Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Intangible assets reclassified from unamortizable to amortizable	$ 45
In process research and development associated with Sadra		178
Goodwill	5,553					5,553		5,973
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)					(9,900)		(9,477)
Goodwill								1,764
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments						3
Goodwill, Acquired During Period						0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,041)					(4,041)		(3,785)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	15,650					15,650		15,692
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,437					9,437		9,389
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)					(9,900)		(9,477)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0		423	748	3,602	423	4,350
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	5,936					5,936		6,289
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Subsequent Adjustment								2,380
Number of Reportable Segments						3
Intangible asset impairment charges	0	53		13		53	142
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax			421		3,579
Discount rate used for measurement of fair value of Sadra IPRD asset		16.50%
Fair Value Inputs, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate				25.00%
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Terminal value growth rate			2.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate			12.00%
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net								4,636
Neuromodulation [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Level of excess fair value over carrying value for reporting unit					16.00%
Hypothetical change in WACC		0.80%
Hypothetical change in revenue growth rates		2.00%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,252					3,252		3,249
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479)					(1,479)		(1,479)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments						3
Goodwill, Acquired During Period						0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge						0
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Allocated Goodwill		1,356
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	154					154		577
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(6,960)					(6,960)		(6,537)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments						0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period						0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge						423
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,147					2,147		2,147
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,461)					(1,461)		(1,461)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments						0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period						0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge						0
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)					(9,900)		(9,477)
Goodwill, Gross	15,453					15,453		15,450
Purchased research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	343					343		443
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	197					197		242
Technology Developed [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	4,442					4,442
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(3,254)					(3,254)		(3,005)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	8,118					8,118		8,020
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(465)					(465)		(428)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	815					815		810
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(322)					(322)		(352)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	504					504		559
EMEA [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Change in WACC					1.00%
Sadra Medical Inc [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Intangible asset impairment charges		51			129
2011 Acquisitions, excluding Sadra [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Intangible asset impairment charges		$ 2