Intangible Assets - Reconciliation of Goodwill by Business Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,109
Acquisitions	13
Currency translation/other	(32)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,090
Medical [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	511
Acquisitions
Currency translation/other	(29)
Goodwill, ending balance	482
Diagnostics [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	378
Acquisitions	13
Currency translation/other	(3)
Goodwill, ending balance	388
Biosciences [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	220
Acquisitions
Currency translation/other
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 220

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments and purchase accounting adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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