Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,562	$ 1,410	$ 3,010	$ 2,755
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales before special charges	490	419	974	812
Special charges	6	5	9	7
Total cost of sales	496	424	983	819
Gross profit	1,066	986	2,027	1,936
Selling, general and administrative expense	502	447	993	877
Research and development expense	192	171	380	338
Amortization of intangible assets	46	24	92	48
Special charges	13	30	21	34
Operating profit	313	314	541	639
Interest income	0	0	(1)	(1)
Interest expense	40	20	80	41
Other (income) expense	3	0	56	(3)
Other expense, net	43	20	135	37
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	270	294	406	602
Income tax expense	32	12	73	64
Net earnings before noncontrolling interest	238	282	333	538
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(8)	0	(14)
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 238	$ 290	$ 333	$ 552
Net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 0.84	$ 1.03	$ 1.17	$ 1.96
Diluted (USD per share)	0.83	1.02	1.16	1.93
Cash dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.29	$ 0.62	$ 0.58
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	284.3	281.1	283.9	282.0
Diluted (in shares)	288.3	285.5	287.3	286.3