2.4.0.8136 - Disclosure - Notes Payable - Summary of Notes Payable (Detail)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$eol_PE5372----1310-Q0004_STD_0_20130630_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000805326instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$eol_PE5372----1310-Q0004_STD_0_20121231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000805326instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 1us-gaap_DebtDisclosureAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Debt Disclosure [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableCurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse3065800030658USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse3157600031576USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying value as of the balance sheet date of the portion of long-term debt due within one year or the operating cycle if longer identified as Convertible Notes Payable. Convertible Notes Payable is a written promise to pay a note which can be exchanged for a specified amount of another, related security, at the option of the issuer and the holder.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 false2Amended and Restated MHR Convertible Notes3false 2emis_PromissoryNotesPayableemis_falsecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse448000448falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse600000600falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPromissory notes payable.No definition available.false2Amended and Restated MHR Reimbursement Notes4false 2us-gaap_LoansPayableCurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse270000270falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse14310001431falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying value as of the balance sheet date of portion of long-term loans payable due within one year or the operating cycle if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 false2Amended and Restated MHR Bridge Note5false 2us-gaap_NotesPayableus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse3137600031376falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3360700033607falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of all types of notes payable, as of the balance sheet date, with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13, 16 -Article 9 true2Notes payable, total6false 2us-gaap_NotesPayableCurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse448000448falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3360700033607falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of the portions of long-term notes payable due within one year or the operating cycle if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20 -Article 5 false2Less: Current portion7false 2us-gaap_NotesPayableRelatedPartiesNoncurrentus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse3092800030928USD$falsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00  falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount for notes payable (written promise to pay), payable to related parties, which are due after one year (or one business cycle).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph k -Subparagraph 1 -Article 4 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.23) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 23 -Article 5 true2Non-current Notes payable, net of related discountsfalseNotes Payable - Summary of Notes Payable (Detail) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseNoteshttp://emisphere.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureNotesPayableSummaryOfNotesPayable27