Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 lawsuits plaintiffs patents years stockoptions actions matters claims charges units months	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 03, 2011	Jan. 05, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 United States [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Segment, Geographical, Groups of Countries, Group One [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Segment, Geographical, Groups of Countries, Group Two [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Japan [Member]	Jan. 04, 2011 Sadra Medical, Inc. [Member]	Jan. 05, 2011 Intelect Medical, Inc., [Member]	Feb. 15, 2011 ReVascular Therapeutics, Inc. [Member]	Mar. 03, 2011 Atritech, Inc. [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Pre-2009 Acquisitions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Post-2008 Acquisitions [Member]
The components of the preliminary purchase price as of the acquisition date for acquisitions consummated in the first quarter of 2011 are as follows
Payment to acquire in cash														$ 193,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 19,000,000	$ 98,000,000	$ 370,000,000
Fair value of contingent consideration																		287,000,000
Prior investments																		55,000,000
Total																		712,000,000
The preliminary purchase price allocation:
Goodwill	257,000,000				257,000,000					150,000,000	100,000,000	6,000,000	1,000,000
Amortizable intangible assets	54,000,000				54,000,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Weighted Average Useful Life	7.2
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	533,000,000				533,000,000
Deferred income taxes	(132,000,000)				(132,000,000)
Total	712,000,000				712,000,000
Additional Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Payment to acquire in cash														193,000,000	60,000,000	19,000,000	98,000,000	370,000,000
Percentage of equity acquired														86.00%	85.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Future acquisition related consideration contingent upon the achievement of certain revenue-based milestones														193,000,000	0	16,000,000	275,000,000		260,000,000	760,000,000
Aggregate carrying value of equity interest in Sadra and Intelect prior to acquisition of remaining equity								11,000,000
Risk-adjusted discount rate for contingent consideration		2.00%
Risk adjusted discount rate for contingent consideration, high		20.00%
Note receivable from acquired company prior to acquisition								6,000,000
Estimated total cost to complete the in-process research and development programs acquired	200,000,000				200,000,000
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Fair Value								55,000,000
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Gains on previously held equity interests		38,000,000
Future acquisition related consideration contingent upon the achievement of certain revenue-based milestones														193,000,000	0	16,000,000	275,000,000		260,000,000	760,000,000
Business combination, liabilities arising from contingencies, amount recognized	371,000,000				371,000,000		287,000,000		71,000,000
Estimated fair value of prior equity ownership interest in Sadra and Intelect																		55,000,000
Adjustments to contingent consideration expense for current period acquisitions	6,000,000				9,000,000
Adjustments to contingent consideration expense for prior period acquisitions	1,000,000				4,000,000
Milestone payment				250,000,000		250,000,000
contingent consideration payment related to prior period acquisition	0				0
Intangible asset impairment charges	$ 12,000,000			$ 60,000,000	$ 12,000,000	$ 60,000,000