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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Mar. 29, 2014
Jun. 07, 2013
Jun. 28, 2014
Feb. 27, 2013
Available-for-sale securities, gross realized gain $ 3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains $ 13us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains $ 14us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains        
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Write-downs   9us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesWriteOffs          
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current 53us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent 45us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent          
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount 3.3us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 4.8us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 18.9us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount        
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets       14us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleCumulativeEffectOfChangeOnEquityOrNetAssets1      
Minimum [Member]              
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life 3 years            
Maximum [Member]              
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life 20 years            
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 15 years            
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 39 years            
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 3 years            
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 15 years            
Other Capitalized Property Plant and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 3 years            
Other Capitalized Property Plant and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 7 years            
Spinal Modulation [Member]              
Equity Security Ownership Interest And Allocated Value For Purchase Option         40stj_EquitySecurityOwnershipInterestAndAllocatedValueForPurchaseOption
/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis
= stj_SpinalModulationMember
   
CardioMEMS, Inc [Member]              
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired           81.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= stj_CardioMEMSIncMember
 
Equity Security Ownership Interest And Allocated Value For Purchase Option             $ 60stj_EquitySecurityOwnershipInterestAndAllocatedValueForPurchaseOption
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= stj_CardioMEMSIncMember