Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 26, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) patents claims	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 21, 2017 claims
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value | $		$ 308
Accrual for legal matters that are probable and estimable | $				$ 2,023	$ 1,936
Litigation-related charges | $				$ 804	$ 1,105	$ 1,036
Product liability lawsuits related to defibrillators or pacemakers				8
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
Loss Contingency, Damages Paid, Value | $	$ 366
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 assigned to one judge in state court in Massachusetts							3,100
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product							43,000
Litigation Settlement, Amount | $			$ 275
Product liability cases or claims in Canada, Mesh							20
Certified class actions in Canada, Mesh							1
Putative class actions in Canada, Mesh							3
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product - United Kingdom							20
Settled Litigation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product							31,000
Total Product liability cases and claims settled related to Mesh product							12,000