Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 reportablesegments reportingunits	Dec. 31, 2012 reportingunits reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2011 reportingunits reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	3
Number of global reporting units	7
International Retirement Plan - Discount Rate - Low	0.75%
International Retirement Plan - Expected Return on Plan Assets - Low	2.75%
International Retirement Plan - Discount Rate - High	3.70%
Executive Retirement Plan Discount Rate	4.50%
Rabbi Trust Assets	$ 17	$ 21
Expense related to matching contributions	59	63	65
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	248	268
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	166	130	115
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	25	11
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	32	20
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	(15)	(13)
Defined Benefit Plan, Transfers Between Measurement Levels	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Changes, Benefit Obligation	(6)	(3)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	82	138
Shipping, Handling and Transportation Costs	97	105	100
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax	(11)	(18)	(12)
Equity Method Investments	18	16
Number of U.S. reporting units		6	6
Percent of finished goods at consignment	40.00%	40.00%
Product Warranty Accrual	28	26	30	43
Product Warranty Expense	12	8	9
Product Warranty Accrual, Payments	(10)	(12)	(22)
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	(12)	(7)	(13)
Depreciation	279	288	296
Accounts receivable 180 days past due	95
Accounts receivable 365 days past due	50
Number of international reporting units		4	4
Cost Method Investments	20	13
Notes receivable from portfolio companies	13	5
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Undistributed Foreign Earnings	11,902	11,041
Executive Retirement Plan Rate of Compensation Increase	3.00%
Guidant Retirement Plan Discount Rate	5.00%
Guidant Retirement Plan Expected Return in Plan Assets	5.50%
Guidant Supplemental Retirement Plan Discount Rate	4.75%
Guidant Healthcare Retirement Plan LT Cost Trend Rate	5.00%
International Retirement Plan Rate of Compensation Increase	3.00%
International Retirement Plan - Expected Return on Plan Assets - High	4.10%
Concentration Risk, Customer	0	0	0
Executive retirement plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	10	13
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	10	13
Guidant retirement plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	120	131
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	114	87
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	6	44
Guidant supplement retirement plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	31	34
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	31	34
Guidant healthcare retirement benefit plan [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	3	5
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	3	5
International retirement plans [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	84	85
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	52	43
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	$ 32	$ 42
Low end of range [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Guidant Healthcare Retirement Plan Discount Rate	1.00%
Minimum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	20 years
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Patents [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Technology-related [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	40 years
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Patents [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Technology-related [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	25 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	25 years
High end of range [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Guidant Healthcare Retirement Plan Discount Rate	2.00%