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Income Taxes Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]          
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance   $ 486,000,000bsx_Deferredtaxassetsandprepaidonintercompanyprofit $ 330,000,000bsx_Deferredtaxassetsandprepaidonintercompanyprofit    
Incremental tax liability asserted by IRS   1,162,000,000bsx_IncrementalTaxLiabilityAssertedByIrs      
Income Tax Examination, Penalties and Interest Accrued   443,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 402,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued    
Unrecognized Tax Benefits   1,047,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 1,102,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 1,088,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 1,022,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate   903,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate 941,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate 919,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increases Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions   44,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 59,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions 54,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increases Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions   3,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 43,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 45,000,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions   (87,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions (42,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions (28,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities   (5,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities (15,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities (1,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities  
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Reductions Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations   (10,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations (31,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations (4,000,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations  
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Domestic   335,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsDomestic 351,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsDomestic    
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current   447,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent 288,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent    
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent   39,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent 42,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent    
Deferred Tax Assets, Inventory   46,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventory 50,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventory    
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards   525,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards 647,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards    
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals   232,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals 221,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals    
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Restructuring Charges   20,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsRestructuringCharges 17,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsRestructuringCharges    
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Contingencies   556,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsContingencies 198,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsContingencies    
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Impairment Losses   4,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsImpairmentLosses 15,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsImpairmentLosses    
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits, Share-based Compensation Cost   150,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost 143,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost    
Federal benefit of uncertain tax positions   178,000,000bsx_FederalBenefitOfUncertainTaxPositions 166,000,000bsx_FederalBenefitOfUncertainTaxPositions    
Deferred Tax Assets, Other   36,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther 39,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther    
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross   1,747,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross 1,496,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross    
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance   450,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 433,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance    
Change in Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance   17,000,000bsx_ChangeinDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current   2,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent 2,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent   1,214,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent 1,402,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Property, Plant and Equipment   67,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment 78,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Derivatives   146,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDerivatives 80,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDerivatives    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets   1,883,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets 2,045,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other   2,096,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther 2,203,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther    
Deferred Tax Liabilities   1,216,000,000bsx_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNet 1,404,000,000bsx_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNet    
Deferred Tax Liabilities   799,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities 1,140,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross   2,096,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities 2,203,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities    
Current Federal Tax Expense (Benefit)   (2,000,000)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 46,000,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 33,000,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic   (1,263,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic (774,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic (1,265,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign   754,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 551,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign (2,842,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest   (509,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest (223,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest (4,107,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest  
Current State and Local Tax Expense (Benefit)   (5,000,000)us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit (9,000,000)us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 0us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit  
Current Foreign Tax Expense (Benefit)   111,000,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 105,000,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 139,000,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit  
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   104,000,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 142,000,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 172,000,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   (458,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (212,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (204,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   (23,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (17,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (7,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   (13,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (15,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 0us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   (494,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (244,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (211,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Income tax (benefit) expense   (390,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (102,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (39,000,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign   304,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign 313,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax   21,000,000us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax 76,000,000us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax 70,000,000us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax  
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Undistributed Foreign Earnings   7,700,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings      
Free Trade Zone Regime Tax Incentive   7,000,000bsx_FreeTradeZoneRegimeTaxIncentive 6,000,000bsx_FreeTradeZoneRegimeTaxIncentive 7,000,000bsx_FreeTradeZoneRegimeTaxIncentive  
Gross interest and penalties recognized in period   41,000,000bsx_GrossInterestAndPenaltiesRecognizedInPeriod      
Income Tax Examination, Penalties and Interest Expense   26,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense 22,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense 34,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense  
Potential Reduction In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Over Next Twelve Months As Result Of Concluding Certain Matters 8,000,000bsx_PotentialReductionInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOverNextTwelveMonthsAsResultOfConcludingCertainMatters        
Deferred Tax Assets, Prepaid on Intercompany Profit   69,000,000bsx_DeferredTaxAssetsPrepaidonIntercompanyProfit 66,000,000bsx_DeferredTaxAssetsPrepaidonIntercompanyProfit    
Net Deferred Tax Liabilities and Prepaid on Intercompany Profit   730,000,000bsx_NetDeferredTaxLiabilitiesandPrepaidonIntercompanyProfit 1,074,000,000bsx_NetDeferredTaxLiabilitiesandPrepaidonIntercompanyProfit    
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance   $ 1,297,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet $ 1,063,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet