Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	$ 7,127	$ 7,481	$ 7,462
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,564	1,670	1,697
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	3,394	3,560
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	100	111	133
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	7,127	7,359	7,541
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	122	140	346
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	0	123	(81)
Net sales	7,249	7,622	7,806
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	7,127	7,481	7,462
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	122	141	344
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	1,878	1,994	2,135
Amortization expense	(395)	(421)	(513)
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	(3,868)	904	(656)
Other expense, net	(239)	(262)	(407)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,107)	642	(1,063)
Depreciation	288	296	303
Goodwill	5,973	9,761	10,186
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,289	6,473	6,343
Other assets unallocated to segments	1,498	1,496
TOTAL ASSETS	17,154	21,290
Long-Lived Assets	13,826	17,904	18,226
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	4
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,065	1,141	1,188
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	1,716	1,851
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	73	85	96
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	3,756	4,010	4,215
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	3,756	4,010	4,215
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	541	616	729
EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	922	989
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	10	10	19
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	1,708	1,756	1,776
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	669	740	756
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	1,563
Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	213	243
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	10	9	10
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	827	842	863
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	931	951	886
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	403	367	400
Inter-Continental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	543	477
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	7	7	8
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	836	751	687
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	265	271	250
IRELAND
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	252	231	219
Other countries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	247	298	290
Net sales
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	2,440	2,520	2,361
Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(276)	(264)	(305)
Depreciation	126	123	119
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(242)	(270)	(269)
Depreciation	62	62	51
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(4,833)	(135)	(1,704)
Interventional Cardiology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	2,179	2,495	2,602
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	1,908	2,087	2,180
Endoscopy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	1,252	1,187	1,079
Peripheral Interventions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	774	731	669
Urology / Women's Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	500	498	481
Neuromodulation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	367	336	304
Electrophysiology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	$ 147	$ 147	$ 147