Restructuring Charges (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2011	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Jan. 27, 2012 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Positions	Jan. 27, 2012 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Positions	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Physio-Control Positions	Jan. 27, 2012 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Employee Termination Costs	Oct. 28, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Employee Termination Costs	Jul. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Employee Termination Costs	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Employee Termination Costs	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Employee Termination Costs	Jan. 27, 2012 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Asset Write-downs	Oct. 28, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Asset Write-downs	Jul. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Asset Write-downs	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Asset Write-downs	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Asset Write-downs	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Contract Termination	Jan. 27, 2012 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Other Restructuring	Oct. 28, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Other Restructuring	Jul. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Other Restructuring	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Other Restructuring	Apr. 29, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 Initiative Other Restructuring
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of	$ 128	$ 204	$ 0					$ 51	$ 94	$ 157		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0		$ 19	$ 34	$ 47		$ 0
Restructuring charges			257									162					24						71
Payments/Write-downs	(58)	(76)	(53)	(17)				(12)	(43)	(63)		(5)	0	0	0		(24)		(5)	(15)	(13)		(24)
Balance as of	70	128	204	53		53		39	51	94	157	157	0	0	0	0	0		14	19	34	47	47
Restructuring Charges					272		2				177					24		45				26
Incremental defined benefit pension and post-retirement related expenses					15
Inventory write-downs and production related asset impairments					11
Intangible asset impairment					$ 19
Expected number of positions eliminated					2,100		55
Number of positions eliminated						1,800