Acquisitions and Acquisition-Related Items (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended								0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Apr. 27, 2012	Apr. 29, 2011	Oct. 26, 2012 Other Long-term Liabilities	Apr. 27, 2012 Other Long-term Liabilities	Oct. 26, 2012 Other Accrued Expenses	Apr. 27, 2012 Other Accrued Expenses	Aug. 31, 2011 Salient	Oct. 26, 2012 Salient	Oct. 28, 2011 Salient	Aug. 31, 2011 PEAK	Oct. 26, 2012 PEAK	Oct. 28, 2011 PEAK	Oct. 28, 2011 Salient and PEAK	Oct. 26, 2012 Physio-Control	Oct. 26, 2012 Physio-Control	Oct. 26, 2012 Kanghui	Oct. 26, 2012 Kanghui	Nov. 01, 2012 Kanghui
Preexisting Relationship
Previously held ownership percentage in acquiree											8.90%			18.90%
Gain on previously held investments													$ 32			$ 6	$ 38
Purchase Price Allocation
Current assets											20			5
Property, plant and equipment											11			5
IPR&D											44
Other intangible assets											154			74
Goodwill											348			56
Other assets											1
Total assets acquired											578			140
Current liabilities											43			10
Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net											38			17
Total liabilities assumed											81			27
Net assets acquired											497			113								816
Acquired net tangible liabilities											49			17
Cost of Acquired Entity
Net value of acquistion transaction											452			96
Net gain from acquisition-related items		24		16
Acquisition-related items	6	(24)	11	(16)													5	5	5	3	3
Transaction value net of acquirerd cash																						755
Contingent Consideration
Fair value of contingent consideration	213	288	213	288	231	335	195	200	18	31
Estimated maximum potential amount of undiscounted future contingent consideration	$ 226		$ 226
Other Disclosures
Acquisition date												2011-08-31			2011-08-31						2012-11-01
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life											12 years			12 years