Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Apr. 27, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock Options Valuation Assumptions

	Fiscal Year
	2012			2011			2010
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	6.88		$	8.19		$	8.77
Assumptions used:
Expected life (years)(a)		6.40			6.30			6.16
Risk-free interest rate(b)		1.82	%		2.25	%		3.17	%
Volatility(c)		25.97	%		26.03	%		26.91	%
Dividend yield(d)		2.78	%		2.40	%		2.29	%

Schedule of Share-based Compensation Expense by Plan

	Fiscal Year
(in millions)	2012		2011		2010
Stock options	$	60	$	87	$	112
Restricted stock awards		86		97		98
Employee stock purchase plan		13		14		15
Physio-Control award acceleration		2		-		-
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	161	$	198	$	225
Cost of products sold	$	12	$	22	$	26
Research and development expense		29		49		55
Selling, general, and administrative expense		118		127		144
Physio-Control divestiture-related costs		2		-		-
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	161	$	198	$	225
Income tax benefits		(45)		(58)		(67)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	$	116	$	140	$	158

Schedule of Stock Options Activity

	Fiscal Year
	2012				2011				2010
	Options (in thousands)		Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price		Options (in thousands)		Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price		Options (in thousands)		Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price
Beginning balance		84,652	$	45.23		89,613	$	46.13		93,394	$	46.57
Granted		4,634		34.93		6,371		37.59		7,863		35.81
Exercised		(1,218)		34.95		(627)		32.84		(3,126)		32.96
Canceled		(13,478)		44.98		(10,705)		48.91		(8,518)		46.27
Outstanding at year-end		74,590		44.80		84,652		45.23		89,613		46.13
Exercisable at year-end		60,833		46.73		66,286		47.24		67,944		48.24

Schedule of Restricted Stock Award Activity

	Fiscal Year
	2012				2011				2010
	Awards (in thousands)		Wtd. Avg. Grant Price		Awards (in thousands)		Wtd. Avg. Grant Price		Awards (in thousands)		Wtd. Avg. Grant Price
Nonvested, beginning balance		9,207	$	40.42		8,909	$	42.67		8,346	$	43.88
Granted		3,785		35.60		2,682		37.52		2,783		34.92
Vested		(2,194)		44.74		(1,809)		47.28		(1,632)		35.36
Forfeited		(818)		38.46		(575)		40.12		(588)		43.52
Nonvested at year-end		9,980		37.80		9,207		40.42		8,909		42.67
Unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted stock awards as of April 27, 2012 was $155 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 years and will be adjusted for any future changes in estimated forfeitures.