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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Feb. 13, 2015
Apr. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
May 05, 2015
claims
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]            
Accrual for legal matters that are probable and estimable     $ 1,453us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue   $ 1,577us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue  
Litigation Settlement, Expense     193us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense (7)us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense    
Litigation Settlement, Amount   119us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount        
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss     5,500us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss      
Total Amount Payable To Johnson And Johnson per Settlement Agreement 600bsx_TotalAmountPayableToJohnsonAndJohnsonperSettlementAgreement          
Subsequent Event [Member]            
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]            
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product           26,000bsx_ProductliabilitycasesorclaimsrelatedtomeshproductUnitedStates
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product - Canada           20bsx_ProductliabilitycasesorclaimsrelatedtomeshproductCanada
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product - United Kingdom           10bsx_ProductliabilitycasesorclaimsrelatedtomeshproductUnitedKingdom
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Settled Litigation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]            
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]            
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product           2,970bsx_ProductliabilitycasesorclaimsrelatedtomeshproductUnitedStates
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Settled Litigation [Member]            
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]            
Litigation Settlement, Amount   $ 35us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember