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Commitments and Contingencies
 9 Months Ended
Jan. 23, 2026
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Matters
The Company and its affiliates are involved in a number of legal actions from time to time involving product liability, employment, intellectual property and commercial disputes, shareholder-related matters, environmental proceedings, tax disputes, and governmental proceedings and investigations, including those described below. With respect to governmental proceedings and investigations, like other companies in our industry, the Company is subject to extensive regulation by national, state, and local governmental agencies in the United States and in other jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates operate. As a result, interaction with governmental agencies is ongoing. The Company’s standard practice is to cooperate with regulators and investigators in responding to inquiries. With respect to intellectual property disputes, the Company is involved in litigation relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property (IP) rights, and licenses, acquisitions or other agreements relating to such rights. This litigation includes, but is not limited to, alleged infringement or misappropriation of IP rights, or breach of obligations related to IP rights, or other claims asserted by competitors, individuals, or, consistent with a growing trend across technology-intensive industries, other entities created specifically to fund IP litigation. With respect to commercial disputes, antitrust and competition issues have gained increased prominence, enforcement and private litigation have increased globally, and the Company is involved in or at risk for antitrust litigation, investigations or enforcement actions regarding a range of commercial activities, including challenges to mergers and acquisition transactions, joint ventures, co-development or co-marketing arrangements, contracting practices, distribution agreements and employment agreements. The outcomes of legal actions are not within the Company’s complete control and may not be known for prolonged periods of time. In some actions, the enforcement agencies or private claimants seek significant monetary damages and/or royalty payments, as well as other civil or criminal remedies (including injunctions barring or restricting the sale of products that are the subject of the proceeding, placing restrictions on competitive strategies or practices, or unwinding consummated transactions), any or all of which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated earnings, financial position, and/or cash flows.
The Company records a liability in the consolidated financial statements on an undiscounted basis for loss contingencies related to legal actions when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount may be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a known or probable loss is a range, and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other, the minimum amount of the range is accrued. If a loss is reasonably possible but not known or probable, and may be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed. When determining the estimated loss or range of loss, significant judgment is required. Estimates of probable losses resulting from litigation and governmental proceedings involving the Company are inherently difficult to predict, particularly when the matters are in early procedural stages with incomplete scientific facts or legal discovery, involve unsubstantiated or indeterminate claims for damages, potentially involve penalties, fines or punitive damages, or could result in a change in business practice. The Company classifies certain specified litigation charges and gains related to significant legal matters as certain litigation charges, net in the consolidated statements of income. The Company recognized $62 million and $89 million of certain litigation charges during the three and nine months ended January 23, 2026, respectively. The Company recognized $22 million and $104 million of certain litigation charges during the three and nine months ended January 24, 2025, respectively. At January 23, 2026 and April 25, 2025, accrued litigation was approximately $0.2 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively. The ultimate cost to the Company with respect to this litigation is difficult to predict, and the cost of any litigation, including litigation subject to accruals, could be materially different than the amount of the current estimates and accruals and could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated earnings, financial position, and/or cash flows. The Company includes accrued litigation in other accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Intellectual Property Matters
Colibri
The Company is a defendant in patent litigation brought by Colibri Heart Valve LLC (Colibri) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Colibri alleged infringement of one patent by the Company’s Evolut family of transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices. The patent asserted by Colibri has expired. On February 8, 2023, a jury returned a verdict against the Company for approximately $106 million. In July 2023, the Company filed its appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. On July 18, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of the Company and reversed the lower court, vacating the jury verdict and ruling that Medtronic did not infringe the Colibri patent. All additional appellate avenues have now closed, and the case will be closed in due course. This decision eliminates our potential liability in this matter.
Product Liability Matters
Hernia Mesh Litigation
Starting in fiscal year 2020, plaintiffs began filing lawsuits against certain subsidiaries of the Company in U.S. state and federal courts that allege personal injury from hernia mesh products sold by those subsidiaries. As of January 28, 2026, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries have been named as defendants in lawsuits filed on behalf of approximately 10,100 individual plaintiffs, and certain plaintiffs’ law firms have advised the Company that they may file additional cases in the future. Approximately 7,400 plaintiffs have pending lawsuits in a coordinated proceeding in Massachusetts state court, where they have been consolidated before a single judge. Approximately 500 plaintiffs have pending lawsuits in a coordinated action in Minnesota state court, and there are approximately 2,200 actions coordinated in a federal Multidistrict Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts plus fewer than ten one-off cases filed in other courts. The pending lawsuits relate almost entirely to hernia mesh products that have not been subject to recalls, withdrawals, or other adverse regulatory action. The Company has not recorded an expense related to damages in connection with these matters because any potential loss is not currently probable and reasonably estimable. Additionally, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from these matters.
