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           Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) 
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           Sep. 30, 2014 
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           Dec. 31, 2013 
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| Current Liabilities: | ||
| Convertible debentures, discount | $ 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount | $ 142,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount | 
| Stockholders' Deficit: | ||
| Preferred stock, par value | $ 0.001us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | $ 0.001us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | 
| Preferred stock, Authorized | 15,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized | 15,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized | 
| Series C - Preferred stock, issued shares | 96,230OXIS_SeriesCPreferredStockIssuedShares | 96,230OXIS_SeriesCPreferredStockIssuedShares | 
| Series C - Preferred stock, outstanding shares | 96,230OXIS_SeriesCPreferredStockOutstandingShares | 96,230OXIS_SeriesCPreferredStockOutstandingShares | 
| Series H - Preferred stock, issued shares | 25,000OXIS_SeriesHPreferredStockIssuedShares | 25,000OXIS_SeriesHPreferredStockIssuedShares | 
| Series H - Preferred stock, outstanding shares | 25,000OXIS_SeriesHPreferredStockOutstandingShares | 25,000OXIS_SeriesHPreferredStockOutstandingShares | 
| Series I - Preferred stock, issued shares | 1,666,667OXIS_SeriesIPreferredStockIssuedShares | 1,666,667OXIS_SeriesIPreferredStockIssuedShares | 
| Series I - Preferred stock, outstanding shares | 1,666,667OXIS_SeriesIPreferredStockOutstandingShares | 1,666,667OXIS_SeriesIPreferredStockOutstandingShares | 
| Common stock, par value | $ 0.001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | $ 0.001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | 
| Common stock, Authorized | 600,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized | 600,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized | 
| Common stock, Issued | 591,714,484us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued | 591,714,484us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued | 
| Common stock, outstanding | 591,714,484us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding | 591,714,484us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding | 
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          Face amount or stated value per share of common stock. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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          The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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          Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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          Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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          The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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          Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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          The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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