, respectively, on pre-tax losses, compared to a benefit of 30.7% and 40.8%, respectively, on pre-tax losses for the corresponding periods in the prior year. For the three and six months ended March 29, 2014, the effective tax rate differed from the statutory rate primarily due to unbenefited foreign losses. For the three months ended March 30, 2013, the tax rate benefit was less than the statutory rate primarily due to non-deductible contingent consideration expense related to TCT and Interlace, partially offset by the effect of the retroactively reinstated Federal research tax credit in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 and the domestic production activities deduction benefit. For the six months ended March 30, 2013, the tax rate benefit was higher than the statutory rate primarily due to a $19.0 million valuation allowance release related to capital losses which were utilized to offset capital gains generated during the year and the effect of the retroactively reinstated Federal Research tax credit in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, partially offset by non-deductible contingent consideration expense related to TCT and Interlace.
	The Internal Revenue Service is examining the Company’s fiscal year 2011 consolidated federal income tax return and Gen-Probe’s consolidated federal income tax returns for calendar years 2010 through the 2012 acquisition date.

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	'
	(13) Goodwill and Intangible Assets
	Goodwill
	A rollforward of goodwill activity by reportable segment from September 28, 2013 to March 29, 2014 is as follows:
		Diagnostics			Breast Health			GYN Surgical			Skeletal Health		Total
	Balance at September 28, 2013	$	1,153,554		$	636,365		$	1,016,456		$	8,153	$	2,814,528
	Disposition of a portion of a reporting unit		(221	)		—			—			—		(221	)
	Tax adjustments		(323	)		—			—			—		(323	)
	Foreign currency and other		(571	)		(3,292	)		(316	)		9		(4,170	)
	Balance at March 29, 2014	$	1,152,439		$	633,073		$	1,016,140		$	8,162	$	2,809,814
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets consisted of the following:
	Description	As of March 29, 2014						As of September 28, 2013
		Gross			Accumulated			Gross			Accumulated
		Carrying			Amortization			Carrying			Amortization
		Value						Value
	Developed technology	$	3,969,132		$	1,237,076		$	4,008,947		$	1,094,435
	In-process research and development		23,000			—			24,000			—
	Customer relationships and contracts		1,101,860			340,541			1,101,870			296,481
	Trade names		236,846			92,183			238,103			81,844
	Patents		13,452			8,762			13,026			8,495
	Business licenses		2,607			738			2,647			616
	Non-competition agreements		—			—			296			296
		$	5,346,897		$	1,679,300		$	5,388,889		$	1,482,167
	The Company recorded impairment charges of $26.6 million and $0.5 million to developed technology and trade names, respectively, in the second quarter of fiscal 2014. In addition, the Company periodically re-evaluates the lives of its definite-lived intangible assets, and in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 shortened the life of certain corporate trade names, which will be phased out.
	The estimated remaining amortization expense as of March 29, 2014 for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:
	Remainder of Fiscal 2014	$	229,551
	Fiscal 2015	$	403,348
	Fiscal 2016	$	374,672
	Fiscal 2017	$	365,541
	Fiscal 2018	$	355,044

Product_Warranties

Product Warranties	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Guarantees [Abstract]	'
Product Warranties	'
	(14) Product Warranties
	Product warranty activity was as follows:
		Balance at		Provisions		Settlements/			Balance at
		Beginning of				Adjustments			End of Period
		Period
	Six Months Ended:
	March 29, 2014	$	9,258	$	4,320	$	(5,058	)	$	8,520
	March 30, 2013	$	6,179	$	5,328	$	(4,965	)	$	6,542

New_Accounting_Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	(15) New Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exist. ASU 2013-11 amends the presentation requirements of ASC 740 and requires an unrecognized tax benefit to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. To the extent the tax benefit is not available at the reporting date under the governing tax law or if the entity does not intend to use the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability and not combined with deferred tax assets. The ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, which is fiscal 2015 for the Company. The amendments are to be applied to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist as of the effective date and may be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on its consolidated financial statements.
	In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which amends the guidance for reporting discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity. The amended guidance requires that a disposal representing a strategic shift in operations, such as a disposal of a major line of business or geographic area, that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s financial results should be reported as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 also expands the disclosure requirements for discontinued operations and adds new disclosures for individually significant dispositions that do not qualify as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014 (early adoption is permitted only for disposals that have not been previously reported). The implementation of ASU 2014-08 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Supplemental_Guarantor_Condens

Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials	'
	(16) Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials
	The Company’s Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed by Hologic, Inc. (“Parent/Issuer”) and certain of its domestic subsidiaries, which are 100% owned by Hologic, Inc. The following represents the supplemental condensed financial information of Hologic, Inc. and its guarantor and non-guarantor subsidiaries, as of March 29, 2014 and September 28, 2013 and for the three and six months ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, as applicable.
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Three Months Ended March 29, 2014
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Revenues:
	Product	$	122,938		$	385,989		$	121,579		$	(109,371	)	$	521,135
	Service and other		88,608			17,068			12,342			(14,145	)		103,873
			211,546			403,057			133,921			(123,516	)		625,008
	Costs of revenues:
	Product		58,047			145,665			91,383			(109,371	)		185,724
	Amortization of intangible assets		1,397			74,619			867			—			76,883
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			26,567			—			26,567
	Service and other		51,109			13,893			2,865			(14,145	)		53,722
	Gross Profit		100,993			168,880			12,239			—			282,112
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		7,695			39,997			2,223			—			49,915
	Selling and marketing		17,857			40,532			20,268			—			78,657
	General and administrative		15,137			35,530			11,442			—			62,109
	Amortization of intangible assets		1,115			26,865			1,120			—			29,100
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			522			—			522
	Restructuring and divestiture charges		1,656			2,331			7,572			—			11,559
			43,460			145,255			43,147			—			231,862
	Income (loss) from operations		57,533			23,625			(30,908	)		—			50,250
	Interest income		103			901			297			(1,152	)		149
	Interest expense		(54,692	)		(308	)		(601	)		1,152			(54,449	)
	Debt extinguishment loss		(4,437	)		—			—			—			(4,437	)
	Other expense, net		(2,938	)		(186	)		(139	)		—			(3,263	)
	(Loss) income before income taxes		(4,431	)		24,032			(31,351	)		—			(11,750	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,753	)		4,664			2,104			—			5,015
	Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		(14,087	)		1,028			—			13,059			—
	Net (loss) income	$	(16,765	)	$	20,396		$	(33,455	)	$	13,059		$	(16,765	)
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Six Months Ended March 29, 2014
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Revenues:
	Product	$	228,394		$	767,557		$	247,982		$	(210,416	)	$	1,033,517
	Service and other		174,554			32,941			24,086			(27,642	)		203,939
			402,948			800,498			272,068			(238,058	)		1,237,456
	Costs of revenues:
	Product		110,920			284,425			177,673			(210,416	)		362,602
	Amortization of intangible assets		2,794			148,728			2,027			—			153,549
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			26,567			—			26,567
	Service and other		93,429			21,535			19,708			(27,642	)		107,030
	Gross Profit		195,805			345,810			46,093			—			587,708
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		15,212			78,848			4,524			—			98,584
	Selling and marketing		35,783			83,307			42,824			—			161,914
	General and administrative		29,793			77,024			23,111			—			129,928
	Amortization of intangible assets		1,894			51,028			2,394			—			55,316
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			522			—			522
	Restructuring and divestiture charges		6,646			12,087			11,176			—			29,909
			89,328			302,294			84,551			—			476,173
	Income (loss) from operations		106,477			43,516			(38,458	)		—			111,535
	Interest income		202			1,206			491			(1,394	)		505
	Interest expense		(115,346	)		(616	)		(1,171	)		1,394			(115,739	)
	Debt extinguishment loss		(7,377	)		—			—			—			(7,377	)
	Other (expense) income, net		6,627			(9,530	)		810			—			(2,093	)
	(Loss) income before income taxes		(9,417	)		34,576			(38,328	)		—			(13,169	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,812	)		6,224			4,535			—			8,947
	Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		(14,511	)		11,116			—			3,395			—
Net (loss) income	$	(22,116	)	$	39,468		$	(42,863	)	$	3,395		$	(22,116	)
SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Months Ended March 30, 2013
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Product	$	100,614		$	396,913		$	121,340		$	(102,751	)	$	516,116
Service and other		81,176			21,320			9,535			(15,484	)		96,547
		181,790			418,233			130,875			(118,235	)		612,663
Costs of revenues:
Product		52,488			169,259			88,231			(102,751	)		207,227
Amortization of intangible assets		1,309			73,374			1,050			—			75,733
Service and other		40,620			16,828			8,413			(15,484	)		50,377
Gross profit		87,373			158,772			33,181			—			279,326
Operating expenses:
Research and development		7,234			39,973			2,414			—			49,621
Selling and marketing		20,484			45,237			22,893			—			88,614
General and administrative		16,716			38,631			8,886			—			64,233
Amortization of intangible assets		777			26,687			1,203			—			28,667
Contingent consideration – compensation expense		29,388			—			—			—			29,388
Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		799			—			—			—			799
Restructuring and divestiture charges		164			10,600			3,092			(1,394	)		12,462
		75,562			161,128			38,488			(1,394	)		273,784
Income (loss) from operations		11,811			(2,356	)		(5,307	)		1,394			5,542
Interest income		99			36			72			—			207
Interest expense		(75,238	)		(309	)		(502	)		—			(76,049	)
Debt extinguishment loss		(3,247	)		—			—			—			(3,247	)
Other (expense) income, net		1,638			(3,073	)		1,247			(13	)		(201	)
(Loss) income before income taxes		(64,937	)		(5,702	)		(4,490	)		1,381			(73,748	)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(14,842	)		(8,081	)		279			—			(22,644	)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		(1,009	)		2,459			—			(1,450	)		—
Net (loss) income	$	(51,104	)	$	4,838		$	(4,769	)	$	(69	)	$	(51,104	)
SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2013
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Product	$	198,657		$	774,736		$	254,415		$	(178,438	)	$	1,049,370
Service and other		159,136			44,409			19,407			(28,297	)		194,655
		357,793			819,145			273,822			(206,735	)		1,244,025
Costs of revenues:
Product		106,008			331,988			169,996			(178,438	)		429,554
Amortization of intangible assets		2,615			146,291			2,114			—			151,020
Service and other		78,998			33,585			18,166			(28,297	)		102,452
Gross profit		170,172			307,281			83,546			—			560,999
Operating expenses:
Research and development		14,652			81,726			4,752			—			101,130
Selling and marketing		41,257			92,602			49,198			—			183,057
General and administrative		32,036			69,647			16,941			—			118,624
Amortization of intangible assets		1,455			53,336			2,402			—			57,193
Contingent consideration – compensation expense		58,874			—			—			—			58,874
Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		10,839			—			—			—			10,839
Gain on sale of intellectual property		—			(53,884	)		—			—			(53,884	)
Restructuring and divestiture charges		385			13,886			3,518			(1,394	)		16,395
		159,498			257,313			76,811			(1,394	)		492,228
Income from operations		10,674			49,968			6,735			1,394			68,771
Interest income		230			78			159			—			467
Interest expense		(146,492	)		(623	)		(1,015	)		—			(148,130	)
Debt extinguishment loss		(3,247	)		—			—			—			(3,247	)
Other income (expense), net		1,757			(7,119	)		6,427			(27	)		1,038
(Loss) income before income taxes		(137,078	)		42,304			12,306			1,367			(81,101	)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(26,589	)		(11,195	)		4,669			—			(33,115	)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		62,503			13,393			—			(75,896	)		—
Net (loss) income	$	(47,986	)	$	66,892		$	7,637		$	(74,529	)	$	(47,986	)
SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
For the Three Months Ended March 29, 2014
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	$	(16,765	)	$	20,396		$	(33,455	)	$	13,059		$	(16,765	)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			26			(5,789	)		—			(5,763	)
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			(1,048	)		—			—			(1,048	)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(16,765	)	$	19,374		$	(39,244	)	$	13,059		$	(23,576	)
For the Six Months Ended March 29, 2014
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	$	(22,116	)	$	39,468		$	(42,863	)	$	3,395		$	(22,116	)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			115			(7,066	)		—			(6,951	)
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			(2,228	)		—			—			(2,228	)
Changes in pension plans, net of taxes		—			—			(615	)		—			(615	)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(22,116	)	$	37,355		$	(50,544	)	$	3,395		$	(31,910	)
For the Three Months Ended March 30, 2013
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	$	(51,104	)	$	4,838		$	(4,769	)	$	(69	)	$	(51,104	)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			(341	)		(7,947	)		—			(8,288	)
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			2,687			—			—			2,687
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(51,104	)	$	7,184		$	(12,716	)	$	(69	)	$	(56,705	)
For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2013
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Net (loss) income	$	(47,986	)	$	66,892		$	7,637		$	(74,529	)	$	(47,986	)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			236			(6,555	)		—			(6,319	)
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			2,130			—			—			2,130
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(47,986	)	$	69,258		$	1,082		$	(74,529	)	$	(52,175	)
SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
March 29, 2014
	Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	139,343		$	242,863		$	102,316		$	—		$	484,522
Restricted cash		—			—			5,857			—			5,857
Accounts receivable, net		108,850			177,540			101,243			—			387,633
Inventories		83,479			172,075			55,426			—			310,980
Deferred income tax assets		14,907			18,591			900			—			34,398
Prepaid income taxes		—			2,583			957			(3,540	)		—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		19,252			13,445			8,473			—			41,170
Intercompany receivables		—			2,576,516			47,579			(2,624,095	)		—
Total current assets		365,831			3,203,613			322,751			(2,627,635	)		1,264,560
Property, plant and equipment, net		28,596			343,091			100,467			—			472,154
Intangible assets, net		16,011			3,585,729			65,857			—			3,667,597
Goodwill		282,448			2,391,294			136,072			—			2,809,814
Other assets		98,195			48,226			1,849			—			148,270
Long term intercompany receivables		—			144,000			—			(144,000	)		—
Investment in subsidiaries		8,648,043			199,081			280			(8,847,404	)		—
Total assets	$	9,439,124		$	9,915,034		$	627,276		$	(11,619,039	)	$	8,362,395
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	89,497		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	89,497
Accounts payable		27,969			29,867			10,361			—			68,197
Accrued expenses		136,690			67,889			47,515			(3,807	)		248,287
Deferred revenue		105,712			8,062			30,928			—			144,702
Intercompany payables		2,576,709			—			50,145			(2,626,854	)		—
Total current liabilities		2,936,577			105,818			138,949			(2,630,661	)		550,683
Long-term debt, net of current portion		4,183,958			—			—			—			4,183,958
Deferred income tax liabilities		78,567			1,361,467			10,308			—			1,450,342
Deferred service obligations – long-term		8,855			3,750			9,853			—			22,458
Long-term intercompany payables		144,000			—			—			(144,000	)		—
Other long-term liabilities		107,064			32,844			34,943			—			174,851
Total stockholders’ equity		1,980,103			8,411,155			433,223			(8,844,378	)		1,980,103
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	9,439,124		$	9,915,034		$	627,276		$	(11,619,039	)	$	8,362,395
SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
September 28, 2013
	Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	321,523		$	387,422		$	113,545		$	—		$	822,490
Restricted cash		—			—			6,914			—			6,914
Accounts receivable, net		126,036			174,433			108,804			—			409,273
Inventories		81,924			146,678			60,761			—			289,363
Deferred income tax assets		—			19,042			494			(19,536	)		—
Prepaid income taxes		47,131			2,303			—			(4,689	)		44,745
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		16,246			21,112			11,003			—			48,361
Intercompany receivables		—			2,442,502			31,949			(2,474,451	)		—
Other current assets – assets held-for-sale		—			—			2,997			—			2,997
Total current assets		592,860			3,193,492			336,467			(2,498,676	)		1,624,143
Property, plant and equipment, net		29,313			356,736			105,479			—			491,528
Intangible assets, net		19,925			3,784,987			101,810			—			3,906,722
Goodwill		283,038			2,390,939			140,551			—			2,814,528
Other assets		103,548			58,446			1,908			—			163,902
Investments in subsidiaries		8,667,620			129,016			2,296			(8,798,932	)		—
Total assets	$	9,696,304		$	9,913,616		$	688,511		$	(11,297,608	)	$	9,000,823
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	563,812		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	563,812
Accounts payable		27,865			42,661			10,008			—			80,534
Accrued expenses		152,950			79,629			44,319			(4,967	)		271,931
Deferred revenue		93,306			7,958			31,055			—			132,319
Deferred income tax liabilities		59,346			—			—			(19,536	)		39,810
Intercompany payables		2,418,089			—			64,411			(2,482,500	)		—
Total current liabilities		3,315,368			130,248			149,793			(2,507,003	)		1,088,406
Long-term debt, net of current portion		4,242,098			—			—			—			4,242,098
Deferred income tax liabilities		89,085			1,435,522			10,699			—			1,535,306
Deferred service obligations – long-term		11,251			3,511			12,864			(2,170	)		25,456
Other long-term liabilities		96,990			37,598			33,456			—			168,044
Total stockholders’ equity		1,941,512			8,306,737			481,699			(8,788,435	)		1,941,513
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	9,696,304		$	9,913,616		$	688,511		$	(11,297,608	)	$	9,000,823
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended March 29, 2014
	Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	343,410		$	(122,511	)	$	(2,584	)	$	—		$	218,315
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sale of business, net		—			—			2,431			—			2,431
Purchase of property and equipment		(5,643	)		(9,635	)		(4,499	)		—			(19,777	)
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements		(453	)		(10,546	)		(6,965	)		—			(17,964	)
Net sales of insurance contracts		13,841			—			—			—			13,841
Purchases of mutual funds		(29,732	)		—			—			—			(29,732	)
Sales of mutual funds		18,564			—			—			—			18,564
(Increase) decrease in other assets		(945	)		(1,981	)		994			—			(1,932	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(4,368	)		(22,162	)		(8,039	)		—			(34,569	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayment of long-term debt		(562,500	)		—			—			—			(562,500	)
Payment of debt issuance costs		(2,446	)		—			—			—			(2,446	)
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration		(4,965	)		—			—			—			(4,965	)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans		53,718			—			—			—			53,718
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards		4,134			—			—			—			4,134
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of equity awards		(9,163	)		—			—			—			(9,163	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(521,222	)		—			—			—			(521,222	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			114			(606	)		—			(492	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(182,180	)		(144,559	)		(11,229	)		—			(337,968	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		321,523			387,422			113,545			—			822,490
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	139,343		$	242,863		$	102,316		$	—		$	484,522
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2013
	Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	65,009		$	72,387		$	32,132		$	—		$	169,528
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of a business		(3,698	)		—			(220	)		—			(3,918	)
Payment of additional acquisition consideration		(16,808	)		—			—			—			(16,808	)
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash transferred		—			84,762			1,488			—			86,250
Purchase of property and equipment		(6,397	)		(14,335	)		(5,156	)		—			(25,888	)
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements		(335	)		(13,031	)		(7,589	)		—			(20,955	)
Purchase of insurance contracts		(4,000	)		—			—			—			(4,000	)
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property		—			60,000			—			—			60,000
Purchase of cost-method investments		(3,400	)		(225	)		—			—			(3,625	)
Increase in other assets		(1,984	)		(1,520	)		(1,447	)		—			(4,951	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(36,622	)		115,651			(12,924	)		—			66,105
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayment of long-term debt		(32,500	)		—			—			—			(32,500	)
Payment of debt issuance cost		(7,019	)											(7,019	)
Payment of contingent consideration		(42,433	)		—			—			—			(42,433	)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans		37,623			—			—			—			37,623
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards		4,437			—			—			—			4,437
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlements of equity awards		(9,972	)		—			—			—			(9,972	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(49,864	)		—			—			—			(49,864	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			(1,782	)		579			—			(1,203	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(21,477	)		186,256			19,787			—			184,566
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		210,028			269,416			80,986			—			560,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	188,551		$	455,672		$	100,773		$	—		$	744,996

New_Accounting_Pronouncements_

New Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exist. ASU 2013-11 amends the presentation requirements of ASC 740 and requires an unrecognized tax benefit to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. To the extent the tax benefit is not available at the reporting date under the governing tax law or if the entity does not intend to use the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability and not combined with deferred tax assets. The ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, which is fiscal 2015 for the Company. The amendments are to be applied to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist as of the effective date and may be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on its consolidated financial statements.
	In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which amends the guidance for reporting discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity. The amended guidance requires that a disposal representing a strategic shift in operations, such as a disposal of a major line of business or geographic area, that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s financial results should be reported as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 also expands the disclosure requirements for discontinued operations and adds new disclosures for individually significant dispositions that do not qualify as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014 (early adoption is permitted only for disposals that have not been previously reported). The implementation of ASU 2014-08 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	Assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following at March 29, 2014:
					Fair Value at Reporting Date Using
		Balance as of			Quoted Prices in			Significant			Significant
		March 29,			Active Market for			Other			Unobservable
		2014			Identical Assets			Observable			Inputs (Level 3)
					(Level 1)			Inputs (Level 2)
	Assets:
	Marketable securities:
	Equity security	$	15,859		$	15,859		$	—		$	—
	Mutual funds		18,744			18,744			—			—
	Total	$	34,603		$	34,603		$	—		$	—
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation liabilities	$	40,464		$	40,464		$	—		$	—
	Contingent consideration		3,393			—			—			3,393
	Total	$	43,857		$	40,464		$	—		$	3,393
Changes in Fair Value of Recurring Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3), Consisting of Contingent Consideration Liabilities	'
	Changes in the fair value of recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), which solely consisted of contingent consideration liabilities, were as follows:
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		March 29,			March 30,			March 29,			March 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	3,647		$	93,000		$	3,780		$	86,368
	Fair value adjustments		—			799			—			10,839
	Payments		(254	)		(90,172	)		(387	)		(93,580	)
	Balance at end of period	$	3,393		$	3,627		$	3,393		$	3,627
Schedule of Estimated Fair Value of Assets Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis	'
	The following chart depicts the level of inputs within the fair value hierarchy used to estimate the fair value of assets measured on a nonrecurring basis for which the Company recorded impairment charges in fiscal 2014:
					Fair Value Measurements Using
		Fair Value			Quoted Prices in		Significant	Significant			Total Gains
					Active Market for		Other	Unobservable			(Losses)
					Identical Assets		Observable	Inputs (Level 3)
					(Level 1)		Inputs (Level 2)
	Fiscal 2014:
	Intangible assets	$	18,272					$	18,272		$	(27,089	)
	Property and equipment		1,015						1,015			(1,505	)
	Buildings		1,388						1,388			(3,132	)
	Cost-method equity investments		778						778			(3,705	)
											$	(35,431	)
Estimated Fair Values of Convertible Notes	'
	The estimated fair values of the Company’s Convertible Notes were as follows:
		March 29,			September 28,
		2014			2013
	2007 Notes	$	—		$	405,000
	2010 Notes		507,800			510,800
	2012 Notes		502,800			518,800
	2013 Notes		390,900			385,700
		$	1,401,500		$	1,820,300

