Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 10,999	$ 10,997
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(5,156)	(5,022)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	16,596	16,592
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill	6,477	6,473
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	4
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,451	3,451
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479)	(1,479)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	292	292
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	2,734	2,730
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	4
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	16,377	16,373
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120	120
In-process research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	99	99
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	8,948	8,948
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,155)	(4,054)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	520	520
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(362)	(358)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,531	1,529
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (639)	$ (610)