Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	stj_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	stj_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of claimants in settled lawsuit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	stj_NumberOfClaimantsInLawsuit
Namespace Prefix:	stj_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of cases consolidated

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	stj_Numberofcasesconsolidated
Namespace Prefix:	stj_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of lawsuits outstanding

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	stj_Numberoflawsuitsoutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	stj_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of litigation expense, including but not limited to legal, forensic, accounting, and investigative fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the amounts received by the insured under the terms of an insurance contract settlement. This element pertains only to insurance proceeds related to operating activities. It excludes insurance settlements classified as investing cash flows, for example, insurance settlements related to fixed assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3337-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromInsuranceSettlementOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=stj_March2010SecuritiesClassActionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=stj_December2012SecuritiesLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=stj_RiataLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	stj_TypeOfCourtLitigationAxis=stj_IllinoisStateCourtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	stj_TypeOfCourtLitigationAxis=stj_UnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheSouthernDistrictofIndianaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	stj_TypeOfCourtLitigationAxis=stj_UnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheDistrictofSouthCarolinaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	stj_TypeOfCourtLitigationAxis=stj_UnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheMiddleDistrictofFloridaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments And Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
Commitments And Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	Oct. 09, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2015 USD ($) case	Sep. 27, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 30, 2013 case	Oct. 03, 2015 case lawsuit	Dec. 17, 2014 lawsuit
Commitments And Contingencies
Legal settlement expense				$ 2
March 2010 Securities Class Action
Commitments And Contingencies
Legal settlement expense			$ 50
Estimated damages on alleged claims			475
Proceeds from insurance settlement		$ 40
December 2012 Securities Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies
Number of cases consolidated \| case					2
Riata Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies
Legal settlement expense			$ 15
Pending lawsuits \| case			950
Number of claimants in lawsuit \| case						886
Number of lawsuits outstanding \| lawsuit						5	70
Illinois State Court [Member] \| Riata Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies
Pending lawsuits \| lawsuit						1
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana [Member] \| Riata Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies
Pending lawsuits \| lawsuit						1
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina [Member] \| Riata Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies
Pending lawsuits \| lawsuit						1
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida [Member] \| Riata Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies
Pending lawsuits \| lawsuit						1
Subsequent Event \| Riata Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies
Settlement payment	$ 13