2012 Element. Amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of individual personal injury cases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_LossContingencyPersonalInjuryCasesNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the number of putative class action suits filed

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_LossContingencyPutativeClassActionSuitsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of filed and unfiled claims settled in a litigation matter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_LossContingencySettlementAgreementClaimsSettledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total number of claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_LossContingencyTotalClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period to increase loss contingency liabilities, net of any adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueProvision
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsQuantitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-Subparagraph (a)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 450

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 11

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyInformationAboutLitigationMattersAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Identifies the named defendant in a lawsuit.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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-Publisher FASB

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-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

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-Topic 450

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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNameOfDefendant
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Identifies the plaintiff in the lawsuit.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNameOfPlaintiff
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2011 Sprint Fidelis Litigation Matters	Apr. 27, 2012 Sprint Fidelis Litigation Matters ClassActionSuits PersonalInjuryCases Lawsuits	Apr. 27, 2012 Pending Litigation Litigation with Edwards	Apr. 27, 2012 Pending Litigation Minneapolis Firefighters' Relief Association Putative Class Action	Apr. 27, 2012 Pending Litigation Litigation with Mirowski
Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters
Name of defendant			Medtronic CoreValve LLC
Name of plaintiff			Edwards Lifesciences, Inc.
Damages awarded to plaintiff			$ 74.0
Damages sought be plaintiff					120
Claims Quantities
Total number of claims filed		4,000
Number of putative class action suits		47
Number of individual personal injury cases		9,000
Settlement
Number of filed and unfiled claims settled		14,000
Loss contingency accrual	$ 221			$ 90