Core technology

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Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs

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indefinite-lived intangible assets including goodwill

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- Definition

In process research and development

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- Definition

Intangible assets reclassified from unamortizable to amortizable

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Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

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Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

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Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

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Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount before accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]
Research and Development in Process		$ 6bsx_Inprocessresearchanddevelopment
Asset Impairment Charges		55us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,879		9,800
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,682)		(4,572)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	15,993		15,995
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)		(9,900)
Goodwill	5,896us-gaap_Goodwill		5,898us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(2)
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)		(9,900)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Core technology		64bsx_Coretechnology
Intangible assets reclassified from unamortizable to amortizable	76
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,424		3,426
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(2)
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479)		(1,479)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	290		290
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(6,960)		(6,960)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,182		2,182
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,461)		(1,461)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	15,796		15,798
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)		(9,900)
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	197		197
In-process research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	105		181
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	8,482		8,406
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(3,789)		(3,697)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	522		519
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(347)		(342)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	875		875
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (546)		$ (533)
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		20.00%
Core technology [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		15.00%