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		12 Months Ended								0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2011	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 27, 2012	Apr. 29, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010	Apr. 29, 2011 Cardio Vascular and Surgical Technologies	Apr. 27, 2012 Other Long-term Liabilities	Apr. 29, 2011 Other Long-term Liabilities	Apr. 27, 2012 Other Accrued Expenses	Apr. 29, 2011 Other Accrued Expenses	Aug. 31, 2011 Salient	Apr. 27, 2012 Salient	Aug. 31, 2011 PEAK	Apr. 27, 2012 PEAK	Jan. 13, 2011 Ardian	Apr. 29, 2011 Ardian	Apr. 27, 2012 Salient and PEAK	Nov. 16, 2010 Ostotech	Apr. 29, 2011 Ostotech	Aug. 12, 2010 ATS Medical	Apr. 29, 2011 ATS Medical	Jun. 02, 2010 Axon	Apr. 27, 2012 Physio-Control	Apr. 29, 2011 NeuroPace	Apr. 30, 2010 Invatec, Fogazzi and Krauth Cardiovascular	Apr. 30, 2010 Invatec, Fogazzi and Krauth Cardiovascular	Apr. 27, 2012 Invatec, Fogazzi and Krauth Cardiovascular Revenue Milestone	Apr. 30, 2010 Invatec, Fogazzi and Krauth Cardiovascular Revenue Milestone	Apr. 27, 2012 Invatec, Fogazzi and Krauth Cardiovascular Product Development Milestone	Apr. 30, 2010 Invatec, Fogazzi and Krauth Cardiovascular Product Development Milestone	Feb. 28, 2010 Arbor	Aug. 31, 2009 CardioVascular Japan
Preexisting Relationship
Previously held ownership percentage in acquiree											8.90%		18.90%		11.30%
Gain on previously held investments												$ 32		$ 6		$ 85	$ 38
Purchase Price Allocation
Current assets											20		5		12			34		51					77	77
Property, plant and equipment											11		5		1			21		7					32	32
IPR&D											44				191			1		6					114	114
Other intangible assets											154		74		55			46		101		41			228	228						29
Goodwill											348		56		807			19		209		16			161	161
Inventory																		41
Other assets											1							3							1	1
Long-term deferred tax assets, net																				34
Total assets acquired											578		140		1,066			165		408					613	613
Current liabilities											43		10		10			19		14					46	46
Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net											38		17		36			8							99	99
Other long-term liabilities																		15
Total liabilities assumed											81		27		46			42		14					145	145
Net assets acquired											497		113		1,020			123		394					468	468
Debt acquired																				30
Acquired contingent consideration																				10
Acquired net tangible assets																		57		78		5
Acquired net tangible liabilities											49				33
Cost of Acquired Entity
Net value of acquistion transaction											452		96									62
Purchase price per share																		$ 6.50		$ 4.00
Cash payment															717										350	350
Purchased IPR&D charge			45	44	11	15																		15							11
Acquisition-related items			12	14	23											10	5		21		24					12
Reclassification of divestiture related costs from continuing operations to discontinued operations	12	12																					12
Contingent Consideration
Maximum additional payment																									150	150		75		75
Fair value of contingent consideration			231	325	118		200	259	31	66					212										118	118
Estimated maximum potential amount of undiscounted future contingent consideration			228
Change in fair value of contingent consideration			45	14
Contingent milestone payments			(141)	0																							66		75
Other Disclosures
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life											12 years		12 years		12 years			9 years		11 years		10 years										5 years
Esimated future costs to complete research and development project															$ 50										$ 44