Divestitures and Assets Held for Sale (Details 1) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Divestitures and Assets Held For Sale (Textuals) [Abstract]
Purchase price for divestiture of business/controlling interest	$ 1,500,000,000
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses			1,450,000,000
Contingent receivable for divestiture of business			50,000,000
Revenues generated by the Neurovascular business as a percentage of our consolidated net sales			141,000,000	340,000,000
Neurovascular sales as a percentage of total net sales			0.02	0.04
Liabilities assumed by Strkyer in divestiture			0
Property, plant and equipment, net				5,000,000
Gain on divestiture of business		778,000,000	778,000,000
Gain on divestiture of business, net of tax		545,000,000
Deferred gain to be recognized upon the release of escrowed funds		30,000,000
Neurovascular business [Member]
Divestitures and Assets Held For Sale (Textuals) [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net				$ 4,000,000