Acquisitions and Acquisition-Related Items (Purchase Price Allocation and Cost of Aquired Entity) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2011 Salient [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Salient [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 PEAK [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 PEAK [Member]	Aug. 12, 2010 ATS Medical [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 ATS Medical [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Cardio Vascular Acquiree [Member]	Sep. 14, 2010 Cardio Vascular Acquiree [Member]	Jun. 02, 2010 Axon Surgical [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Axon Surgical [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Salient and PEAK [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Salient and PEAK [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Physio Control Business [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Physio Control Business [Member]	Oct. 30, 2009 NeuroPace [Member]
Purchase Price Allocation
Current assets									$ 20		$ 5		$ 51
Property, plant and equipment									11		5		7
IPR&D									46		0		6
Other intangible assets									162		74		101				41
Goodwill									342		56		209				16
Other assets									1
Long-term deferred tax assets, net													34
Total assets acquired									582		140		408
Current liabilities									43		10		14
Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net									42		17
Total liabilities assumed									85		27		14
Net assets acquired									497		113		394
Debt acquired													30
Acquired contingent consideration													10
Acquired net tangible assets													78				5
Acquired net tangible liabilities									53		17
Cost of Acquired Entity
Total value of acquistion transaction																21
Net value of acquistion transaction									452		96						62
Purchase price per share													$ 4.00
Upfront payment																15
Purchased IPR&D charge			17	15																			15
Net gain from acquisition-related items	17		4
Acquisition-related items	(17)	24	(4)	39																5
Transaction costs																					7	12
Contingent Consideration
Maximum additional payment																10
Fair value of contingent consideration	288	136	288	136	343	335	120	118								6
Estimated maximum potential amount of undiscounted future contingent consideration	235		235
Contingent consideration included in other long-term liabilities	263		263
Contingent consideration included in other accrued expenses	25		25
Other Disclosures
Acquisition date										2011-08-31		2011-08-31		2010-08-12	2010-09-14			2010-06-02
Ownership position in acquiree									8.90%		18.90%
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (in years)									12 years		12 years		11 years				10 years
Gain on previously held investments																			$ 32	$ 6