Charitable Cash Contribution

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_CharitableCashContribution
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Special Charges (Gains)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_SpecialChargesGains
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of equity securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading or available-for-sale. This element includes investments in which the entity holds a small ownership stake (generally, less than 20% of the shares outstanding) and cannot exert significant influence.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfEquityInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=mdt_INFUSEProductLiabilityLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_DamagesFromProductDefectsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=mdt_SurgicalTechnologiesDivisionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Special Charges and Certain Litigation Charges (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2016	Jan. 23, 2015	Jan. 29, 2016	Jan. 23, 2015
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Special charges (gains)	$ 0	$ (138,000,000)	$ 0	$ (38,000,000)
Gain (loss) on sale of equity method investment		97,000,000
Charitable cash contribution				100,000,000
Certain litigation charges	0	0	26,000,000	$ 0
INFUSE [Member] \| Product liability litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Certain litigation charges	$ 0		$ 26,000,000
Surgical Technologies Division [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of product line		$ 41,000,000