Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	$ 3,833		$ 3,852
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	1,749	1,826
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	36	29
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(24)	11
Net sales	1,761	1,866
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	383	407
Amortization expense	(103)	(97)
Operating (loss) income allocated to reportable segments	(330)	196
Other expense, net	(64)	(73)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(394)	123
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3
Depreciation	61	66
Goodwill	5,552		5,973
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,177		6,289
Other assets unallocated to segments	1,201		1,040
Assets	16,763		17,154
Global Interventional Cardiology (IC) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	514	598
Global Peripheral Interventions (PI) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	194	188
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	1,539		1,535
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	708	786
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	170	191
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Depreciation	24	27
Goodwill	3,251		3,249
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	485	504
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	35	37
Rhythm Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	1,336		1,350
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	520	541
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	63	83
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Depreciation	23	23
Goodwill	154		577
Global Endoscopy (Endo) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	313	298
Global Urology (Uro) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	119	118
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	89	83
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	958		967
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	521	499
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	150	133
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Depreciation	16	17
Goodwill	2,147		2,147
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Depreciation	63	67
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	(70)	(84)
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Depreciation	(2)	(1)
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (540)	$ (30)