Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Millions			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($) Accounting_standard	Apr. 01, 2018 USD ($) Operating_Segment	Apr. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of business segments | Operating_Segment			2
Number of accounting standards adopted | Accounting_standard		11
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net unrealized gains on equity securities			$ 86
Income	[1]		178	$ (60)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	[2]		985	1,465
Accrued rebates and other accruals			5,392		$ 4,923
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, pre-tax		$ 462
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, after-tax		419
Net unrealized gains on equity securities	[3]		111	$ 0
Accounting for Hedging Activities [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Income			29
Restricted Cash in the Statement of Cash Flows [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents			25
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Revenues [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, pre-tax		584
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, after-tax		450
Reclassification From Operating Activities To Financing Activities [Member] | Classification of Certain Transactions in the Statement of Cash Flows [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Debt prepayment and extinguishment costs			5
Accreted interest			$ 24
Collaboration Arrangements [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Revenues [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, pre-tax		500
Collaboration Arrangements, Income From Upfront And Pre-Approval Milestone Payments [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Revenues [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, pre-tax		394
Collaboration Arrangements, Product Manufacturing [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Revenues [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, pre-tax		82
Product Rights And Out-Licensing Arrangements [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Revenues [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, pre-tax		394
Product Shipments [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Revenues [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, pre-tax		84
Sales Revenue, Product Line [Member] | Product Concentration Risk [Member] | Top Nine Products [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Concentration risk, amount					$ 1,000
Concentration risk, percentage					46.00%
Retained Earnings [Member] | Income Tax Accounting [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, after-tax		(189)
Retained Earnings [Member] | Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from AOCI [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, after-tax		$ 495

[1] Amounts may not add due to rounding.

[2] Amounts may not add due to rounding.

[3] Represents the unrealized net gains on equity securities reflecting the adoption of a new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2018. Approximately $61 million of this unrealized gain relates to our investment in ICU Medical stock, which is held by an international entity and therefore valued as of February 23, 2018, the international quarter end. Prior to the adoption of the new standard, net unrealized gains and losses on virtually all readily tradeable equity securities were reported in Accumulated other comprehensive income. For additional information, see Note 1B and Note 7B.