Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,527	$ 3,170	$ 10,515	$ 9,440
Cost of products sold	1,101	979	3,198	2,945
Gross profit	2,426	2,191	7,317	6,495
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,242	1,132	3,811	3,357
Research and development expenses	356	339	1,051	993
Royalty expense	11	11	35	34
Amortization expense	208	202	620	604
Intangible asset impairment charges	1	125	58	132
Contingent consideration net expense (benefit)	12	20	43	68
Restructuring net charges (credits)	15	4	51	18
Litigation-related net charges (credits)	(111)	0	(111)	42
Operating expenses	1,733	1,833	5,558	5,248
Operating income (loss)	693	358	1,759	1,247
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(66)	(63)	(200)	(406)
Other, net	(18)	(51)	(78)	(96)
Income (loss) before income taxes	610	245	1,480	745
Income tax expense (benefit)	105	57	392	188
Net income (loss)	504	188	1,088	558
Preferred stock dividends	0	(14)	(23)	(42)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders	$ 505	$ 174	$ 1,065	$ 516
Net income (loss) per common share — basic	$ 0.34	$ 0.12	$ 0.74	$ 0.36
Net income (loss) per common share — diluted	$ 0.34	$ 0.12	$ 0.73	$ 0.36
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic	1,464.5	1,431.6	1,448.8	1,429.7
Diluted	1,475.0	1,440.0	1,459.1	1,438.7