Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,209	$ 3,527	$ 12,186	$ 10,515
Cost of products sold	1,312	1,101	3,791	3,198
Gross profit	2,897	2,426	8,395	7,317
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,562	1,242	4,372	3,811
Research and development expenses	407	356	1,156	1,051
Royalty expense	5	11	24	35
Amortization expense	205	208	631	620
Intangible asset impairment charges	0	1	276	58
Contingent consideration net expense (benefit)	(23)	12	(4)	43
Restructuring net charges (credits)	8	15	12	51
Litigation-related net charges (credits)	0	(111)	0	(111)
Operating expenses	2,164	1,733	6,467	5,558
Operating income (loss)	733	693	1,928	1,759
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(79)	(66)	(225)	(200)
Other, net	14	(18)	(7)	(78)
Income (loss) before income taxes	669	610	1,697	1,480
Income tax expense (benefit)	200	105	413	392
Net income (loss)	468	504	1,284	1,088
Preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	(23)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(4)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Boston Scientific common stockholders	$ 469	$ 505	$ 1,288	$ 1,065
Net income (loss) per common share — basic	$ 0.32	$ 0.34	$ 0.88	$ 0.74
Net income (loss) per common share — diluted	$ 0.32	$ 0.34	$ 0.87	$ 0.73
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic	1,472.7	1,464.5	1,470.6	1,448.8
Diluted	1,487.4	1,475.0	1,484.5	1,459.1