Acquisitions (Fair Values Of The Assets Acquired And Liabilities) (Details) $ in Millions, SFr in Billions			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 CHF (SFr)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable		$ 175.4		$ 175.4	$ 97.8	$ 590.4	$ 175.4
Inventories		143.5		143.5	204.8	521.9	143.5
Property, plant and equipment		82.5		82.5	161.8	740.0	82.5
Goodwill					3,061.8	9,841.0	1,492.4
Other intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, trade names and technology		1,544.4		1,544.4	1,867.0	5,045.3	1,544.4
In-process research and development		56.0		56.0	65.0	0.0	56.0
Trade accounts payable		(46.7)		(46.7)	(50.7)	(182.0)	(46.7)
Other assets and liabilities, net		(472.6)		(472.6)	(518.0)	(1,844.5)	(472.6)
Assumed debt		(135.5)		(135.5)	(1.0)	(417.0)	(135.5)
Net assets acquired		2,839.4		2,839.4	4,888.5	14,295.1	2,839.4
Less: noncash consideration					(8.4)	(47.3)	0.0
Net cash consideration					4,880.1	14,247.8	2,839.4
Cepheid
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable					61.4
Inventories					165.8
Property, plant and equipment					144.5
Goodwill					2,584.0
Other intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, trade names and technology					1,480.0
In-process research and development					65.0
Trade accounts payable					(41.2)
Other assets and liabilities, net					(452.4)
Assumed debt					(1.0)
Net assets acquired					4,006.1
Less: noncash consideration					(8.4)
Net cash consideration					3,997.7
Pall Corporation
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable						509.7
Inventories						475.5
Property, plant and equipment						713.4
Goodwill	$ 9,600.0					9,556.2
Other intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, trade names and technology						4,798.0
Trade accounts payable						(155.8)
Other assets and liabilities, net						(1,855.2)
Assumed debt	$ (417.0)					(416.9)
Net assets acquired						13,624.9
Less: noncash consideration						(47.3)
Net cash consideration						13,577.6
Others
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable		50.5		50.5	36.4	80.7	50.5
Inventories		74.5		74.5	39.0	46.4	74.5
Property, plant and equipment		23.1		23.1	17.3	26.6	23.1
Goodwill					477.8	284.8	478.8
Other intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, trade names and technology		495.1		495.1	387.0	247.3	495.1
In-process research and development		56.0		56.0	0.0		56.0
Trade accounts payable		(15.9)		(15.9)	(9.5)	(26.2)	(15.9)
Other assets and liabilities, net		(181.6)		(181.6)	(65.6)	10.7	(181.6)
Assumed debt		(2.8)		(2.8)	0.0	(0.1)	(2.8)
Net assets acquired		977.7		977.7	882.4	670.2	977.7
Less: noncash consideration					0.0	0.0
Net cash consideration					$ 882.4	$ 670.2	978.0
Nobel Biocare
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable		124.9		124.9			124.9
Inventories		69.0		69.0			69.0
Property, plant and equipment		59.4		59.4			59.4
Goodwill				1,000.0			1,013.6
Other intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, trade names and technology		1,049.3		1,049.3			1,049.3
In-process research and development		0.0		0.0			0.0
Trade accounts payable		(30.8)		(30.8)			(30.8)
Other assets and liabilities, net		(291.0)		(291.0)			(291.0)
Assumed debt		(132.7)		(132.7)			(132.7)
Net assets acquired		1,861.7		$ 1,861.7			$ 1,861.7
Net cash consideration		$ 1,900.0	SFr 1.9