Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 13, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) patents claims	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Feb. 23, 2016 claims	Apr. 29, 2015 claims
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value | $			$ 308
Accrual for legal matters that are probable and estimable | $				$ 1,936	$ 1,577
Litigation-related charges | $				$ 1,105	$ 1,036	$ 221
Product liability lawsuits related to defibrillators or pacemakers				18
Suits Pending Against Guidant in Canada and Filed as Class Actions				4
Suits Pending Against Guidant in Canada, Pending Outcome of Two Lead Class Actions				3
Suits Pending Against Guidant in Canada, Number of Lead Class Action				1
Loss Contingency, Settlement Agreement, Consideration | $				$ 3
Initial GI stent patents allegedly infringed (Pulnev and Hankh patents) | patents				3
Additional Pulnev patents added to infringement suit | patents				6
Individual Lawsuits Pending in Various State and Federal Jurisdictions Against Guidant				5
Minimum damages for Guidant breach of Merger Agreement | $				$ 5,500
Total Amount Payable To Johnson And Johnson per Settlement Agreement | $	$ 600
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product assigned to one judge in state court in Massachusetts							3,100
Litigation Settlement, Amount | $		$ 119
Putative class actions in Canada, Mesh							4
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Putative class actions in the U.S., Mesh							8
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product							35,000
Product liability cases or claims in Canada, Mesh							20
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product - United Kingdom							15
Settled Litigation [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product								2,970
Litigation Settlement, Amount | $		$ 35
Settled Litigation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product							10,000