Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,410	$ 1,448	$ 2,755	$ 2,811
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales before special charges	419	407	812	789
Special charges	5	26	7	27
Total cost of sales	424	433	819	816
Gross profit	986	1,015	1,936	1,995
Selling, general and administrative expense	447	502	877	946
Research and development expense	171	178	338	348
Amortization of intangible assets	24	21	48	42
Special charges	30	25	34	58
Operating profit	314	289	639	601
Interest income	0	(1)	(1)	(2)
Interest expense	20	21	41	42
Other (income) expense	0	1	(3)	1
Other expense, net	20	21	37	41
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	294	268	602	560
Income tax expense	12	22	64	75
Net earnings before noncontrolling interest	282	246	538	485
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(8)	(24)	(14)	(34)
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 290	$ 270	$ 552	$ 519
Net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 1.03	$ 0.95	$ 1.96	$ 1.83
Diluted (USD per share)	1.02	0.93	1.93	1.80
Cash dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.29	$ 0.27	$ 0.58	$ 0.27
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	281.1	284.2	282.0	284.3
Diluted (in shares)	285.5	288.9	286.3	289.1