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Acquisitions (Allocation Of The Preliminary Purchase Price To The Acquired Net Assets Of Acquisitions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 9,069	$ 8,563	$ 7,168
Weighted average life of intangible assets	14 years	14 years
Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average life of intangible assets	16 years	15 years
Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average life of intangible assets	14 years	13 years
Mobius
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 3
Inventory	7
Other assets	2
Contingent consideration	(4)
Liabilities	(10)
Goodwill	301
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	$ 473
Weighted average life of intangible assets	12 years
Mobius \| Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	$ 7
Mobius \| Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	60
Mobius \| In-process research and development
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	98
Mobius \| Non-compete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	9
OrthoSpace
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	1
Inventory	1
Other assets	1
Contingent consideration	0
Liabilities	(29)
Goodwill	114
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	$ 208
Weighted average life of intangible assets	18 years
OrthoSpace \| Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	$ 0
OrthoSpace \| Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	120
OrthoSpace \| In-process research and development
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	0
OrthoSpace \| Non-compete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:	0
K2M
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		$ 58
Inventory		131
Other assets		160
Contingent consideration		0
Liabilities		(257)
Goodwill		$ 766
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	1,380
Weighted average life of intangible assets		15 years
K2M \| Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		$ 34
K2M \| Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		475
K2M \| Distributor relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		1
K2M \| Trade name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		10
K2M \| Internally developed software
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		2
Entellus
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		17
Inventory		14
Other assets		62
Contingent consideration		(79)
Liabilities		(76)
Goodwill		$ 465
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net	$ 697
Weighted average life of intangible assets		16 years
Entellus \| Customer relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		$ 33
Entellus \| Developed technology and patents
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		261
Entellus \| Distributor relationship
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		0
Entellus \| Trade name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		0
Entellus \| Internally developed software
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets:		$ 0