Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2013		Jan. 27, 2012		Jan. 25, 2013		Jan. 27, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,027		$ 3,918		$ 12,130		$ 11,887
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	999		931		2,992		2,842
Research and development expense	376		364		1,148		1,097
Selling, general, and administrative expense	1,401		1,371		4,223		4,161
Certain litigation charges, net	0		0		245		0
Acquisition-related items	(55)		15		(44)		(1)
Amortization of intangible assets	88		84		247		255
Other expense, net	17		67		119		316
Interest expense, net	46		33		103		103
Total costs and expenses	2,872		2,865		9,033		8,773
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	1,155		1,053		3,097		3,114
Provision for income taxes	167		208		599		587
Earnings from continuing operations	988		845		2,498		2,527
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
Earnings from operations of Physio-Control	0		15		0		32
Physio-Control divestiture-related costs	0		(9)		0		(17)
Deferred income tax benefit on sale	0		84		0		84
Earnings from discontinued operations	0		90		0		99
Net earnings	$ 988		$ 935		$ 2,498		$ 2,626
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 0.98		$ 0.80		$ 2.45		$ 2.39
Net earnings (usd per share)	$ 0.98		$ 0.89		$ 2.45		$ 2.48
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 0.97		$ 0.80		$ 2.43		$ 2.37
Net earnings (usd per share)	$ 0.97	[1]	$ 0.88	[1]	$ 2.43	[1]	$ 2.47	[1]
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,012.5		1,054.4		1,020.7		1,058.5
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,021.0		1,060.2		1,028.7		1,064.1
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.26		$ 0.2425		$ 0.78		$ 0.7275

[1] All earnings per share amounts have been rounded to the nearest $0.01, and therefore, may not sum.