Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($) reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 14,994	$ 14,351
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(8,659)	(8,476)
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	246	246
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	11,988
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(27)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	988
Goodwill Ending Balance	$ 12,949
Number of reportable segments \| reportablesegments	2
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	$ 4,246
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(2)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
Goodwill Ending Balance	4,244
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	7,741
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(24)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	988
Goodwill Ending Balance	8,705
Goodwill [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	22,849	21,888
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	126	126
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120	120
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	12,559	11,957
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,918)	(6,754)
Patents [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	489	494
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(393)	(398)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,946	1,900
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (1,347)	$ (1,325)

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