Restructuring Charges, Net , Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2015	Apr. 24, 2015	Apr. 24, 2015	Jul. 25, 2014	Apr. 25, 2014	Jul. 26, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013	Apr. 24, 2015	Apr. 25, 2014
Covidien plc
Restructuring Charges
Business Combination, Expected Cost Synergies	$ 850
Fiscal Year 2015 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges		$ 248						$ 248
Covidien Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges			$ 0
Reversal of excess accrual			5
Fiscal Year 2014 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges				$ 38	$ 116			38	$ 116
Reversal of excess accrual								17
Fiscal Year 2013 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges						$ 18	$ 192
Reversal of excess accrual								10	46
Employee Termination Costs | Fiscal Year 2015 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges		213						213
Employee Termination Costs | Covidien Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges			0
Reversal of excess accrual			5
Employee Termination Costs | Fiscal Year 2014 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges					65			1	65
Reversal of excess accrual								14
Employee Termination Costs | Fiscal Year 2013 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges							150
Asset Write-downs | Fiscal Year 2015 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges		28						28
Asset Write-downs | Fiscal Year 2014 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges					26			9	26
Reversal of excess accrual								0
Asset Write-downs | Fiscal Year 2013 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges							13
Inventory Write-Offs | Fiscal Year 2015 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges		15
Inventory Write-Offs | Fiscal Year 2014 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges					10
Inventory Write-Offs | Fiscal Year 2013 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges							10
Contract Termination and Other Costs | Fiscal Year 2015 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges								7
Contract Termination and Other Costs | Covidien Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges			0
Reversal of excess accrual			$ 0
Contract Termination and Other Costs | Fiscal Year 2014 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges				$ 28				28	$ 25
Reversal of excess accrual								$ 3
Contract Termination | Fiscal Year 2015 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges		6
Contract Termination | Fiscal Year 2014 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges					3
Contract Termination | Fiscal Year 2013 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges						14	18
Other Related Costs | Fiscal Year 2015 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges		$ 1
Other Related Costs | Fiscal Year 2014 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges					$ 22
Other Related Costs | Fiscal Year 2013 Initiative
Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges						$ 4	$ 11