Segment Data - Revenues by Geographic Areas (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,225	$ 4,160
Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,090	2,135
Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,123	1,056
Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,012	970
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,430	2,387
United States | IVFluids
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		2
United States | InterventionalSpecialties,BrachytherapyandFeedingProducts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		31
United States | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,204	1,239
United States | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	538	484
United States | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	688	664
International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,795	1,773
International | InterventionalSpecialties,BrachytherapyandFeedingProducts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		14
International | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	886	896
International | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	585	572
International | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	325	306
Medication Delivery Solutions | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	948	956
Medication Delivery Solutions | United States | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	520	519
Medication Delivery Solutions | International | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	428	438
Medication Management Solutions | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	575	625
Medication Management Solutions | United States | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	462	508
Medication Management Solutions | International | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	113	118
Diabetes Care | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	268	274
Diabetes Care | United States | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	139	145
Diabetes Care | International | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	129	129
Pharmaceutical Systems | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	299	280
Pharmaceutical Systems | United States | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	84	68
Pharmaceutical Systems | International | Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	215	212
Preanalytical Systems | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	398	393
Preanalytical Systems | United States | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	202	201
Preanalytical Systems | International | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	196	192
Diagnostic Systems | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	402	382
Diagnostic Systems | United States | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	184	175
Diagnostic Systems | International | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	218	207
Integrated Diagnostic Solutions | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	800	774
Integrated Diagnostic Solutions | United States | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	386	376
Integrated Diagnostic Solutions | International | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	414	399
Biosciences | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	323	281
Biosciences | United States | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	152	108
Biosciences | International | Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	171	173
Surgery | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	326	310
Surgery | United States | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	256	246
Surgery | International | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	70	64
Peripheral Intervention | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	395	382
Peripheral Intervention | United States | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	225	223
Peripheral Intervention | International | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	170	160
Urology and Critical Care | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	291	277
Urology and Critical Care | United States | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	206	195
Urology and Critical Care | International | Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 85	$ 83