Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,339	$ 1,372	$ 4,094	$ 4,183
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales before special charges	408	388	1,220	1,177
Special charges	17	24	24	51
Total cost of sales	425	412	1,244	1,228
Gross profit	914	960	2,850	2,955
Selling, general and administrative expense	413	453	1,290	1,399
Research and development expense	161	169	499	517
Amortization of intangible assets	23	23	71	65
Special charges	23	45	57	103
Operating profit	294	270	933	871
Interest income	(1)	(1)	(2)	(3)
Interest expense	22	21	63	63
Other (income) expense	12	0	9	1
Other expense, net	33	20	70	61
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	261	250	863	810
Income tax expense	46	18	110	93
Net earnings before noncontrolling interest	215	232	753	717
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(6)	(14)	(40)
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 215	$ 238	$ 767	$ 757
Net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 0.76	$ 0.83	$ 2.72	$ 2.66
Diluted (USD per share)	0.75	0.82	2.68	2.62
Cash dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.29	$ 0.27	$ 0.87	$ 0.81
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	282.2	285.2	282.1	284.6
Diluted (in shares)	286.3	290.0	286.3	289.4