Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		6 Months Ended													3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Electrophysiology [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Neuromodulation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Cardiovascular [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cardiovascular [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Global Neuromodulation Reporting Unit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Rhythm Management [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Rhythm Management [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 MedSurg [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 MedSurg [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Technology-related [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Technology-related [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 In-process research and development [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 In-process research and development [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Technology-related [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Technology-related [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Patents [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Patents [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Intangible Assets [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Intangible Assets [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Pre-tax Impairment Charges [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2014 In Process Research and Development [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 In Process Research and Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 In Process Research and Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 In Process Research and Development 2 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Core technology [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Core technology [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Core technology [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Impairment Charges from change in expected cash flows [Domain]	Jun. 30, 2014 Vessix Charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Atritech Charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other In-process Research and Development Project Charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Minimum [Member] In Process Research and Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Minimum [Member] In Process Research and Development [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Maximum [Member] In Process Research and Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Maximum [Member] In Process Research and Development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Hypothetical change in WACC										1.00%	1.00%
Hypothetical change in revenue growth rates										1.50%	1.50%
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net												$ 4,167,000,000
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	12,000,000			0			177,000,000	53,000,000																										4,000,000				8,000,000
Research and Development in Process	16,000,000		6,000,000		178,000,000																																83,000,000
Asset Impairment Charges	2,000,000	110,000,000	55,000,000	4,000,000			177,000,000	476,000,000																									51,000,000								2,000,000	67,000,000	35,000,000	8,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,799,000,000						9,799,000,000		9,630,000,000																		8,407,000,000	8,272,000,000	518,000,000	513,000,000	874,000,000	845,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,463,000,000)						(4,463,000,000)		(4,147,000,000)																		(3,607,000,000)	(3,342,000,000)	(337,000,000)	(326,000,000)	(519,000,000)	(479,000,000)
Goodwill, Gross																					15,801,000,000	15,593,000,000
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)																							197,000,000	197,000,000	199,000,000	270,000,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	15,998,000,000						15,998,000,000		15,790,000,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900,000,000)						(9,900,000,000)		(9,900,000,000)
Goodwill	5,901,000,000						5,901,000,000		5,693,000,000				3,427,000,000	3,252,000,000		291,000,000	294,000,000	2,183,000,000	2,147,000,000
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments							(5,000,000)						(1,000,000)			(3,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period							213,000,000						169,000,000			0		44,000,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	9,900,000,000						9,900,000,000		(9,900,000,000)				1,479,000,000	(1,479,000,000)		6,960,000,000	(6,960,000,000)	1,461,000,000	(1,461,000,000)		(9,900,000,000)	(9,900,000,000)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of Reportable Segments							3
Goodwill impairment charge	0			0		(423,000,000)	0	(423,000,000)					0			0		0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax						(421,000,000)
Goodwill, Other Changes							0						7,000,000			0		(7,000,000)
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount															55.00%					38.00%
Allocated Goodwill															1,356,000,000					292,000,000
Core technology		$ 8,000,000	$ 64,000,000
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate																																			20.00%	16.50%			15.00%	15.00%					17.00%	17.00%	20.00%	20.00%