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           Note 5 - Stock Options and Warrants (Details) (Stock Options, USD $) 
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        9 Months Ended | 
|---|---|
| 
           Sep. 30, 2014 
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           Stock Options 
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| Options Outstanding | |
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2013 | 
29,277,471us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Granted | 
0OXIS_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Forfeited | 
0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Exercised | 
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2014 | 
29,277,471us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Weighted Average Exercise Price | |
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2013 | 
$ 0.07us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Granted | 
$ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Forfeited | 
$ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Exercised | 
$ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2014 | 
$ 0.07us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember  | 
      
| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          No authoritative reference available. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          The number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details 
          
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details 
          
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Weighted average price at which grantees could have acquired the underlying shares with respect to stock options that were terminated. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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