Restructuring_and_Divestiture_1

Restructuring and Divestiture Charges (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Charges Taken Related to Restructuring Actions	'
	The following table displays charges taken related to restructuring actions in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 and a rollforward of the charges to the accrued balances as of March 29, 2014:
	Restructuring and Divestiture Charges	Consolidation of			Closure of			Fiscal 2014			Fiscal 2013			Other			Total
		Diagnostics			Indianapolis			Actions			Actions			Operating
		Operations			Facility									Cost
														Reductions
	Fiscal 2012 charges:
	Non-cash impairment charge	$	585		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	585
	Purchase orders and other contractual obligations		—			—			—			—			351			351
	Workforce reductions		14,202			879			—			—			168			15,249
	Facility closure costs		—			—			—			—			430			430
	Other		—			900			—			—			—			900
	Fiscal 2012 restructuring and divestiture charges	$	14,787		$	1,779		$	—		$	—		$	949		$	17,515
	Fiscal 2013 charges:
	Workforce reductions	$	13,950		$	4,805		$	—		$	11,332		$	1,127		$	31,214
	Facility closure costs		—			173			—			—			377			550
	Other		—			651			—			42			236			929
	Fiscal 2013 restructuring charges	$	13,950		$	5,629		$	—		$	11,374		$	1,740		$	32,693
	Divestiture net charges																	112
	Fiscal 2013 restructuring and divestiture charges																$	32,805
	Fiscal 2014 charges:
	Workforce reductions	$	1,671		$	238		$	15,948		$	932		$	7,194		$	25,983
	Property impairment		—			—			—			—			3,132			3,132
	Facility closure costs		—			445			—			—			—			445
	Other		—			—			—			—			128			128
	Fiscal 2014 restructuring charges	$	1,671		$	683		$	15,948		$	932		$	10,454		$	29,688
	Divestiture net charges																	221
	Fiscal 2014 restructuring and divestiture charges																$	29,909
Charges Taken Related to Accrued Restructuring Actions	'
	Rollforward of Accrued Restructuring
	Fiscal 2012 charges	$	14,787		$	1,779		$	—		$	—		$	949		$	17,515
	Non-cash impairment charges		(585	)		—			—			—			—			(585	)
	Stock-based compensation		(3,500	)		—			—			—			—			(3,500	)
	Severance payments		(2,423	)		—			—			—			(206	)		(2,629	)
	Other payments		—			—			—			—			(781	)		(781	)
	Acquired		83			—			—			—			—			83
	Foreign exchange and other adjustments		22			—			—			—			91			113
	Balance at September 29, 2012	$	8,384		$	1,779		$	—		$	—		$	53		$	10,216
	Fiscal 2013 restructuring charges	$	13,950		$	5,629			—		$	11,374		$	1,740		$	32,693
	Stock-based compensation		(6,322	)		—			—			(1,595	)		—			(7,917	)
	Non-cash impairment charges		—			—			—			—			(54	)		(54	)
	Severance payments		(13,068	)		(3,048	)		—			(4,425	)		(897	)		(21,438	)
	Other payments		—			(566	)		—			(25	)		(560	)		(1,151	)
	Rollforward of Accrued Restructuring	Consolidation of			Closure of			Fiscal 2014			Fiscal 2013			Other			Total
		Diagnostics			Indianapolis			Actions			Actions			Operating
		Operations			Facility									Cost
														Reductions
	Foreign exchange and other adjustments		(2	)		—			—			(14	)		6			(10	)
	Balance at September 28, 2013	$	2,942		$	3,794		$	—		$	5,315		$	288		$	12,339
	Fiscal 2014 restructuring charges	$	1,671		$	683		$	15,948		$	932		$	10,454		$	29,688
	Stock-based compensation		—			—			(4,731	)		(30	)		—			(4,761	)
	Non-cash impairment charges		—			—			—			—			(3,132	)		(3,132	)
	Severance payments		(421	)		(3,946	)		(6,123	)		(4,176	)		(1,322	)		(15,988	)
	Other payments		—			(353	)		—			(9	)		(128	)		(490	)
	Foreign exchange and other adjustments		—			—			—			(3	)		5			2
	Balance at March 29, 2014	$	4,192		$	178		$	5,094		$	2,029		$	6,165		$	17,658

Borrowings_and_Credit_Arrangem1

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Company's Borrowings	'
	The Company’s borrowings consisted of the following:
		March 29, 2014		September 28, 2013
	Current debt obligations, net of debt discount:
	Term Loan A	$	74,628	$	49,713
	Term Loan B		14,869		113,966
	Convertible Notes		—		400,133
	Total current debt obligations		89,497		563,812
	Long-term debt obligations, net of debt discount:
	Term Loan A		845,782		894,834
	Term Loan B		1,127,581		1,159,272
	Senior Notes		1,000,000		1,000,000
	Convertible Notes		1,210,595		1,187,992
	Total long-term debt obligations		4,183,958		4,242,098
	Total debt obligations	$	4,273,455	$	4,805,910
Interest Expense under Convertible Notes	'
	Interest expense under the Convertible Notes is as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,		March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Amortization of debt discount	$	8,341	$	13,621	$	19,887	$	29,265
	Amortization of deferred financing costs		413		790		1,063		1,698
	Principal accretion		3,810		1,789		7,584		1,789
	Non-cash interest expense		12,564		16,200		28,534		32,752
	2.00% accrued interest		4,751		8,616		12,870		17,226
		$	17,315	$	24,816	$	41,404	$	49,978

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of Contingent Consideration Charges Recorded to the Consolidated Statements of Operations	'
	A summary of amounts recorded to the Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
	Statement of Operations Line Item – 3 Months Ended March 30, 2013	Interlace		TCT		Total
	Contingent consideration – compensation expense	$	—	$	29,388	$	29,388
	Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		799		—		799
		$	799	$	29,388	$	30,187
	Statement of Operations Line Item – 6 Months Ended March 30, 2013	Interlace		TCT		Total
	Contingent consideration – compensation expense	$	—	$	58,874	$	58,874
	Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		10,839		—		10,839
		$	10,839	$	58,874	$	69,713

Marketable_Securities_Tables

Marketable Securities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Reconciles Cost Basis to Fair Market Value of Company's Equity Security	'
	The following reconciles the cost basis to the fair market value of the Company’s equity security that is classified as available-for-sale:
	Period Ended:	Cost		Gross Unrealized		Gross Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
	March 29, 2014	$	5,931	$	9,928	$	—	$	15,859
	September 28, 2013	$	5,931	$	12,156	$	—	$	18,087

Net_Loss_Per_Share_Tables

Net Loss Per Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Share Amounts	'
	A reconciliation of basic and diluted share amounts is as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,		March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		274,589		268,175		273,648		267,259
	Weighted average common stock equivalents from assumed exercise of stock options and restricted stock units		—		—		—		—
	Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		274,589		268,175		273,648		267,259
	Weighted-average anti-dilutive shares related to:
	Outstanding stock options		7,950		8,081		7,575		9,104
	Restricted stock units		517		1,037		733		1,059

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation Expense in Consolidated Statements of Operations	'
	The following presents stock-based compensation expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations:
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		March 29,			March 30,			March 29,			March 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Cost of revenues	$	2,133		$	1,723		$	3,643		$	3,557
	Research and development		2,224			2,015			4,097			3,883
	Selling and marketing		2,352			2,567			4,101			4,768
	General and administrative		5,663			5,739			9,496			11,680
	Restructuring and divestiture		—			6,969			4,761			7,191
		$	12,372		$	19,013		$	26,098		$	31,079
Weighted-Average Assumptions Utilized to Value Stock Options	'
	The Company uses a binomial model to determine the fair value of its stock options. The weighted-average assumptions utilized to value these stock options are indicated in the following table:
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		March 29,			March 30,			March 29,			March 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Risk-free interest rate		1.3	%		0.5	%		1.2	%		0.5	%
	Expected volatility		41.4	%		43.7	%		41.4	%		43.7	%
	Expected life (in years)		4.5			4.4			4.4			4.4
	Dividend yield		—			—			—			—
	Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	7.82		$	5.83		$	7.65		$	6.99

Other_Balance_Sheet_Informatio1

Other Balance Sheet Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Other Balance Sheet Information of Inventories	'
		March 29,			September 28,
		2014			2013
	Inventories
	Raw materials	$	117,356		$	115,575
	Work-in-process		59,635			51,171
	Finished goods		133,989			122,617
		$	310,980		$	289,363
Other Balance Sheet Information of Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment
	Equipment and software	$	334,178		$	318,473
	Equipment under customer usage agreements		282,177			275,696
	Building and improvements		173,930			171,469
	Leasehold improvements		62,734			68,159
	Land		51,662			51,633
	Furniture and fixtures		16,972			22,628
			921,653			908,058
	Less – accumulated depreciation and amortization		(449,499	)		(416,530	)
		$	472,154		$	491,528

Business_Segments_and_Geograph1

Business Segments and Geographic Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment information is as follows:
		Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,			March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013			2014		2013
	Total revenues:
	Diagnostics	$	290,802	$	296,507		$	576,568	$	602,423
	Breast Health		238,705		220,058			465,196		440,866
	GYN Surgical		72,043		73,692			150,897		154,601
	Skeletal Health		23,458		22,406			44,795		46,135
		$	625,008	$	612,663		$	1,237,456	$	1,244,025
	Operating income (loss):
	Diagnostics	$	15,243	$	(46,978	)	$	19,997	$	(32,683	)
	Breast Health		25,818		47,892			69,667		92,837
	GYN Surgical		6,579		2,241			17,702		2,863
	Skeletal Health		2,610		2,387			4,169		5,754
		$	50,250	$	5,542		$	111,535	$	68,771
	Depreciation and amortization:
	Diagnostics	$	94,612	$	89,402		$	186,798	$	180,944
	Breast Health		9,163		10,124			18,524		20,054
	GYN Surgical		26,042		26,524			52,088		53,003
	Skeletal Health		227		226			453		430
		$	130,044	$	126,276		$	257,863	$	254,431
	Capital expenditures:
	Diagnostics	$	14,841	$	13,464		$	25,097	$	27,318
	Breast Health		2,275		5,910			4,080		9,490
	GYN Surgical		2,194		2,171			3,980		4,916
	Skeletal Health		40		28			182		206
	Corporate		2,006		2,823			4,402		4,913
		$	21,356	$	24,396		$	37,741	$	46,843
		March 29,		September 28,
		2014		2013
	Identifiable assets:
	Diagnostics	$	4,528,340	$	4,667,942
	Breast Health		877,923		932,206
	GYN Surgical		1,802,207		1,849,518
	Skeletal Health		33,369		33,508
	Corporate		1,120,556		1,517,649
		$	8,362,395	$	9,000,823
Revenues by Geography	'
	Revenues by geography as a percentage of total revenues were as follows:
		Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
		March 29,		March 30,			March 29,		March 30,
		2014		2013			2014		2013
	United States		74%		75%			74%		74%
	Europe		15%		12%			15%		14%
	Asia-Pacific		7%		9%			7%		8%
	All others		4%		4%			4%		4%
			100%		100%			100%		100%

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Rollforward of Goodwill Activity by Reportable Segment	'
	A rollforward of goodwill activity by reportable segment from September 28, 2013 to March 29, 2014 is as follows:
		Diagnostics			Breast Health			GYN Surgical			Skeletal Health		Total
	Balance at September 28, 2013	$	1,153,554		$	636,365		$	1,016,456		$	8,153	$	2,814,528
	Disposition of a portion of a reporting unit		(221	)		—			—			—		(221	)
	Tax adjustments		(323	)		—			—			—		(323	)
	Foreign currency and other		(571	)		(3,292	)		(316	)		9		(4,170	)
	Balance at March 29, 2014	$	1,152,439		$	633,073		$	1,016,140		$	8,162	$	2,809,814
Schedule of Intangible Assets	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets consisted of the following:
	Description	As of March 29, 2014						As of September 28, 2013
		Gross			Accumulated			Gross			Accumulated
		Carrying			Amortization			Carrying			Amortization
		Value						Value
	Developed technology	$	3,969,132		$	1,237,076		$	4,008,947		$	1,094,435
	In-process research and development		23,000			—			24,000			—
	Customer relationships and contracts		1,101,860			340,541			1,101,870			296,481
	Trade names		236,846			92,183			238,103			81,844
	Patents		13,452			8,762			13,026			8,495
	Business licenses		2,607			738			2,647			616
	Non-competition agreements		—			—			296			296
		$	5,346,897		$	1,679,300		$	5,388,889		$	1,482,167
Schedule of Estimated Amortization Expense	'
	The estimated remaining amortization expense as of March 29, 2014 for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:
	Remainder of Fiscal 2014	$	229,551
	Fiscal 2015	$	403,348
	Fiscal 2016	$	374,672
	Fiscal 2017	$	365,541
	Fiscal 2018	$	355,044

