Financing (Other Long-Term Indebtedness) (Narrative) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Jun. 23, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 23, 2011 Aggregate June 2011 Debt Proceeds [Member] Beckman Coulter, Inc. Acquisition [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 23, 2011 2013 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2013 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2013 Notes [Member] Quarter 1 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2013 Notes [Member] Quarter 2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2013 Notes [Member] Quarter 3 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2013 Notes [Member] Quarter 4 [Member]	Jun. 23, 2011 2014 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2014 Notes [Member]	Jun. 23, 2011 2016 Notes [Member]	Jun. 23, 2011 2016 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2016 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2007 2018 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 2018 Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2009 2019 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2019 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 23, 2011 2021 Notes [Member]	Jun. 23, 2011 2021 Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2021 Notes [Member]	Jan. 21, 2006 Eurobond Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 21, 2006 Eurobond Notes [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 Eurobond Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate of debt instrument										1.30%			2.30%		5.625%		5.40%			3.90%			4.50%
Debt instrument, percentage of face value received from issuance			100.00%						99.918%			99.84%		99.39%		99.93%			99.975%
Debt instrument maturity date				Jun. 21, 2013						Jun. 23, 2014			Jun. 23, 2016		Jan. 15, 2018		Mar. 01, 2019			Jun. 23, 2021
Interest rate terms for debt instrument									1.3		2.3			5.625			5.40	3.9
Basis spread percentage to determine floating interest rate			0.25%
Net proceeds from debt	$ 1,800	$ 1,800												$ 493			$ 745				$ 627	€ 496
Date interest is payable					March 21	June 21	September 21	December 21