Segment and Geographic Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 23, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 25, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 25, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 24, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 26, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2015 USD ($) customer segment region	Apr. 25, 2014 USD ($) customer	Apr. 26, 2013 USD ($) customer
Segment Reporting Information
Number of Reportable Segments | segment									4
Number of Operating Segments | segment									4
Number of Operating Geographic Regions | region									4
Net sales	$ 7,304	$ 4,318	$ 4,366	$ 4,273	$ 4,566	$ 4,163	$ 4,194	$ 4,083	$ 20,261	$ 17,005	$ 16,590
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Special charges									38	(40)	0
Certain litigation charges, net									(42)	(770)	(245)
Acquisition-related items									(550)	(117)	49
Income from operations before income taxes									3,486	3,705	4,251
Assets, Net	106,685				37,943				106,685	37,943
Geographic Information
Property, plant, and equipment, net	4,699				2,392				$ 4,699	$ 2,392	$ 2,490
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Concentration Risk, Customer | customer									0	0	0
Americas
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									$ 12,125	$ 9,922	$ 9,761
Geographic Information
Property, plant, and equipment, net	3,626				1,833				3,626	1,833	1,920
EMEA
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									5,064	4,483	4,225
Geographic Information
Property, plant, and equipment, net	725				393				725	393	397
Asia Pacific
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									2,059	1,776	1,886
Geographic Information
Property, plant, and equipment, net	165				74				165	74	74
Greater China
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									1,013	824	718
Geographic Information
Property, plant, and equipment, net	183				92				183	92	99
Ireland
Geographic Information
Property, plant, and equipment, net	151				72				151	72	70
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									9,361	8,847	8,695
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									3,140	2,982	2,935
Assets, Net	13,642				8,705				13,642	8,705
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									2,387	0	0
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									342	0	0
Assets, Net	51,228				0				51,228	0
Restorative Therapies Group
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									6,751	6,501	6,369
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									1,828	1,821	1,778
Assets, Net	15,249				10,568				15,249	10,568
Diabetes Group
Segment Reporting Information
Net sales									1,762	1,657	1,526
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									540	457	432
Assets, Net	2,597				2,038				2,597	2,038
Total Reportable Segments
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									5,850	5,260	5,145
Assets, Net	82,716				21,311				82,716	21,311
Segment Reconciling Items
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Impact of inventory step-up									(623)	0	0
Impact of product technology upgrade commitment									(74)	0	0
Special charges									38	(40)	0
Restructuring Charges, Net of Reversals Including Cost of Product Sold Impact									(252)	(88)	(182)
Certain litigation charges, net									(42)	(770)	(245)
Acquisition-related items									(550)	(117)	49
Interest expense, net									(280)	(108)	(151)
Corporate									(581)	(432)	$ (365)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Assets, Net	$ 23,969				$ 16,632				$ 23,969	$ 16,632