Product_Warranties_Tables

Product Warranties (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Guarantees [Abstract]	'
Product Warranty	'
	Product warranty activity was as follows:
		Balance at		Provisions		Settlements/			Balance at
		Beginning of				Adjustments			End of Period
		Period
	Six Months Ended:
	March 29, 2014	$	9,258	$	4,320	$	(5,058	)	$	8,520
	March 30, 2013	$	6,179	$	5,328	$	(4,965	)	$	6,542

Supplemental_Guarantor_Condens1

Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations	'
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Three Months Ended March 29, 2014
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Revenues:
	Product	$	122,938		$	385,989		$	121,579		$	(109,371	)	$	521,135
	Service and other		88,608			17,068			12,342			(14,145	)		103,873
			211,546			403,057			133,921			(123,516	)		625,008
	Costs of revenues:
	Product		58,047			145,665			91,383			(109,371	)		185,724
	Amortization of intangible assets		1,397			74,619			867			—			76,883
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			26,567			—			26,567
	Service and other		51,109			13,893			2,865			(14,145	)		53,722
	Gross Profit		100,993			168,880			12,239			—			282,112
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		7,695			39,997			2,223			—			49,915
	Selling and marketing		17,857			40,532			20,268			—			78,657
	General and administrative		15,137			35,530			11,442			—			62,109
	Amortization of intangible assets		1,115			26,865			1,120			—			29,100
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			522			—			522
	Restructuring and divestiture charges		1,656			2,331			7,572			—			11,559
			43,460			145,255			43,147			—			231,862
	Income (loss) from operations		57,533			23,625			(30,908	)		—			50,250
	Interest income		103			901			297			(1,152	)		149
	Interest expense		(54,692	)		(308	)		(601	)		1,152			(54,449	)
	Debt extinguishment loss		(4,437	)		—			—			—			(4,437	)
	Other expense, net		(2,938	)		(186	)		(139	)		—			(3,263	)
	(Loss) income before income taxes		(4,431	)		24,032			(31,351	)		—			(11,750	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,753	)		4,664			2,104			—			5,015
	Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		(14,087	)		1,028			—			13,059			—
	Net (loss) income	$	(16,765	)	$	20,396		$	(33,455	)	$	13,059		$	(16,765	)
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	For the Six Months Ended March 29, 2014
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Revenues:
	Product	$	228,394		$	767,557		$	247,982		$	(210,416	)	$	1,033,517
	Service and other		174,554			32,941			24,086			(27,642	)		203,939
			402,948			800,498			272,068			(238,058	)		1,237,456
	Costs of revenues:
	Product		110,920			284,425			177,673			(210,416	)		362,602
	Amortization of intangible assets		2,794			148,728			2,027			—			153,549
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			26,567			—			26,567
	Service and other		93,429			21,535			19,708			(27,642	)		107,030
	Gross Profit		195,805			345,810			46,093			—			587,708
	Operating expenses:
	Research and development		15,212			78,848			4,524			—			98,584
	Selling and marketing		35,783			83,307			42,824			—			161,914
	General and administrative		29,793			77,024			23,111			—			129,928
	Amortization of intangible assets		1,894			51,028			2,394			—			55,316
	Impairment of intangible assets		—			—			522			—			522
	Restructuring and divestiture charges		6,646			12,087			11,176			—			29,909
			89,328			302,294			84,551			—			476,173
	Income (loss) from operations		106,477			43,516			(38,458	)		—			111,535
	Interest income		202			1,206			491			(1,394	)		505
	Interest expense		(115,346	)		(616	)		(1,171	)		1,394			(115,739	)
	Debt extinguishment loss		(7,377	)		—			—			—			(7,377	)
	Other (expense) income, net		6,627			(9,530	)		810			—			(2,093	)
	(Loss) income before income taxes		(9,417	)		34,576			(38,328	)		—			(13,169	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,812	)		6,224			4,535			—			8,947
	Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		(14,511	)		11,116			—			3,395			—
	Net (loss) income	$	(22,116	)	$	39,468		$	(42,863	)	$	3,395		$	(22,116	)
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Months Ended March 30, 2013
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Product	$	100,614		$	396,913		$	121,340		$	(102,751	)	$	516,116
Service and other		81,176			21,320			9,535			(15,484	)		96,547
		181,790			418,233			130,875			(118,235	)		612,663
Costs of revenues:
Product		52,488			169,259			88,231			(102,751	)		207,227
Amortization of intangible assets		1,309			73,374			1,050			—			75,733
Service and other		40,620			16,828			8,413			(15,484	)		50,377
Gross profit		87,373			158,772			33,181			—			279,326
Operating expenses:
Research and development		7,234			39,973			2,414			—			49,621
Selling and marketing		20,484			45,237			22,893			—			88,614
General and administrative		16,716			38,631			8,886			—			64,233
Amortization of intangible assets		777			26,687			1,203			—			28,667
Contingent consideration – compensation expense		29,388			—			—			—			29,388
Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		799			—			—			—			799
Restructuring and divestiture charges		164			10,600			3,092			(1,394	)		12,462
		75,562			161,128			38,488			(1,394	)		273,784
Income (loss) from operations		11,811			(2,356	)		(5,307	)		1,394			5,542
Interest income		99			36			72			—			207
Interest expense		(75,238	)		(309	)		(502	)		—			(76,049	)
Debt extinguishment loss		(3,247	)		—			—			—			(3,247	)
Other (expense) income, net		1,638			(3,073	)		1,247			(13	)		(201	)
(Loss) income before income taxes		(64,937	)		(5,702	)		(4,490	)		1,381			(73,748	)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(14,842	)		(8,081	)		279			—			(22,644	)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		(1,009	)		2,459			—			(1,450	)		—
Net (loss) income	$	(51,104	)	$	4,838		$	(4,769	)	$	(69	)	$	(51,104	)
SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2013
	Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
				Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Product	$	198,657		$	774,736		$	254,415		$	(178,438	)	$	1,049,370
Service and other		159,136			44,409			19,407			(28,297	)		194,655
		357,793			819,145			273,822			(206,735	)		1,244,025
Costs of revenues:
Product		106,008			331,988			169,996			(178,438	)		429,554
Amortization of intangible assets		2,615			146,291			2,114			—			151,020
Service and other		78,998			33,585			18,166			(28,297	)		102,452
Gross profit		170,172			307,281			83,546			—			560,999
Operating expenses:
Research and development		14,652			81,726			4,752			—			101,130
Selling and marketing		41,257			92,602			49,198			—			183,057
General and administrative		32,036			69,647			16,941			—			118,624
Amortization of intangible assets		1,455			53,336			2,402			—			57,193
Contingent consideration – compensation expense		58,874			—			—			—			58,874
Contingent consideration – fair value adjustments		10,839			—			—			—			10,839
Gain on sale of intellectual property		—			(53,884	)		—			—			(53,884	)
Restructuring and divestiture charges		385			13,886			3,518			(1,394	)		16,395
		159,498			257,313			76,811			(1,394	)		492,228
Income from operations		10,674			49,968			6,735			1,394			68,771
Interest income		230			78			159			—			467
Interest expense		(146,492	)		(623	)		(1,015	)		—			(148,130	)
Debt extinguishment loss		(3,247	)		—			—			—			(3,247	)
Other income (expense), net		1,757			(7,119	)		6,427			(27	)		1,038
(Loss) income before income taxes		(137,078	)		42,304			12,306			1,367			(81,101	)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes		(26,589	)		(11,195	)		4,669			—			(33,115	)
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries		62,503			13,393			—			(75,896	)		—
Net (loss) income	$	(47,986	)	$	66,892		$	7,637		$	(74,529	)	$	(47,986	)
Schedule of Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income	'
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
	For the Three Months Ended March 29, 2014
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Net (loss) income	$	(16,765	)	$	20,396		$	(33,455	)	$	13,059		$	(16,765	)
	Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			26			(5,789	)		—			(5,763	)
	Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			(1,048	)		—			—			(1,048	)
	Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(16,765	)	$	19,374		$	(39,244	)	$	13,059		$	(23,576	)
	For the Six Months Ended March 29, 2014
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Net (loss) income	$	(22,116	)	$	39,468		$	(42,863	)	$	3,395		$	(22,116	)
	Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			115			(7,066	)		—			(6,951	)
	Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			(2,228	)		—			—			(2,228	)
	Changes in pension plans, net of taxes		—			—			(615	)		—			(615	)
	Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(22,116	)	$	37,355		$	(50,544	)	$	3,395		$	(31,910	)
	For the Three Months Ended March 30, 2013
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Net (loss) income	$	(51,104	)	$	4,838		$	(4,769	)	$	(69	)	$	(51,104	)
	Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			(341	)		(7,947	)		—			(8,288	)
	Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			2,687			—			—			2,687
	Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(51,104	)	$	7,184		$	(12,716	)	$	(69	)	$	(56,705	)
	For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2013
		Parent/Issuer			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	Net (loss) income	$	(47,986	)	$	66,892		$	7,637		$	(74,529	)	$	(47,986	)
	Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		—			236			(6,555	)		—			(6,319	)
	Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities		—			2,130			—			—			2,130
	Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(47,986	)	$	69,258		$	1,082		$	(74,529	)	$	(52,175	)
Schedule of Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet	'
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	March 29, 2014
		Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	139,343		$	242,863		$	102,316		$	—		$	484,522
	Restricted cash		—			—			5,857			—			5,857
	Accounts receivable, net		108,850			177,540			101,243			—			387,633
	Inventories		83,479			172,075			55,426			—			310,980
	Deferred income tax assets		14,907			18,591			900			—			34,398
	Prepaid income taxes		—			2,583			957			(3,540	)		—
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		19,252			13,445			8,473			—			41,170
	Intercompany receivables		—			2,576,516			47,579			(2,624,095	)		—
	Total current assets		365,831			3,203,613			322,751			(2,627,635	)		1,264,560
	Property, plant and equipment, net		28,596			343,091			100,467			—			472,154
	Intangible assets, net		16,011			3,585,729			65,857			—			3,667,597
	Goodwill		282,448			2,391,294			136,072			—			2,809,814
	Other assets		98,195			48,226			1,849			—			148,270
	Long term intercompany receivables		—			144,000			—			(144,000	)		—
	Investment in subsidiaries		8,648,043			199,081			280			(8,847,404	)		—
	Total assets	$	9,439,124		$	9,915,034		$	627,276		$	(11,619,039	)	$	8,362,395
	LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	89,497		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	89,497
	Accounts payable		27,969			29,867			10,361			—			68,197
	Accrued expenses		136,690			67,889			47,515			(3,807	)		248,287
	Deferred revenue		105,712			8,062			30,928			—			144,702
	Intercompany payables		2,576,709			—			50,145			(2,626,854	)		—
	Total current liabilities		2,936,577			105,818			138,949			(2,630,661	)		550,683
	Long-term debt, net of current portion		4,183,958			—			—			—			4,183,958
	Deferred income tax liabilities		78,567			1,361,467			10,308			—			1,450,342
	Deferred service obligations – long-term		8,855			3,750			9,853			—			22,458
	Long-term intercompany payables		144,000			—			—			(144,000	)		—
	Other long-term liabilities		107,064			32,844			34,943			—			174,851
	Total stockholders’ equity		1,980,103			8,411,155			433,223			(8,844,378	)		1,980,103
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	9,439,124		$	9,915,034		$	627,276		$	(11,619,039	)	$	8,362,395
	SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	September 28, 2013
		Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	321,523		$	387,422		$	113,545		$	—		$	822,490
	Restricted cash		—			—			6,914			—			6,914
	Accounts receivable, net		126,036			174,433			108,804			—			409,273
	Inventories		81,924			146,678			60,761			—			289,363
	Deferred income tax assets		—			19,042			494			(19,536	)		—
	Prepaid income taxes		47,131			2,303			—			(4,689	)		44,745
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		16,246			21,112			11,003			—			48,361
	Intercompany receivables		—			2,442,502			31,949			(2,474,451	)		—
	Other current assets – assets held-for-sale		—			—			2,997			—			2,997
	Total current assets		592,860			3,193,492			336,467			(2,498,676	)		1,624,143
	Property, plant and equipment, net		29,313			356,736			105,479			—			491,528
	Intangible assets, net		19,925			3,784,987			101,810			—			3,906,722
	Goodwill		283,038			2,390,939			140,551			—			2,814,528
	Other assets		103,548			58,446			1,908			—			163,902
	Investments in subsidiaries		8,667,620			129,016			2,296			(8,798,932	)		—
	Total assets	$	9,696,304		$	9,913,616		$	688,511		$	(11,297,608	)	$	9,000,823
	LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	563,812		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	563,812
	Accounts payable		27,865			42,661			10,008			—			80,534
Accrued expenses		152,950			79,629			44,319			(4,967	)		271,931
Deferred revenue		93,306			7,958			31,055			—			132,319
Deferred income tax liabilities		59,346			—			—			(19,536	)		39,810
Intercompany payables		2,418,089			—			64,411			(2,482,500	)		—
Total current liabilities		3,315,368			130,248			149,793			(2,507,003	)		1,088,406
Long-term debt, net of current portion		4,242,098			—			—			—			4,242,098
Deferred income tax liabilities		89,085			1,435,522			10,699			—			1,535,306
Deferred service obligations – long-term		11,251			3,511			12,864			(2,170	)		25,456
Other long-term liabilities		96,990			37,598			33,456			—			168,044
Total stockholders’ equity		1,941,512			8,306,737			481,699			(8,788,435	)		1,941,513
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	9,696,304		$	9,913,616		$	688,511		$	(11,297,608	)	$	9,000,823
Schedule of Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows	'
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	For the Six Months Ended March 29, 2014
		Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	OPERATING ACTIVITIES
	Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	343,410		$	(122,511	)	$	(2,584	)	$	—		$	218,315
	INVESTING ACTIVITIES
	Proceeds from sale of business, net		—			—			2,431			—			2,431
	Purchase of property and equipment		(5,643	)		(9,635	)		(4,499	)		—			(19,777	)
	Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements		(453	)		(10,546	)		(6,965	)		—			(17,964	)
	Net sales of insurance contracts		13,841			—			—			—			13,841
	Purchases of mutual funds		(29,732	)		—			—			—			(29,732	)
	Sales of mutual funds		18,564			—			—			—			18,564
	(Increase) decrease in other assets		(945	)		(1,981	)		994			—			(1,932	)
	Net cash used in investing activities		(4,368	)		(22,162	)		(8,039	)		—			(34,569	)
	FINANCING ACTIVITIES
	Repayment of long-term debt		(562,500	)		—			—			—			(562,500	)
	Payment of debt issuance costs		(2,446	)		—			—			—			(2,446	)
	Payment of deferred acquisition consideration		(4,965	)		—			—			—			(4,965	)
	Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans		53,718			—			—			—			53,718
	Excess tax benefit related to equity awards		4,134			—			—			—			4,134
	Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of equity awards		(9,163	)		—			—			—			(9,163	)
	Net cash used in financing activities		(521,222	)		—			—			—			(521,222	)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			114			(606	)		—			(492	)
	Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(182,180	)		(144,559	)		(11,229	)		—			(337,968	)
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		321,523			387,422			113,545			—			822,490
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	139,343		$	242,863		$	102,316		$	—		$	484,522
	CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2013
		Parent/			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
		Issuer			Subsidiaries			Subsidiaries
	OPERATING ACTIVITIES
	Net cash provided by operating activities	$	65,009		$	72,387		$	32,132		$	—		$	169,528
	INVESTING ACTIVITIES
	Acquisition of a business		(3,698	)		—			(220	)		—			(3,918	)
	Payment of additional acquisition consideration		(16,808	)		—			—			—			(16,808	)
	Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash transferred		—			84,762			1,488			—			86,250
	Purchase of property and equipment		(6,397	)		(14,335	)		(5,156	)		—			(25,888	)
	Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements		(335	)		(13,031	)		(7,589	)		—			(20,955	)
	Purchase of insurance contracts		(4,000	)		—			—			—			(4,000	)
	Proceeds from sale of intellectual property		—			60,000			—			—			60,000
	Purchase of cost-method investments		(3,400	)		(225	)		—			—			(3,625	)
	Increase in other assets		(1,984	)		(1,520	)		(1,447	)		—			(4,951	)
	Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(36,622	)		115,651			(12,924	)		—			66,105
	FINANCING ACTIVITIES
	Repayment of long-term debt		(32,500	)		—			—			—			(32,500	)
	Payment of debt issuance cost		(7,019	)											(7,019	)
	Payment of contingent consideration		(42,433	)		—			—			—			(42,433	)
	Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans		37,623			—			—			—			37,623
	Excess tax benefit related to equity awards		4,437			—			—			—			4,437
	Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlements of equity awards		(9,972	)		—			—			—			(9,972	)
	Net cash used in financing activities		(49,864	)		—			—			—			(49,864	)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			(1,782	)		579			—			(1,203	)
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(21,477	)		186,256			19,787			—			184,566
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		210,028			269,416			80,986			—			560,430
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	188,551		$	455,672		$	100,773		$	—		$	744,996

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements - Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$34,603
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	43,857
Equity Security [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	15,859
Mutual Funds [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	18,744
Deferred Compensation Liabilities [Member]	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	40,464
Contingent Consideration [Member]	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	3,393
Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	34,603
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	40,464
Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Equity Security [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	15,859
Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	18,744
Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Deferred Compensation Liabilities [Member]	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	40,464
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Equity Security [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Deferred Compensation Liabilities [Member]	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Contingent Consideration [Member]	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	3,393
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Equity Security [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]	'
Assets:	'
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Deferred Compensation Liabilities [Member]	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Contingent Consideration [Member]	'
Liabilities:	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$3,393

Fair_Value_Measurements_Change

Fair Value Measurements - Changes in Fair Value of Recurring Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3), Consisting of Contingent Consideration Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$3,647	$93,000	$3,780	$86,368
Fair value adjustments	'	799	'	10,839
Payments	-254	-90,172	-387	-93,580
Balance at end of period	$3,393	$3,627	$3,393	$3,627

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Fair Value Measurement [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment charge	'	'	$700,000	$28,600,000	'
Impairment charge allocated to intangible assets	'	'	'	27,100,000	'
Impairment charge allocated to property and equipment	'	'	'	33,308,000	47,000
Asset impairment charge	'	3,100,000	'	'	'
Cost-method equity investments in non-publicly traded securities	8,700,000	'	12,600,000	8,700,000	'
Other-than-temporary impairment charges	3,000,000	'	'	3,700,000	'
Fair value of Senior Notes	1,060,000,000	'	'	1,060,000,000	'
Property and equipment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurement [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment charge allocated to property and equipment	'	'	'	1,500,000	'
Cost of product revenues [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurement [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment charge allocated to property and equipment	'	'	'	300,000	'
General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurement [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment charge allocated to property and equipment	'	'	'	1,200,000	'
Level Three Investments [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurement [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Other-than-temporary impairment charges	'	'	'	1,700,000	'
Credit Agreement [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurement [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Borrowed principal under credit agreement	$2,080,000,000	'	'	$2,080,000,000	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Schedu

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Estimated Fair Value of Assets Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Assets And Liabilities Carrying Value And Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Intangible asset, Total Gains (Losses)	'	($27,100)	'
Total Gains (Losses)	-3,100	'	'
Cost-method equity investments, Total Gains (Losses)	'	-3,705	-1,733
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]	'	'	'
Assets And Liabilities Carrying Value And Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Intangible assets	'	18,272	'
Cost-method equity investments	'	778	'
Intangible asset, Total Gains (Losses)	'	-27,089	'
Cost-method equity investments, Total Gains (Losses)	'	-3,705	'
Total Gains (Losses)	'	-35,431	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Assets And Liabilities Carrying Value And Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Intangible assets	'	18,272	'
Cost-method equity investments	'	778	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Property and equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Assets And Liabilities Carrying Value And Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair Value	'	1,015	'
Total Gains (Losses)	'	-1,505	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Property and equipment [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Assets And Liabilities Carrying Value And Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair Value	'	1,015	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Buildings [Member]	'	'	'
Assets And Liabilities Carrying Value And Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair Value	'	1,388	'
Total Gains (Losses)	'	-3,132	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Buildings [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Assets And Liabilities Carrying Value And Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair Value	'	$1,388	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Estima

Fair Value Measurements - Estimated Fair Values of Convertible Notes (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated fair values of debt instruments	$1,401,500	$1,820,300
2007 Notes [Member]	'	'
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated fair values of debt instruments	'	405,000
2010 Notes [Member]	'	'
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated fair values of debt instruments	507,800	510,800
2012 Notes [Member]	'	'
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated fair values of debt instruments	502,800	518,800
2013 Notes [Member]	'	'
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated fair values of debt instruments	$390,900	$385,700

Restructuring_and_Divestiture_2

Restructuring and Divestiture Charges - Charges Taken Related to Restructuring Actions (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Actions [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Workforce reductions

'

'

'

'

$15,249

$31,214

$25,983

$14,202

$13,950

$1,671

$879

$4,805

$238

'

'

$15,948

'

$11,332

$932

$168

$1,127

$7,194

Non-cash impairment charge

'

'

33,308

47

585

54

3,132

585

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

54

3,132

Purchase orders and other contractual obligations

'

'

'

'

351

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

351

'

'

Facility closure costs

'

'

'

'

430

550

445

'

'

'

'

173

445

'

'

'

'

'

'

430

377

'

Other

'

'

'

'

900

929

128

'

'

'

900

651

'

'

'

'

'

42

'

'

236

128

Fiscal restructuring charges

'

'

'

'

17,515

32,693

29,688

14,787

13,950

1,671

1,779

5,629

683

'

'

15,948

'

11,374

932

949

1,740

10,454

Divestiture net charges

'

'

'

'

'

112

221

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fiscal restructuring and divestiture charges

$11,559

$12,462

$29,909

$16,395

$17,515

$32,805

$29,909

$14,787

'

'

$1,779

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$949

'

'

Restructuring_and_Divestiture_3

Restructuring and Divestiture Charges - Charges Taken Related to Accrued Restructuring Actions (Detail) (USD $)

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2012 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Charges [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Actions [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Actions [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2013 Actions [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fiscal restructuring charges

'

'

$17,515

$14,787

$1,779

'

'

$949

$32,693

$13,950

$5,629

'

$11,374

$1,740

$29,688

$1,671

$683

$15,948

$932

$10,454

Non-cash impairment charges

-33,308

-47

-585

-585

'

'

'

'

-54

'

'

'

'

-54

-3,132

'

'

'

'

-3,132

Stock-based compensation

'

'

-3,500

-3,500

'

'

'

'

-7,917

-6,322

'

'

-1,595

'

-4,761

'

'

-4,731

-30

'

Severance payments

'

'

-2,629

-2,423

'

'

'

-206

-21,438

-13,068

-3,048

'

-4,425

-897

-15,988

-421

-3,946

-6,123

-4,176

-1,322

Other payments

'

'

-781

'

'

'

'

-781

-1,151

'

-566

'

-25

-560

-490

'

-353

'

-9

-128

Acquired

'

'

83

83

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Foreign exchange and other adjustments

'

'

113

22

'

'

'

91

-10

-2

'

'

-14

6

2

'

'

'

-3

5

Balance

'

'

$10,216

$8,384

$1,779

'

'

$53

$12,339

$2,942

$3,794

'

