Business Combinations Business Combination (Schedule of Business Combinations, Separately Recognized Transactions) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Aug. 06, 2014	Aug. 19, 2013	Oct. 11, 2013	Jun. 07, 2013	Feb. 27, 2013
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 3,532	$ 3,524	$ 2,961
Net cash consideration	147	292	0
Additions in noncontrolling ownership interests		204
NeuroTherm, Inc. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Current assets				22
Property, plant and equipment				2
Goodwill				125
Other intangible assets				89
Current liabilities				(13)
Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities)				(28)
Long-term debt				(50)
Net assets				147
Cash paid	148
Less: Cash acquired	(1)
Net cash consideration	147
Endosense S.A. [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Current assets					2
Goodwill					258
Other intangible assets					20
Current liabilities					(11)
Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities)					0
Net assets					303
Cash paid		180
Less: Cash acquired		(9)
Net cash consideration		171
Cash and cash equivalents					0
In-Process Research and Development					33
Other assets					1
Other liabilities					0
Contingent consideration					132
Fair value of St. Jude Medical, Inc.'s previously held interest		0
Equity Security Ownership Interest And Allocated Value For Purchase Option					0
Variable Interest Entity, Financial or Other Support, Amount		0
Additions in noncontrolling ownership interests		0
Nanostim [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Current assets						1
Goodwill						149
Other intangible assets						34
Current liabilities						(2)
Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities)						0
Net assets						210
Cash paid		124
Less: Cash acquired		(3)
Net cash consideration		121
Cash and cash equivalents						0
In-Process Research and Development						27
Other assets						1
Other liabilities						0
Contingent consideration						56
Fair value of St. Jude Medical, Inc.'s previously held interest		33
Equity Security Ownership Interest And Allocated Value For Purchase Option						0
Variable Interest Entity, Financial or Other Support, Amount		0
Additions in noncontrolling ownership interests		0
Spinal Modulation [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Current assets							9
Goodwill	46						46
Other intangible assets	7						7
Current liabilities	(5)						(6)
Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities)	(19)						(19)
Net assets							124
Cash paid		0
Less: Cash acquired		0
Net cash consideration		0
Cash and cash equivalents	9						41
In-Process Research and Development	45						45
Other assets							1
Other liabilities							0
Contingent consideration							0
Fair value of St. Jude Medical, Inc.'s previously held interest		0
Equity Security Ownership Interest And Allocated Value For Purchase Option							40
Variable Interest Entity, Financial or Other Support, Amount	15	0
Additions in noncontrolling ownership interests		84
CardioMEMS, Inc [Member]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Current assets								3
Goodwill								83
Other intangible assets								0
Current liabilities								(13)
Deferred income tax assets/(liabilities)								(23)
Net assets								143
Cash paid		0
Less: Cash acquired		0
Net cash consideration		0
Cash and cash equivalents								33
In-Process Research and Development								63
Other assets								2
Other liabilities								(5)
Contingent consideration								0
Fair value of St. Jude Medical, Inc.'s previously held interest		31
Equity Security Ownership Interest And Allocated Value For Purchase Option								0
Variable Interest Entity, Financial or Other Support, Amount		28
Additions in noncontrolling ownership interests		$ 84