Revenue - Disaggregation of Net Sales by Segment and Division (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2020	Jan. 24, 2020	Oct. 25, 2019	Jul. 26, 2019	Apr. 26, 2019	Jan. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Jul. 27, 2018	Apr. 24, 2020	Apr. 26, 2019	Apr. 27, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,998	$ 7,717	$ 7,706	$ 7,493	$ 8,146	$ 7,546	$ 7,481	$ 7,384	$ 28,913	$ 30,557	$ 29,953
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									10,468	11,505	11,354
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									5,141	5,849	5,947
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Coronary & Structural Heart
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									3,541	3,730	3,562
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Aortic, Peripheral & Venous
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,786	1,926	1,845
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									8,352	8,478	8,716
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Surgical Innovations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									5,513	5,753	5,537
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, & Renal
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,839	2,725	3,179
Restorative Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									7,725	8,183	7,743
Restorative Therapies Group | Brain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,922	2,938	2,354
Restorative Therapies Group | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									2,503	2,654	2,668
Restorative Therapies Group | Specialty Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,193	1,307	1,556
Restorative Therapies Group | Pain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									1,107	1,284	1,165
Diabetes Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 2,368	$ 2,391	$ 2,140