$5,315

$288

$17,658

$4,192

$178

$5,094

$2,029

$6,165

Restructuring_and_Divestiture_4

Restructuring and Divestiture Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2014

Dec. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Jun. 29, 2013

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 24, 2012

Sep. 28, 2013

Dec. 28, 2013

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Sep. 29, 2012

Dec. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Dec. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Dec. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Sep. 28, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Dec. 28, 2013

Indiana [Member ]

Indiana [Member ]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Consolidation of Diagnostics Operations [Member]

One-time Termination Benefits [Member]

One-time Termination Benefits [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Closure of Indianapolis Facility [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Fiscal 2014 Actions [Member]

Employee Severance [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Other Operating Cost Reductions [Member]

Molecular Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Molecular Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Molecular Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Molecular Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Molecular Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Molecular Diagnostics Operations [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Restructuring [Member]

Jack Cumming [Member]

Jack Cumming [Member]

Employees

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Severance charges

$200,000

'

'

'

$4,600,000

$900,000

'

'

'

$9,700,000

'

$10,500,000

$13,300,000

$900,000

$1,000,000

$1,700,000

$2,000,000

$3,200,000

$900,000

$10,800,000

$600,000

$1,100,000

$200,000

$1,500,000

'

$3,000,000

$900,000

$400,000

$4,800,000

'

$3,000,000

$6,600,000

'

$6,800,000

'

'

Compensation charges

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,400,000

'

1,400,000

'

'

Employee retention program, payments in cash

'

'

'

'

9,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Estimated aggregate severance charges

'

'

'

5,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,900,000

'

'

'

'

6,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

9,100,000

Exiting charges

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

800,000

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock compensation related acceleration

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Additional severance charges

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

200,000

'

'

'

Number of employees affected for severance benefits

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

95

Impairment charges of equipment fair value

'

3,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,300,000

3,100,000

Impairment charges for assets held-for-sale

'

'

700,000

'

'

28,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held-for-sale, sales value

'

2,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held-for-sale, inventory and certain equipment

'

'

2,400,000

'

'

'

2,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assets held-for-sale, goodwill

'

'

600,000

'

'

'

600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other restructuring charges

'

'

'

'

'

200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gain on the sale of lifecodes business

'

'

'

'

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Disposition charge

'

'

'

'

'

'

$300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Borrowings_and_Credit_Arrangem2

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements - Company's Borrowings (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible Notes	'	$400,133
Current debt obligations, net of debt discount	89,497	563,812
Convertible Notes	1,210,595	1,187,992
Total long-term debt obligations	4,183,958	4,242,098
Total debt obligations	4,273,455	4,805,910
Term Loan A [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Current debt obligations, net of debt discount	74,628	49,713
Long-term debt obligations, net of debt discount	845,782	894,834
Term Loan B [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Current debt obligations, net of debt discount	14,869	113,966
Long-term debt obligations, net of debt discount	1,127,581	1,159,272
Senior Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt obligations, net of debt discount	$1,000,000	$1,000,000

Borrowings_and_Credit_Arrangem3

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Dec. 18, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Feb. 26, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Feb. 26, 2014

Feb. 26, 2014

Feb. 26, 2014

Feb. 26, 2014

Nov. 14, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Convertible Notes [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

Term Loan B [Member]

2007 Notes [Member]

2007 Notes [Member]

Term Loan A [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Convertible Notes [Member]

Credit Agreement [Member]

Base Rate Floor [Member]

Percentage Added to Base Rate [Member]

Eurodollar Rate Floor [Member]

Percentage Added to Eurodollar Rate [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Prepayment of debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt extinguishment loss

4,437,000

3,247,000

7,377,000

3,247,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issue price of principal amount, Senior notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

99.88%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument base rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.75%

1.50%

0.75%

2.50%

'

'

'

Prepaid principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Basis point reduction in the interest rate on the New Term Loan B

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Refinancing issuance costs

'

'

1,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted average interest rates, Borrowings outstanding under the credit agreement

'

'

'

'

3.01%

'

3.01%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rates under Term Loans

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.15%

Interest expense

'

'

'

'

19,200,000

28,500,000

39,600,000

58,600,000

16,000,000

16,000,000

32,000,000

32,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs

'

'

35,820,000

41,387,000

3,200,000

4,100,000

6,500,000

7,800,000

400,000

400,000

800,000

800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Third-party costs

'

2,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1-Aug-20

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior note interest rate per year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Redemption price of notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2037

'

Notes principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$405,000,000

'

'

Borrowings_and_Credit_Arrangem4

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements - Interest Expense under Convertible Notes (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Debt Conversion [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Non-cash interest expense	'	'	$35,820	$41,387
Convertible Notes Payable [Member]	'	'	'	'
Debt Conversion [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amortization of debt discount	8,341	13,621	19,887	29,265
Amortization of deferred financing costs	413	790	1,063	1,698
Principal accretion	7,584	1,789	7,584	1,789
Non-cash interest expense	12,564	16,200	28,534	32,752
2.00% accrued interest	4,751	8,616	12,870	17,226
Interest expense, net	$17,315	$24,816	$41,404	$49,978

Borrowings_and_Credit_Arrangem5

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements - Interest Expense under Convertible Notes (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Convertible Notes Payable [Member])	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Convertible Notes Payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Conversion [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of accrued interest on Convertible Notes	2.00%	2.00%

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Oct. 29, 2013

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Mar. 30, 2013

Sep. 04, 2012

Dec. 29, 2012

Dec. 29, 2012

Dec. 28, 2013

Mar. 30, 2013

Mar. 29, 2014

Jun. 30, 2011

Dec. 29, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Adiana, Inc. [Member]

Sentinelle Medical Inc. [Member]

Interlace Business. [Member]

Interlace Business. [Member]

Interlace Business. [Member]

TCT International Co., Ltd. [Member]

TCT International Co., Ltd. [Member]

TCT International Co., Ltd. [Member]

Contingent Consideration Earn-Out Payments [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payment of contingent consideration

'

'

'

$42,433,000

'

$16,800,000

$3,400,000

'

$86,900,000

'

'

$31,100,000

$87,400,000

Contingent payments period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2 years

'

'

'2 years

'

'

Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments

'

799,000

'

10,839,000

'

'

'

'

93,800,000

'

'

'

'

Accrued contingent payments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,400,000

'

'

'

Contingent consideration compensation expense

'

29,388,000

0

58,874,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Assessed damages

'

'

'

'

4,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Additional Payments

$14,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies - Summary of Contingent Consideration Charges Recorded to the Consolidated Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Other Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	$29,388	$0	$58,874
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	799	'	10,839
Contingent consideration total	30,187	'	69,713
Interlace Medical, Inc. [Member]	'	'	'
Other Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	799	'	10,839
Contingent consideration total	799	'	10,839
TCT International Co., Ltd. [Member]	'	'	'
Other Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	29,388	'	58,874
Contingent consideration total	$29,388	'	$58,874

Sale_of_Makena_Additional_Info

Sale of Makena - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Regulatory Assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Amended transaction price as a result of executing amendment	'	$199,500,000	'
Final payment received	60,000,000	'	'
Gain on net of certain contingent legal fees and amounts due to inventor	$53,900,000	'	$53,884,000

Marketable_Securities_Reconcil

Marketable Securities - Reconciles Cost Basis to Fair Market Value of Company's Equity Security (Detail) (Equity Security [Member], USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Equity Security [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Marketable Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Equity security, Cost	$5,931	$5,931
Equity security, Gross Unrealized Gains	9,928	12,156
Equity security, Gross Unrealized Losses	'	'
Equity security, Fair Value	$15,859	$18,087

Net_Loss_Per_Share_Reconciliat

Net Loss Per Share - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Share Amounts (Detail)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	274,589	268,175	273,648	267,259
Weighted average common stock equivalents from assumed exercise of stock options and restricted stock units	'	'	'	'
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	274,589	268,175	273,648	267,259
Outstanding Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Weighted-average anti-dilutive shares related to:	'	'	'	'
Weighted-average anti-dilutive shares	7,950	8,081	7,575	9,104
Restricted Stock Units [Member]	'	'	'	'
Weighted-average anti-dilutive shares related to:	'	'	'	'
Weighted-average anti-dilutive shares	517	1,037	733	1,059

StockBased_Compensation_StockB

Stock-Based Compensation - Stock-Based Compensation Expense in Consolidated Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	$12,372	$19,013	$26,098	$31,079
Cost of Revenues [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	2,133	1,723	3,643	3,557
Research and Development [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	2,224	2,015	4,097	3,883
Selling and Marketing [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	2,352	2,567	4,101	4,768
General and Administrative [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	5,663	5,739	9,496	11,680
Restructuring [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	'	$6,969	$4,761	$7,191

StockBased_Compensation_Additi

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
	Portions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Options granted	'	2.2	2.2
Weighted-average exercise prices	'	$21.85	$19.91
Share-based compensation, stock option outstanding	'	11.1	'
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding	'	$19.89	'
Market stock units granted during the period	0.1	'	'
Valuation of MSUs using Monte Carlo simulation model	$18.65	'	'
Number of separate tranches	3	'	'
Percentage in separate tranches	33.33%	'	'
Trading period considered for determination of average price of stock for stock based award	'30 days	'	'
Restricted stock units	0.2	'	'
Purchase of common stock from open market	0.2	'	'
Performance Shares [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted stock units	0.4	'	'
Restricted stock units (RSUs), weighted average grant date fair values	$21.77	'	'
Minimum eligible percentage to receive target number of shares of company's common stock	0.00%	'	'
Maximum eligible percentage to receive target number of shares of company's common stock	200.00%	'	'
Restricted Stock Units [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted stock units	'	2.3	1.9
Restricted stock units (RSUs), weighted average grant date fair values	'	$21.53	$19.86
Unvested RSUs outstanding	'	4.1	'
Unvested RSUs weighted-average grant date fair value	'	$20.29	'
Restricted stock units vesting period	'3 years	'	'
Unrecognized compensation expense	'	$79.60	'
Weighted-average period for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation, years	'	'3 years	'
Stock Option Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unrecognized compensation expense	'	$32.20	'
Weighted-average period for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation, years	'	'3 years 4 months 24 days	'

StockBased_Compensation_Weight

Stock-Based Compensation - Weighted-Average Assumptions Utilized to Value Stock Options (Detail) (Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Risk-free interest rate	1.30%	0.50%	1.20%	0.50%
Expected volatility	41.40%	43.70%	41.40%	43.70%
Expected life (in years)	'4 years 6 months	'4 years 4 months 24 days	'4 years 4 months 24 days	'4 years 4 months 24 days
Dividend yield	'	'	'	'
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$7.82	$5.83	$7.65	$6.99

Other_Balance_Sheet_Informatio2

Other Balance Sheet Information - Other Balance Sheet Information of Inventories (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials	$117,356	$115,575
Work-in-process	59,635	51,171
Finished goods	133,989	122,617
Inventory net	$310,980	$289,363

Other_Balance_Sheet_Informatio3

Other Balance Sheet Information - Other Balance Sheet Information of Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]	'	'
Equipment and software	$334,178	$318,473
Equipment under customer usage agreements	282,177	275,696
Building and improvements	173,930	171,469
Leasehold improvements	62,734	68,159
Land	51,662	51,633
Furniture and fixtures	16,972	22,628
Property, plant and equipment, gross	921,653	908,058
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	-449,499	-416,530
Property, plant and equipment, net	$472,154	$491,528

Business_Segments_and_Geograph2

Business Segments and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
	Customer	Customer	Segment	Customer	Customer
			Customer
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Number of reportable segments	'	'	4	'	'
Revenues	$625,008	$612,663	$1,237,456	$1,244,025	'
Customers with balances greater than 10% of accounts receivable	0	'	0	'	0
Customer represented greater than 10% of consolidated revenues	0	0	0	0	'
Intersegment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$0	$0	$0	$0	'

