Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block]

	As of December 31, 2014					As of December 31, 2013
	Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/			Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/
(in millions)	Amount		Write-offs			Amount		Write-offs
Amortizable intangible assets
Technology-related	$	8,406	$	(3,697	)	$	8,272	$	(3,342	)
Patents	519		(342		)	513		(326		)
Other intangible assets	875		(533		)	845		(479		)
	$	9,800	$	(4,572	)	$	9,630	$	(4,147	)
Unamortizable intangible assets
Goodwill	$	15,798	$	(9,900	)	$	15,593	$	(9,900	)
Technology-related	197		—			197		—
	$	15,995	$	(9,900	)	$	15,790	$	(9,900	)

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

The following represents our goodwill balance by new global reportable segment. We restated the prior period information to conform to the current presentation:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular			Rhythm Management			MedSurg			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	3,249		$	577		$	2,147		$	5,973
Purchase price adjustments	3			—			—			3
Goodwill acquired	—			140			—			140
Goodwill written off	—			(423		)	—			(423		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	3,252		$	294		$	2,147		$	5,693
Purchase price adjustments	(2		)	(4		)	(2		)	(8		)
Goodwill acquired	169			—			44			213
Goodwill written off	—			—			—			—
Other changes in carrying amount*	7			$	—		(7		)	—
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	3,426		$	290		$	2,182		$	5,898

Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block]

The following is a rollforward of accumulated goodwill write-offs by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular			Rhythm Management			MedSurg			Total
Accumulated write-offs as of December 31, 2012	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,537	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,477	)
Goodwill written off	—			(423		)	—			(423		)
Accumulated write-offs as of December 31, 2013	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	(1,461		)	$	(9,900	)
Goodwill written off	—			—			—			—
Accumulated write-offs as of December 31, 2014	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,900	)

Description of unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements [Table Text Block]

The recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of our contingent consideration liability include the following significant unobservable inputs:

Contingent Consideration Liability	Fair Value as of December 31, 2014	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range
R&D, Regulatory and Commercialization-based Milestones	$85 million	Probability Weighted Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	1.1%
			Probability of Payment	84% - 95%
			Projected Year of Payment	2015
Revenue-based Payments	$55 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	11.5% - 15%
			Probability of Payment	0% - 100%
			Projected Year of Payment	2015 - 2018
	$134 million	Monte Carlo	Revenue Volatility	11% - 13%
			Risk Free Rate	LIBOR Term Structure
			Projected Year of Payment	2015 - 2018

The nonrecurring Level 3 fair value measurements of our intangible asset impairment analysis included the following significant unobservable inputs:

Intangible Asset	Valuation Date	Fair Value	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Rate
In-Process R&D	September 30, 2014	$16 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	16.5 - 20%
In-Process R&D	June 30, 2014	$83 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	16.5 - 20%
Core Technology	June 30, 2014	$8 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	15%
In-Process R&D	March 31, 2014	$6 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	20%
Core Technology	March 31, 2014	$64 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	15%
In-Process R&D	June 30, 2013	$178 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	16.5%
In-Process R&D	September 30, 2012	$26 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	20 - 25%
In-Process R&D	June 30, 2012	$184 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	20%

Schedule of Impaired Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2014		2013		2012
Technology-related	$	107	$	—	$	—
In-process research and development	88		53		142
	$	195	53		$	142

Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

	Estimated Amortization Expense
Fiscal Year	(in millions)
2015	$	470
2016	469
2017	467
2018	464
2019	460