Acquisitions and Acquisition-Related Items , Fair Value of Consideration Transferred (Details) - Covidien plc - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Jan. 26, 2015	Jan. 23, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration paid to Covidien shareholders ($35.19 per share)		$ 15,994
Cash consideration paid for vested Covidien share awards ($35.19 per share)		33
Total cash consideration		$ 16,027
Covidien shares outstanding as of January 23, 2015 (in shares)		455,000,000
Exchange ratio per share (in shares)	0.956	0.956
Total Medtronic shares issued to Covidien shareholders (in shares)		435,000,000
Medtronic per share value as of January 23, 2015 (in dollars per share)		$ 76.95
Fair value of Medtronic shares issued to Covidien shareholders		$ 33,435
Fair value of shares issued to Covidien share award holders		70
Fair value of share options and awards issued to Covidien share option and award holders		456
Total fair value of consideration transferred		49,988
Cash consideration per share paid to Covidien shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 35.19
Cash consideration per share paid for vested Covidien share awards (in dollars per share)	$ 35.19
Number of ordinary shares issued, net, to Covidien share award holders (in shares)	1,000,000
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Non-cash		$ 34,000