Diabetes Pump Retainer Ring Litigation
Starting in fiscal year 2021, plaintiffs began filing lawsuits against the Diabetes operating unit in U.S. state and federal courts alleging personal injury, including deaths, from Series 600 insulin pumps with allegedly defective clear retainer rings that were subject to field corrective actions in 2019 and 2021. As of January 27, 2026, after a number of recent dismissals, there are four lawsuits filed on behalf of 12 individuals. Plaintiffs’ firms previously notified the Company that they may file additional lawsuits in the future on behalf of several thousand additional claimants. Most of the filed suits are coordinated in California state court. The Company recognized certain litigation charges in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 in connection with certain of these matters, and the Company's accrued expenses for these matters are included within accrued litigation as of January 23, 2026 as discussed above.
Antitrust Matters
Applied Medical
The Company is a defendant in civil antitrust litigation brought by Applied Medical Resources Corporation (Applied) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that the Company has engaged in anticompetitive and monopolistic conduct relating to its sales of advanced bipolar devices, including under contracts with group purchasing organizations. On August 15, 2025, the court denied the Company's motion for summary judgment concluding that there were disputed factual issues to be resolved at trial.
A jury trial was held in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from January 20, 2026 to February 4, 2026. On February 5, 2026, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Applied, awarding Applied $382 million in damages, which will be automatically trebled by the court. In addition, we expect that Applied will seek attorneys’ fees and reasonable costs, an estimate of which is not available at this time. We expect that Applied will also seek injunctive relief from the court. The Company believes that the jury’s decision and amounts awarded are inconsistent with the law and evidence at trial. The Company has strong arguments to challenge the verdict, and if necessary, appeal with the appropriate appellate courts. We expect both parties will file post-trial motions. The Company plans to post a surety bond in the amount directed by the court once final judgment has been entered.
In assessing whether the Company should record an expense related to the jury verdict, we considered various factors, including the legal and factual circumstances of the case, the planned post-trial proceedings, applicable law, and the likelihood that the jury’s award will be upheld after post-trial briefing and potentially on appeal. In light of the remaining post-trial motions and appeal, the ultimate result of this litigation remains uncertain. It is reasonably possible that as a result of a final court judgment or an appeal that none, some, or all of the jury’s verdict and other relief sought might ultimately be awarded, and an estimate of the ultimate loss or range of losses is not possible at
this time. Accordingly, as a result of this review, we have determined, in accordance with applicable accounting principles, a loss or range of losses that we may incur is not probable at this time and have therefore not recorded a liability for this matter.
Environmental Proceedings
The Company is a successor to several investigation and cleanup actions at various stages related to environmental remediation matters at a number of sites, including in Orrington, Maine. These projects relate to a variety of activities, including removal of solvents, metals and other hazardous substances from soil and groundwater. The ultimate cost of site cleanup and timing of future cash flows is difficult to predict given uncertainties regarding the extent of the required cleanup, the interpretation of applicable laws and regulations, and alternative cleanup methods.
The Company is also a successor to a party named in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine in the early 2000's by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Maine People's Alliance relating to mercury contamination of the Penobscot River and Bay and options for remediating such contamination. In October 2022, the court issued a final order approving the settlement and the parties are working with consultants on implementation of remedial activities. The final court order did not result in a change to the Company's previous accrual for this matter.
The Company's accrued expenses for these various environmental proceedings are included within accrued litigation as discussed above.
Anti-Corruption Matters
The Company has regular and ongoing interactions with governmental agencies, and its practice is to cooperate with such inquiries. In addition, from time to time, the Company self-discloses potential concerns to governmental regulators. Like many in the medical device industry or with international operations, the Company engages in periodic discussions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, and various authorities in other countries regarding certain activities in different global markets. The Company is committed to regularly evaluating and, as appropriate, strengthening its anti-corruption compliance programs and practices. Any possible future determination that certain of our operations and activities, and/or those of our third-party distributors, are not in compliance with existing laws could result in the imposition of fines, penalties, and equitable remedies in the United States or in other jurisdictions. The Company has not recorded an expense in connection with these matters because any potential loss is not currently probable and reasonably estimable. Additionally, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from these matters.
Other Matters
Italian Payback
In 2015, “payback” legislation was enacted in Italy requiring companies selling medical devices to make payments to the Italian state if Italy’s medical device expenditures exceed annual regional maximum ceilings. The payment amounts are calculated based upon the amount by which the regional ceilings were exceeded for any given year. There has been significant scrutiny on the legality and enforceability of the payback law since its inception, and litigation challenging the law has been proceeding through the Italian Courts. Since the law was enacted, the Company has recognized an estimate for the amount of variable consideration.
In July 2024, two rulings by the Constitutional Court of Italy found that the medical device payback law is constitutional. Therefore, the Company increased its liability pertaining to certain prior years since 2015 by $90 million during the nine months ended January 24, 2025, as a reduction to net sales in the consolidated statements of income.
