Revenue - Disaggregation of Net Sales by Segment and Division (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2020	Jul. 26, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 6,507	$ 7,493
Cardiac & Vascular Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,433	2,790
Cardiac & Vascular Group | Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,247	1,382
Cardiac & Vascular Group | Coronary & Structural Heart
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	780	941
Cardiac & Vascular Group | Aortic, Peripheral, & Venous
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	405	467
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,801	2,100
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Surgical Innovations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,080	1,417
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, & Renal
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	720	683
Restorative Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,712	2,012
Restorative Therapies Group | Cranial & Spinal Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	944	1,050
Restorative Therapies Group | Specialty Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	453	563
Restorative Therapies Group | Neuromodulation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	314	398
Diabetes Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 562	$ 592