Legal Proceedings (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($) patents claimant
Xarelto [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Product Liability Contingency Number Of Claimants | claimant		3,000
ASR
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Product Liability Contingency Number Of Claimants | claimant		6,300
Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Product Liability Contingency Number Of Claimants | claimant		8,300
Risperdal
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Product Liability Contingency Number Of Claimants | claimant		5,400
Pelvic Meshes
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Product Liability Contingency Number Of Claimants | claimant		44,400
settled litigation | misdemeanor violation [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		$ 20,000
settled litigation | Forfeiture [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		5,000
Pending Litigation | Restitution
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		45,000
Pending Litigation | Civil penalties
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		6,500
Pending Litigation | Risperdal | Civil penalties
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		327,100
Pending Litigation | Risperdal | Civil penalties
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount	$ 136,000	124,000
Investigative Demands [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Expense		$ 4,000
DePuy ASR U.S. | settled litigation
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Number of patients in settlement		8,000
Tyco [Member] | Pending Litigation
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		$ 176,000
Roche Diagnostics [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number | patents		2
Baxter International [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number | patents		6
Bonutti Skeletal Innovations [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number | patents		6
Risperdal | settled litigation
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		$ 7,750
Risperdal | Pending Litigation
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		1,200,000
Risperdal | Pending Litigation | Legal professional fees
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		181,000
alleged consumer fraud | Pending Litigation
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		4,500
medicare fraud | Pending Litigation
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		257,700
medicare fraud | Pending Litigation | Legal professional fees
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		$ 73,000
DePuy ASR U.S.Second Agreement [Member] | Pending Litigation
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Number of patients in settlement		1,800
Guidant [Member]
Legal Proceeding (Textuals)
Litigation Settlement, Amount		$ (600,000)