Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) reportablesegments	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| reportablesegments			3
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,631	$ 2,490	$ 5,124	$ 4,870
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	763	734	1,449	1,436
Amortization expense	(161)	(147)	(321)	(288)
Operating income (loss)	384	392	925	799
Other expense, net	(239)	(45)	(323)	(129)
Income (loss) before income taxes	145	347	602	670
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	818	751	1,584	1,462
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 295	$ 273	$ 551	$ 532
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	36.10%	36.40%	34.80%	36.40%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 786	$ 775	$ 1,543	$ 1,512
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 167	$ 160	$ 322	$ 313
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	21.20%	20.60%	20.90%	20.70%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,026	$ 965	$ 1,998	$ 1,898
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 301	$ 300	$ 577	$ 590
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	29.30%	31.10%	28.90%	31.10%
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	$ (91)	$ (100)	$ (140)	$ (200)
Special Charges [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	$ (127)	$ (95)	$ (64)	$ (149)

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