Revenue - Disaggregation of Net Sales by Segment and Division (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2018	Jul. 28, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 7,384	$ 7,390
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,811	2,646
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,426	1,390
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Coronary & Structural Heart
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	917	817
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Aortic, Peripheral & Venous
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	468	439
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,052	2,486
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Surgical Innovations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,397	1,306
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, & Renal
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	655	1,180
Restorative Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,949	1,809
Restorative Therapies Group | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	652	649
Restorative Therapies Group | Brain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	599	522
Restorative Therapies Group | Specialty Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	384	369
Restorative Therapies Group | Pain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	314	269
Diabetes Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 572	$ 449