Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets , Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Apr. 24, 2015	Jan. 26, 2015	Apr. 25, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount, Amortizable	$ 30,329		$ 4,465
Accumulated Amortization	(2,948)		(2,298)
Gross Carrying Amount, Non-Amortizable	720		119
IPR&D
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount, Non-Amortizable	470		119
Tradenames
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount, Non-Amortizable	250		0
Customer-related
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount, Amortizable	18,492		76
Accumulated Amortization	(273)		(6)
Purchased technology and patents
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount, Amortizable	11,118		3,857
Accumulated Amortization	(2,268)		(1,878)
Trademarks and tradenames
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount, Amortizable	640		408
Accumulated Amortization	(363)		(332)
Other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount, Amortizable	79		124
Accumulated Amortization	$ (44)		$ (82)
Covidien plc | IPR&D
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
IPR&D		$ 400
Covidien plc | Customer-related
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangibles		18,300
Covidien plc | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangibles		7,100
Covidien plc | Tradenames
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangibles		$ 500