In June 2025, the Italian government published a legislative decree confirming a reduction of the amounts due for years 2015 to 2018. The decree was formalized into law in August 2025. As a result, the Company decreased its liability pertaining to these years by $39 million during the nine months ended January 23, 2026, as an increase to net sales in the consolidated statements of income. Discussions are ongoing between the Italian government and industry groups related to the applicability of this legislation for years 2019 and beyond, as such, it is possible that the amount of the Company’s liability could materially differ from the amount currently accrued.
Contract Termination with Blackstone
As described in Note 4, the Company is party to various research and development funding arrangements with Blackstone, which are subject to certain termination provisions. During fiscal year 2025, the parties negotiated a contractual dispute resolution under one of the funding arrangements. As a result, the Company recognized certain litigation charges in connection with the resolution and included the accrued litigation charge in other accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets as of April 25, 2025. Termination charges related to one of the Blackstone Agreements were paid in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.
Mallinckrodt Bankruptcy Litigation
Certain of the Company’s affiliates are defendants in a lawsuit brought by a trust created in the bankruptcy of Mallinckrodt PLC (the “Trust”) in Delaware bankruptcy court. The Trust claims that Covidien spun off its pharmaceuticals business, Mallinckrodt, in 2013 to avoid potential liability relating to opioids. In January 2024, the Delaware bankruptcy court granted in part and denied in part an early-stage motion to dismiss all claims, finding that the claims alleging actual fraudulent transfer and alter ego or related liability could go forward, while dismissing the claims alleging constructive fraudulent transfer and breaches of fiduciary duty. In August 2025, the court granted in part and denied in part a motion for summary judgment filed by the Company’s affiliates arguing the Trust’s claims should be dismissed as a matter of law based on application of a safe harbor provision of the bankruptcy code. The case will now proceed to discovery into the merits of the Trust’s intentional fraudulent transfer and related claims. The Company’s affiliates believe they have substantial legal and factual defenses and intend to defend themselves vigorously. The Company has not recorded a liability in connection with this matter because any potential loss is not currently probable and reasonably estimable. Additionally, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the range of loss, if any, that may result from this matter.
Income Taxes
In March 2009, the IRS issued its audit report on Medtronic, Inc. for fiscal years 2005 and 2006. Medtronic, Inc. reached agreement with the IRS on some, but not all matters related to these fiscal years. The remaining unresolved issue for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 relates to the allocation of income between Medtronic, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary operating in Puerto Rico, which is one of the Company's key manufacturing sites. The Tax Court reviewed this dispute, and in June 2016, issued an opinion with respect to the allocation of income between the parties for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 whereby it generally rejected the IRS’s position, but also made certain modifications to the Medtronic, Inc. tax returns as filed. In April 2017, the IRS filed a Notice of Appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit regarding the Tax Court opinion. The U.S. Court of Appeals issued its opinion in August 2018 and remanded the case back to the Tax Court for additional factual findings. The Tax Court issued its second opinion in August 2022, the IRS filed a Notice of Appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in September 2023, and Medtronic subsequently filed a cross-appeal in October 2023. In September 2025, the Appellate Court remanded the case back to the Tax Court for additional proceedings.
The IRS has issued its audit reports on Medtronic, Inc. for fiscal years 2007 through 2016. Medtronic, Inc. and the IRS have reached agreement on all significant issues except for the allocation of income between Medtronic, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary operating in Puerto Rico for the businesses that are the subject of the U.S. Tax Court matter for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.
Medtronic, Inc.’s fiscal years 2017 through 2023 U.S. federal income tax returns are currently being audited by the IRS.
Covidien LP (a wholly owned subsidiary of Medtronic plc) has either reached agreement with the IRS or the statute of limitations has lapsed on its U.S. federal income tax returns through fiscal year 2022. Covidien LP’s fiscal year 2023 federal income tax return is currently being audited by the IRS.
Although it is not possible to predict the outcome for most of the income tax matters discussed above, the Company believes it is possible that charges associated with these matters could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated earnings, financial position, and/or cash flows.
Refer to Note 11 in the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of income taxes.
Guarantees
In the normal course of business, the Company and/or its affiliates periodically enter into agreements that require one or more of the Company and/or its affiliates to indemnify customers or suppliers for specific risks, such as claims for injury or property damage arising as a result of the Company or its affiliates’ products, the negligence of the Company's personnel, or claims alleging that the Company's products infringe on third-party patents or other intellectual property. The Company also offers warranties on various products. The Company’s maximum exposure under these guarantees is unable to be estimated. Historically, the Company has not experienced significant losses on these types of guarantees.
We also enter into standby letters of credit agreements, bank guarantees, and surety bonds with financial institutions to support various performance and other obligations, as well as ongoing tax matters. As of January 23, 2026, the aggregated amount outstanding under these instruments was approximately $1.3 billion.
The Company believes the ultimate resolution of the above guarantees is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated earnings, financial position, and/or cash flows.