Business_Segments_and_Geograph3

Business Segments and Geographic Information - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$625,008	$612,663	$1,237,456	$1,244,025	'
Operating income (loss)	50,250	5,542	111,535	68,771	'
Depreciation and amortization	130,044	126,276	257,863	254,431	'
Capital expenditures	21,356	24,396	37,741	46,843	'
Identifiable assets	8,362,395	'	8,362,395	'	9,000,823
Diagnostics [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	290,802	296,507	576,568	602,423	'
Operating income (loss)	15,243	-46,978	19,997	-32,683	'
Depreciation and amortization	94,612	89,402	186,798	180,944	'
Capital expenditures	14,841	13,464	25,097	27,318	'
Identifiable assets	4,528,340	'	4,528,340	'	4,667,942
Breast Health [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	238,705	220,058	465,196	440,866	'
Operating income (loss)	25,818	47,892	69,667	92,837	'
Depreciation and amortization	9,163	10,124	18,524	20,054	'
Capital expenditures	2,275	5,910	4,080	9,490	'
Identifiable assets	877,923	'	877,923	'	932,206
GYN Surgical [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	72,043	73,692	150,897	154,601	'
Operating income (loss)	6,579	2,241	17,702	2,863	'
Depreciation and amortization	26,042	26,524	52,088	53,003	'
Capital expenditures	2,194	2,171	3,980	4,916	'
Identifiable assets	1,802,207	'	1,802,207	'	1,849,518
Skeletal Health [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	23,458	22,406	44,795	46,135	'
Operating income (loss)	2,610	2,387	4,169	5,754	'
Depreciation and amortization	227	226	453	430	'
Capital expenditures	40	28	182	206	'
Identifiable assets	33,369	'	33,369	'	33,508
Corporate [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	2,006	2,823	4,402	4,913	'
Identifiable assets	$1,120,556	'	$1,120,556	'	$1,517,649

Business_Segments_and_Geograph4

Business Segments and Geographic Information - Revenues by Geography (Detail)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Schedule Of Geographical Segments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
United States [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Geographical Segments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	74.00%	75.00%	74.00%	74.00%
Europe [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Geographical Segments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	15.00%	12.00%	15.00%	14.00%
Asia-Pacific [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Geographical Segments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	7.00%	9.00%	7.00%	8.00%
All Others [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Geographical Segments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Company's effective tax rate	-42.70%	30.70%	-67.90%	40.80%
Valuation allowance	'	$19	'	$19

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Rollforward of Goodwill Activity by Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	$2,814,528
Disposition of a portion of a reporting unit	-221
Tax adjustments	-323
Foreign currency and other	-4,170
Ending balance	2,809,814
Diagnostics [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	1,153,554
Disposition of a portion of a reporting unit	-221
Tax adjustments	-323
Foreign currency and other	-571
Ending balance	1,152,439
Breast Health [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	636,365
Disposition of a portion of a reporting unit	'
Tax adjustments	'
Foreign currency and other	-3,292
Ending balance	633,073
GYN Surgical [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	1,016,456
Disposition of a portion of a reporting unit	'
Tax adjustments	'
Foreign currency and other	-316
Ending balance	1,016,140
Skeletal Health [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	8,153
Disposition of a portion of a reporting unit	'
Tax adjustments	'
Foreign currency and other	9
Ending balance	$8,162

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets3

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	$5,346,897	$5,388,889
Accumulated Amortization	1,679,300	1,482,167
Developed Technology [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	3,969,132	4,008,947
Accumulated Amortization	1,237,076	1,094,435
In-process Research and Development [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	23,000	24,000
Accumulated Amortization	'	'
Customer Relationships and Contracts [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	1,101,860	1,101,870
Accumulated Amortization	340,541	296,481
Trade Names [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	236,846	238,103
Accumulated Amortization	92,183	81,844
Patents [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	13,452	13,026
Accumulated Amortization	8,762	8,495
Business Licenses [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	2,607	2,647
Accumulated Amortization	738	616
Non-Competition Agreements [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	'	296
Accumulated Amortization	'	$296

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets4

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014
		Developed Technology [Member]	Trade Names [Member]
Impairment charges	$27,100	$26,600	$500

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets5

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Estimated Amortization Expense (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Remainder of Fiscal 2014	$229,551
Fiscal 2015	403,348
Fiscal 2016	374,672
Fiscal 2017	365,541
Fiscal 2018	$355,044

Product_Warranties_Product_War

Product Warranties - Product Warranty (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Guarantees [Abstract]	'	'
Balance at Beginning of Period	$9,258	$6,179
Provisions	4,320	5,328
Settlements/ Adjustments	-5,058	-4,965
Balance at End of Period	$8,520	$6,542

Supplemental_Guarantor_Condens2

Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials - Additional Information (Detail) (Parent/Issuer [Member])	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014
Parent/Issuer [Member]	'
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'
Ownership percentage in domestic subsidiaries	100.00%

Supplemental_Guarantor_Condens3

Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials - Schedule of Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	$521,135	$516,116	'	$1,033,517	$1,049,370
Service and other	103,873	96,547	'	203,939	194,655
Total revenues	625,008	612,663	'	1,237,456	1,244,025
Costs of revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	185,724	207,227	'	362,602	429,554
Amortization of intangible assets	76,883	75,733	'	153,549	151,020
Impairment of intangible assets	26,567	'	'	26,567	'
Service and other	53,722	50,377	'	107,030	102,452
Gross profit	282,112	279,326	'	587,708	560,999
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'
Research and development	49,915	49,621	'	98,584	101,130
Selling and marketing	78,657	88,614	'	161,914	183,057
General and administrative	62,109	64,233	'	129,928	118,624
Amortization of intangible assets	29,100	28,667	'	55,316	57,193
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	'	29,388	'	0	58,874
Impairment of intangible assets	522	'	'	522	'
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	'	799	'	'	10,839
Gain on sale of intellectual property	'	'	-53,900	'	-53,884
Restructuring and divestiture charges	11,559	12,462	'	29,909	16,395
Operating expenses, total	231,862	273,784	'	476,173	492,228
Income (loss) from operations	50,250	5,542	'	111,535	68,771
Interest income	149	207	'	505	467
Interest expense	-54,449	-76,049	'	-115,739	-148,130
Debt extinguishment loss	-4,437	-3,247	'	-7,377	-3,247
Other (expense) income, net	-3,263	-201	'	-2,093	1,038
(Loss) income before income taxes	-11,750	-73,748	'	-13,169	-81,101
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	5,015	-22,644	'	8,947	-33,115
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	'	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	-16,765	-51,104	'	-22,116	-47,986
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	-109,371	-102,751	'	-210,416	-178,438
Service and other	-14,145	-15,484	'	-27,642	-28,297
Total revenues	-123,516	-118,235	'	-238,058	-206,735
Costs of revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	-109,371	-102,751	'	-210,416	-178,438
Amortization of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Service and other	-14,145	-15,484	'	-27,642	-28,297
Gross profit	'	'	'	'	'
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'
Research and development	'	'	'	'	'
Selling and marketing	'	'	'	'	'
General and administrative	'	'	'	'	'
Amortization of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on sale of intellectual property	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring and divestiture charges	'	-1,394	'	'	-1,394
Operating expenses, total	'	-1,394	'	'	-1,394
Income (loss) from operations	'	1,394	'	'	1,394
Interest income	-1,152	'	'	-1,394	'
Interest expense	1,152	'	'	1,394	'
Debt extinguishment loss	'	'	'	'	'
Other (expense) income, net	'	-13	'	'	-27
(Loss) income before income taxes	'	1,381	'	'	1,367
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	'	'	'	'	'
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	13,059	-1,450	'	3,395	-75,896
Net (loss) income	13,059	-69	'	3,395	-74,529
Parent/Issuer [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	122,938	100,614	'	228,394	198,657
Service and other	88,608	81,176	'	174,554	159,136
Total revenues	211,546	181,790	'	402,948	357,793
Costs of revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	58,047	52,488	'	110,920	106,008
Amortization of intangible assets	1,397	1,309	'	2,794	2,615
Impairment of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Service and other	51,109	40,620	'	93,429	78,998
Gross profit	100,993	87,373	'	195,805	170,172
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'
Research and development	7,695	7,234	'	15,212	14,652
Selling and marketing	17,857	20,484	'	35,783	41,257
General and administrative	15,137	16,716	'	29,793	32,036
Amortization of intangible assets	1,115	777	'	1,894	1,455
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	'	29,388	'	'	58,874
Impairment of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	'	799	'	'	10,839
Gain on sale of intellectual property	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring and divestiture charges	1,656	164	'	6,646	385
Operating expenses, total	43,460	75,562	'	89,328	159,498
Income (loss) from operations	57,533	11,811	'	106,477	10,674
Interest income	103	99	'	202	230
Interest expense	-54,692	-75,238	'	-115,346	-146,492
Debt extinguishment loss	-4,437	-3,247	'	-7,377	-3,247
Other (expense) income, net	-2,938	1,638	'	6,627	1,757
(Loss) income before income taxes	-4,431	-64,937	'	-9,417	-137,078
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	-1,753	-14,842	'	-1,812	-26,589
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	-14,087	-1,009	'	-14,511	62,503
Net (loss) income	-16,765	-51,104	'	-22,116	-47,986
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	385,989	396,913	'	767,557	774,736
Service and other	17,068	21,320	'	32,941	44,409
Total revenues	403,057	418,233	'	800,498	819,145
Costs of revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	145,665	169,259	'	284,425	331,988
Amortization of intangible assets	74,619	73,374	'	148,728	146,291
Impairment of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Service and other	13,893	16,828	'	21,535	33,585
Gross profit	168,880	158,772	'	345,810	307,281
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'
Research and development	39,997	39,973	'	78,848	81,726
Selling and marketing	40,532	45,237	'	83,307	92,602
General and administrative	35,530	38,631	'	77,024	69,647
Amortization of intangible assets	26,865	26,687	'	51,028	53,336
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	'	'	'	'	'
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on sale of intellectual property	'	'	'	'	-53,884
Restructuring and divestiture charges	2,331	10,600	'	12,087	13,886
Operating expenses, total	145,255	161,128	'	302,294	257,313
Income (loss) from operations	23,625	-2,356	'	43,516	49,968
Interest income	901	36	'	1,206	78
Interest expense	-308	-309	'	-616	-623
Debt extinguishment loss	'	'	'	'	'
Other (expense) income, net	-186	-3,073	'	-9,530	-7,119
(Loss) income before income taxes	24,032	-5,702	'	34,576	42,304
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	4,664	-8,081	'	6,224	-11,195
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	1,028	2,459	'	11,116	13,393
Net (loss) income	20,396	4,838	'	39,468	66,892
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	121,579	121,340	'	247,982	254,415
Service and other	12,342	9,535	'	24,086	19,407
Total revenues	133,921	130,875	'	272,068	273,822
Costs of revenues:	'	'	'	'	'
Product	91,383	88,231	'	177,673	169,996
Amortization of intangible assets	867	1,050	'	2,027	2,114
Impairment of intangible assets	26,567	'	'	26,567	'
Service and other	2,865	8,413	'	19,708	18,166
Gross profit	12,239	33,181	'	46,093	83,546
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'	'
Research and development	2,223	2,414	'	4,524	4,752
Selling and marketing	20,268	22,893	'	42,824	49,198
General and administrative	11,442	8,886	'	23,111	16,941
Amortization of intangible assets	1,120	1,203	'	2,394	2,402
Contingent consideration - compensation expense	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	522	'	'	522	'
Contingent consideration - fair value adjustments	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on sale of intellectual property	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring and divestiture charges	7,572	3,092	'	11,176	3,518
Operating expenses, total	43,147	38,488	'	84,551	76,811
Income (loss) from operations	-30,908	-5,307	'	-38,458	6,735
Interest income	297	72	'	491	159
Interest expense	-601	-502	'	-1,171	-1,015
Debt extinguishment loss	'	'	'	'	'
Other (expense) income, net	-139	1,247	'	810	6,427
(Loss) income before income taxes	-31,351	-4,490	'	-38,328	12,306
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	2,104	279	'	4,535	4,669
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	'	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	($33,455)	($4,769)	'	($42,863)	$7,637

