Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,499	$ 1,339	$ 4,509	$ 4,094
Cost of sales:
Cost of sales before special charges	470	408	1,444	1,220
Special charges	25	17	34	24
Total cost of sales	495	425	1,478	1,244
Gross profit	1,004	914	3,031	2,850
Selling, general and administrative expense	481	413	1,474	1,290
Research and development expense	183	161	563	499
Amortization of intangible assets	47	23	139	71
Special charges	7	23	28	57
Operating profit	286	294	827	933
Interest income	0	(1)	(1)	(2)
Interest expense	39	22	119	63
Other (income) expense	2	12	58	9
Other expense, net	41	33	176	70
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	245	261	651	863
Income tax expense	33	46	106	110
Net earnings before noncontrolling interest	212	215	545	753
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	(14)
Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.	$ 212	$ 215	$ 545	$ 767
Net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.76	$ 1.92	$ 2.72
Diluted (USD per share)	0.73	0.75	1.89	2.68
Cash dividends declared per share (USD per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.29	$ 0.93	$ 0.87
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	285.2	282.2	284.3	282.1
Diluted (in shares)	290.0	286.3	288.2	286.3