Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2011 reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2008
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Expense related to matching contributions	$ 65,000,000	$ 64,000,000	$ 71,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	249,000,000	224,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	115,000,000	113,000,000	96,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	0	8,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	17,000,000	19,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(13,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Transfers Between Measurement Levels	(3,000,000)	1,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Changes, Benefit Obligation	1,000,000	3,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	134,000,000	111,000,000
Shipping, Handling and Transportation Costs	100,000,000	88,000,000	82,000,000
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax	12,000,000	(9,000,000)	5,000,000
Equity Method Investments	7,000,000	7,000,000
Number of U.S. reporting units				6
Percent of finished goods at consignment	40.00%	40.00%
Product Warranty Accrual	30,000,000	43,000,000	55,000,000		62,000,000
Product Warranty Expense	9,000,000	15,000,000	29,000,000
Product Warranty Accrual, Payments	(22,000,000)	(27,000,000)	(36,000,000)
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	(13,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Depreciation	296,000,000	303,000,000	323,000,000
Accounts receivable 180 days past due	43,000,000
Accounts receivable 365 days past due	19,000,000
Number of international reporting units				4
Cost Method Investments	16,000,000	43,000,000
Notes receivable from portfolio companies	44,000,000	40,000,000
Trading Securities	0	0	0
Held-to-maturity Securities	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Undistributed Foreign Earnings	10,346,000,000	9,193,000,000
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage Of Warranty Liability Related To Business	85.00%
Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum	20
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum	40
Equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum	3
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum	10
Executive retirement plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	14,000,000	11,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	14,000,000	11,000,000
Guidant retirement plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	118,000,000	101,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	75,000,000	77,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	43,000,000	24,000,000
Guidant supplement retirement plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	32,000,000	30,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	32,000,000	30,000,000
Guidant healthcare retirement benefit plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	10,000,000	10,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	10,000,000	10,000,000
International retirement plans [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	75,000,000	72,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	40,000,000	36,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	$ 35,000,000	$ 36,000,000
Patents [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum	20
Technology-related [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum	25
Customer Relationships [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum	25