Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 reportablesegments reportingunits	Dec. 31, 2012 reportablesegments reportingunits	Dec. 31, 2011 reportablesegments reportingunits
Goodwill [Line Items]
In process research and development associated with Asthmax & Intelect				$ 26					$ 26
In process research and development associated with Sadra					184
In process research and development associated with Asthmax & Intelect		178
Discount rate used for measurement of fair value of Asthmax & Intelect IPR&D asset - Minimum									20.00%
Future Amortization Expense, Year One										433
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross										9,630	9,389
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization										(4,147)	(3,785)
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss										(9,900)	(9,477)	(5,127)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charges			423	748	3,602			697		423	4,350	697
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax			421		3,579
Allocated Goodwill										5,693	5,973	9,761
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)										5,950	6,289	6,473
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments										3	(1)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period										140	563
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Other intangible asset charges				13	129	9	12			53	142	21
Intangible asset impairment charge, net of tax				10	110
Goodwill, Gross										15,593	15,450
Intangible assets reclassified from unamortizable to amortizable	45
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs										(9,900)	(9,477)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill										15,790	15,692
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two										441
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three										441
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four										440
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five										441
Discount rate used for measurement of fair value of Asthmax and Intelect IPRD asset - Maximum									25.00%
Discount rate used for measurement of fair value of Sadra IPR&D asset		16.50%			20.00%
Number of Reportable Segments										3
Number of U.S. reporting units											6	6
Number of international reporting units											4	4
International goodwill as of 12/31/12 that was reallocated to global divisions											1,764
US CV goodwill as of 12/31/12 that was reallocated to IC and PI global divisions											2,380
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate											1.00%
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Terminal value growth rate			2.00%
Market-participant risk-adjusted weighted average cost of capital (WACC)			12.00%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss										(1,479)	(1,479)	0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charges										0	(1,479)
Allocated Goodwill										3,252	3,249	4,542
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments										3	0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period										0	186
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss										(6,960)	(6,537)	(5,127)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charges										(423)	(1,410)
Allocated Goodwill										294	577	1,661
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments										0	(1)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period										140	327
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss										(1,461)	(1,461)	0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charges										0	(1,461)
Allocated Goodwill										2,147	2,147	3,558
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments										0	0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period										0	50
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Allocated Goodwill		1,356
Neuromodulation [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Level Of Excess Fair Value Over Carrying Value For Reporting Unit					16.00%
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Hypothetical change in WACC		0.80%
Hypothetical change in revenue growth rates		2.00%
U.S. CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate											2.50%
Technology Developed [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net										4,374	4,636
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross										8,272	8,020
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization										(3,342)	(3,005)
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Other intangible asset charges										0	0	9
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross										513	559
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization										(326)	(352)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross										845	810
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization										(479)	(428)
Purchased research and development [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Other intangible asset charges										53	142	12
Technology Core [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)										197	242
Purchased research and development [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)										270	443
2011 Acquisitions, excluding Sadra [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Other intangible asset charges		2
Sadra Medical Inc [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Other intangible asset charges		$ 51