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

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block]

	As of December 31, 2015					As of December 31, 2014
	Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/			Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/
(in millions)	Amount		Write-offs			Amount		Write-offs
Amortizable intangible assets
Technology-related	$	8,948	$	(4,054	)	$	8,406	$	(3,697	)
Patents	520		(358		)	519		(342		)
Other intangible assets	1,529		(610		)	875		(533		)
	$	10,997	$	(5,022	)	$	9,800	$	(4,572	)
Unamortizable intangible assets
Goodwill	$	16,373	$	(9,900	)	$	15,798	$	(9,900	)
In-process research and development (IPR&D)	99					181
Technology-related	120		—			197		—
	$	16,592	$	(9,900	)	$	16,176	$	(9,900	)

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

The following represents our goodwill balance by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular			Rhythm Management			MedSurg			Total
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
Other changes in carrying amount*	7			$	—		(7		)	—
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	3,426		$	290		$	2,182		$	5,898
Purchase price adjustments	2			2			(2		)	2
Goodwill acquired	23			—			550			573
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	3,451		$	292		$	2,730		$	6,473

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, 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	)
Goodwill written off	—			—			—			—
Accumulated write-offs as of December 31, 2015	$	(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, 2015	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range
R&D and Commercialization-based Milestone	$19 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	2% - 3.5%
			Probability of Payment	32% - 95%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2021
Revenue-based Payments	$125 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	11% - 15%
			Projected Year of Payment	2016 - 2022
	$102 million	Monte Carlo	Revenue Volatility	15%
			Risk Free Rate	LIBOR Term Structure
			Projected Year of Payment	2016 - 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
Technology-related (amortizable)	September 30, 2015	$8 million	Income Approach -Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	10%
In-Process R&D	June 30, 2015	$6 million	Income Approach - Excess Earnings Method	Discount Rate	16.5 - 20%
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%
Technology-related (amortizable)	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%
Technology-related (amortizable)	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%

Schedule of Impaired Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2015		2014		2013
Technology-related (amortizable)	$	9	$	107	$	—
In-process research and development	10		88		53
	$	19	195		$	53

Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

	Estimated Amortization Expense
Fiscal Year	(in millions)
2016	$	536
2017	520
2018	517
2019	513
2020	510