Supplemental_Guarantor_Condens4

Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials - Schedule of Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	($16,765)	($51,104)	($22,116)	($47,986)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	-5,763	-8,288	-6,951	-6,319
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	-1,048	2,687	-2,228	2,130
Changes in pension plans, net of taxes	'	'	-615	'
Comprehensive (loss) income	-23,576	-56,705	-31,910	-52,175
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	13,059	-69	3,395	-74,529
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	'
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'
Changes in pension plans, net of taxes	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive (loss) income	13,059	-69	3,395	-74,529
Parent/Issuer [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	-16,765	-51,104	-22,116	-47,986
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	'
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'
Changes in pension plans, net of taxes	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive (loss) income	-16,765	-51,104	-22,116	-47,986
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	20,396	4,838	39,468	66,892
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	26	-341	115	236
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	-1,048	2,687	-2,228	2,130
Changes in pension plans, net of taxes	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive (loss) income	19,374	7,184	37,355	69,258
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	-33,455	-4,769	-42,863	7,637
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	-5,789	-7,947	-7,066	-6,555
Changes in unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'
Changes in pension plans, net of taxes	'	'	-615	'
Comprehensive (loss) income	($39,244)	($12,716)	($50,544)	$1,082

Supplemental_Guarantor_Condens5

Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials - Schedule of Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$484,522	$822,490	$744,996	$560,430
Restricted cash	5,857	6,914	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	387,633	409,273	'	'
Inventories	310,980	289,363	'	'
Deferred income tax assets	34,398	'	'	'
Prepaid income taxes	'	44,745	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,170	48,361	'	'
Intercompany receivables	'	'	'	'
Other current assets - assets held-for-sale	'	2,997	'	'
Total current assets	1,264,560	1,624,143	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	472,154	491,528	'	'
Intangible assets, net	3,667,597	3,906,722	'	'
Goodwill	2,809,814	2,814,528	'	'
Other assets	148,270	163,902	'	'
Long term intercompany receivables	'	'	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
Total assets	8,362,395	9,000,823	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	89,497	563,812	'	'
Accounts payable	68,197	80,534	'	'
Accrued expenses	248,287	271,931	'	'
Deferred revenue	144,702	132,319	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	'	39,810	'	'
Intercompany payables	'	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	550,683	1,088,406	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	4,183,958	4,242,098	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	1,450,342	1,535,306	'	'
Deferred service obligations - long-term	22,458	25,456	'	'
Long-term intercompany payables	'	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	174,851	168,044	'	'
Total stockholders' equity	1,980,103	1,941,513	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	8,362,395	9,000,823	'	'
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	'
Restricted cash	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	'	'	'	'
Inventories	'	'	'	'
Deferred income tax assets	'	-19,536	'	'
Prepaid income taxes	-3,540	-4,689	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	'	'	'	'
Intercompany receivables	-2,624,095	-2,474,451	'	'
Other current assets - assets held-for-sale	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	-2,627,635	-2,498,676	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Intangible assets, net	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'	'
Other assets	'	'	'	'
Long term intercompany receivables	-144,000	'	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	-8,847,404	-8,798,932	'	'
Total assets	-11,619,039	-11,297,608	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	'	'	'	'
Accrued expenses	-3,807	-4,967	'	'
Deferred revenue	'	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	'	-19,536	'	'
Intercompany payables	-2,626,854	-2,482,500	'	'
Total current liabilities	-2,630,661	-2,507,003	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	'	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	'	'	'	'
Deferred service obligations - long-term	'	-2,170	'	'
Long-term intercompany payables	-144,000	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total stockholders' equity	-8,844,378	-8,788,435	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	-11,619,039	-11,297,608	'	'
Parent/Issuer [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	139,343	321,523	188,551	210,028
Restricted cash	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	108,850	126,036	'	'
Inventories	83,479	81,924	'	'
Deferred income tax assets	14,907	'	'	'
Prepaid income taxes	'	47,131	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19,252	16,246	'	'
Intercompany receivables	'	'	'	'
Other current assets - assets held-for-sale	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	365,831	592,860	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	28,596	29,313	'	'
Intangible assets, net	16,011	19,925	'	'
Goodwill	282,448	283,038	'	'
Other assets	98,195	103,548	'	'
Long term intercompany receivables	'	'	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	8,648,043	8,667,620	'	'
Total assets	9,439,124	9,696,304	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	89,497	563,812	'	'
Accounts payable	27,969	27,865	'	'
Accrued expenses	136,690	152,950	'	'
Deferred revenue	105,712	93,306	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	'	59,346	'	'
Intercompany payables	2,576,709	2,418,089	'	'
Total current liabilities	2,936,577	3,315,368	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	4,183,958	4,242,098	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	78,567	89,085	'	'
Deferred service obligations - long-term	8,855	11,251	'	'
Long-term intercompany payables	144,000	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	107,064	96,990	'	'
Total stockholders' equity	1,980,103	1,941,512	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	9,439,124	9,696,304	'	'
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	242,863	387,422	455,672	269,416
Restricted cash	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	177,540	174,433	'	'
Inventories	172,075	146,678	'	'
Deferred income tax assets	18,591	19,042	'	'
Prepaid income taxes	2,583	2,303	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	13,445	21,112	'	'
Intercompany receivables	2,576,516	2,442,502	'	'
Other current assets - assets held-for-sale	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	3,203,613	3,193,492	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	343,091	356,736	'	'
Intangible assets, net	3,585,729	3,784,987	'	'
Goodwill	2,391,294	2,390,939	'	'
Other assets	48,226	58,446	'	'
Long term intercompany receivables	144,000	'	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	199,081	129,016	'	'
Total assets	9,915,034	9,913,616	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	29,867	42,661	'	'
Accrued expenses	67,889	79,629	'	'
Deferred revenue	8,062	7,958	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	'	'	'	'
Intercompany payables	'	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	105,818	130,248	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	'	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	1,361,467	1,435,522	'	'
Deferred service obligations - long-term	3,750	3,511	'	'
Long-term intercompany payables	'	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	32,844	37,598	'	'
Total stockholders' equity	8,411,155	8,306,737	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	9,915,034	9,913,616	'	'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	102,316	113,545	100,773	80,986
Restricted cash	5,857	6,914	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	101,243	108,804	'	'
Inventories	55,426	60,761	'	'
Deferred income tax assets	900	494	'	'
Prepaid income taxes	957	'	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,473	11,003	'	'
Intercompany receivables	47,579	31,949	'	'
Other current assets - assets held-for-sale	'	2,997	'	'
Total current assets	322,751	336,467	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	100,467	105,479	'	'
Intangible assets, net	65,857	101,810	'	'
Goodwill	136,072	140,551	'	'
Other assets	1,849	1,908	'	'
Long term intercompany receivables	'	'	'	'
Investment in subsidiaries	280	2,296	'	'
Total assets	627,276	688,511	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	10,361	10,008	'	'
Accrued expenses	47,515	44,319	'	'
Deferred revenue	30,928	31,055	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	'	'	'	'
Intercompany payables	50,145	64,411	'	'
Total current liabilities	138,949	149,793	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion	'	'	'	'
Deferred income tax liabilities	10,308	10,699	'	'
Deferred service obligations - long-term	9,853	12,864	'	'
Long-term intercompany payables	'	'	'	'
Other long-term liabilities	34,943	33,456	'	'
Total stockholders' equity	433,223	481,699	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$627,276	$688,511	'	'

Supplemental_Guarantor_Condens6

Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financials - Schedule of Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$218,315	$169,528
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Acquisition of a business	'	-3,918
Payment of additional acquisition consideration	'	-16,808
Proceeds from sale of business, net	2,431	86,250
Purchase of property and equipment	-19,777	-25,888
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements	-17,964	-20,955
Net sales (purchases) of insurance contracts	13,841	-4,000
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property	'	60,000
Purchases of mutual funds	-29,732	'
Purchase of cost-method investments	'	-3,625
Sales of mutual funds	18,564	'
(Increase) decrease in other assets	-1,932	-4,951
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-34,569	66,105
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	-562,500	-32,500
Payment of debt issuance cost	-2,446	-7,019
Payment of contingent consideration	'	-42,433
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	-4,965	'
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans	53,718	37,623
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards	4,134	4,437
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of equity awards	-9,163	-9,972
Net cash used in financing activities	-521,222	-49,864
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-492	-1,203
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-337,968	184,566
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	822,490	560,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	484,522	744,996
Eliminations [Member]	'	'
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	'	'
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Acquisition of a business	'	'
Payment of additional acquisition consideration	'	'
Proceeds from sale of business, net	'	'
Purchase of property and equipment	'	'
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements	'	'
Net sales (purchases) of insurance contracts	'	'
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property	'	'
Purchases of mutual funds	'	'
Purchase of cost-method investments	'	'
Sales of mutual funds	'	'
(Increase) decrease in other assets	'	'
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	'	'
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Payment of debt issuance cost	'	'
Payment of contingent consideration	'	'
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	'	'
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans	'	'
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards	'	'
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of equity awards	'	'
Net cash used in financing activities	'	'
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	'	'
Parent/Issuer [Member]	'	'
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	343,410	65,009
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Acquisition of a business	'	-3,698
Payment of additional acquisition consideration	'	-16,808
Proceeds from sale of business, net	'	'
Purchase of property and equipment	-5,643	-6,397
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements	-453	-335
Net sales (purchases) of insurance contracts	13,841	-4,000
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property	'	'
Purchases of mutual funds	-29,732	'
Purchase of cost-method investments	'	-3,400
Sales of mutual funds	18,564	'
(Increase) decrease in other assets	-945	-1,984
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-4,368	-36,622
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	-562,500	-32,500
Payment of debt issuance cost	-2,446	-7,019
Payment of contingent consideration	'	-42,433
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	-4,965	'
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans	53,718	37,623
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards	4,134	4,437
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of equity awards	-9,163	-9,972
Net cash used in financing activities	-521,222	-49,864
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-182,180	-21,477
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	321,523	210,028
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	139,343	188,551
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-122,511	72,387
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Acquisition of a business	'	'
Payment of additional acquisition consideration	'	'
Proceeds from sale of business, net	'	84,762
Purchase of property and equipment	-9,635	-14,335
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements	-10,546	-13,031
Net sales (purchases) of insurance contracts	'	'
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property	'	60,000
Purchases of mutual funds	'	'
Purchase of cost-method investments	'	-225
Sales of mutual funds	'	'
(Increase) decrease in other assets	-1,981	-1,520
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-22,162	115,651
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Payment of debt issuance cost	'	'
Payment of contingent consideration	'	'
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	'	'
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans	'	'
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards	'	'
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of equity awards	'	'
Net cash used in financing activities	'	'
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	114	-1,782
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-144,559	186,256
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	387,422	269,416
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	242,863	455,672
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-2,584	32,132
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Acquisition of a business	'	-220
Payment of additional acquisition consideration	'	'
Proceeds from sale of business, net	2,431	1,488
Purchase of property and equipment	-4,499	-5,156
Increase in equipment under customer usage agreements	-6,965	-7,589
Net sales (purchases) of insurance contracts	'	'
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property	'	'
Purchases of mutual funds	'	'
Purchase of cost-method investments	'	'
Sales of mutual funds	'	'
(Increase) decrease in other assets	994	-1,447
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-8,039	-12,924
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Payment of debt issuance cost	'	'
Payment of contingent consideration	'	'
Payment of deferred acquisition consideration	'	'
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock plans	'	'
Excess tax benefit related to equity awards	'	'
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on net share settlement of equity awards	'	'
Net cash used in financing activities	'	'
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-606	579
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-11,229	19,787
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	113,545	80,986
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$102,316	$100,773