Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions								1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 04, 2015 claim	Dec. 04, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 20, 2013 USD ($)	May. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 17, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 28, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 29, 2007	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) claim	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) claim	Jul. 25, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 25, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 26, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 07, 2009 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Accrual								$ 787	$ 787		$ 879
Contingent Consideration								$ 291	291	$ 87	$ 264	$ 68
Settlement
Payments for Legal Settlements									$ 92	$ 761
INFUSE Product Liability Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number | claim								6,100	6,100
Pelvic Mesh Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number | claim								11,300	11,300
Litigation Settlement, Amount								$ 121
Subsequent Event [Member] | INFUSE Product Liability Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Claims Settled, Number | claim	3,800
Subsequent Event [Member] | Pelvic Mesh Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Claims Settled, Number | claim	2,300
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Settlement
Income Tax Examination, Estimate of Possible Loss, Income Taxes			$ 914
Income Tax Examination, Estimate of Possible Loss, Penalties and Interest			154
Tax Year 1997 Through Tax Year 2000 [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Settlement
Income Tax Examination, Disallowed Deductions			3,000
Tax Years Subsequent to 2000 [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Settlement
Income Tax Examination, Disallowed Deductions			$ 6,600
Covidien PLC [Member]
Settlement
Tax Sharing Percentage, Parent							42.00%
Tax Sharing Percentage, Former Parent							27.00%
Tax Sharing Percentage, Former Affiliate							31.00%
Breach of Contract [Member] | Acquisition Agreement with Appriva Medical, Inc. [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingent Consideration														$ 175
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value				$ 175
Indemnification Agreement [Member] | Covidien PLC [Member] | Tax Years Prior To 2013 [Member]
Settlement
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum													$ 200
Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement		$ (177)				$ 177
Penobscot River and Bay Remediation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Low Estimate					$ 25
Site Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, High Estimate					$ 235