Acquisitions and Acquisition-Related Items (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2013	Jan. 27, 2012	Jan. 25, 2013	Jan. 27, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012 Kanghui	Jan. 25, 2013 Kanghui	Jan. 25, 2013 Kanghui	Aug. 31, 2011 Salient	Jan. 27, 2012 Salient	Aug. 31, 2011 PEAK	Jan. 27, 2012 PEAK	Jan. 27, 2012 Salient and PEAK	Jan. 25, 2013 Physio-Control	Nov. 01, 2012 Technology-Based [Member] Kanghui	Nov. 01, 2012 Trade Names [Member] Kanghui	Jan. 25, 2013 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration [Member]	Jan. 27, 2012 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration [Member]	Jan. 25, 2013 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration [Member]	Jan. 27, 2012 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration [Member]	Jan. 25, 2013 Impairment of Acquired in Process Research and Development [Member]	Jan. 25, 2013 Impairment of Acquired in Process Research and Development [Member]
Preexisting Relationship
Previously held ownership percentage in acquiree								8.90%		18.90%
Purchase Price Allocation
Current assets					$ 110			$ 20		$ 5
Property, plant and equipment					56			11		5
IPR&D								44
Other intangible assets					341			154		74				288	53
Goodwill					401			348		56
Other assets					10			1
Total assets acquired					918			578		140
Current liabilities					30			43		10
Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net					71			38		17
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Other Noncurrent Liabilities					1
Total liabilities assumed					102			81		27
Net assets acquired					816			497		113
Acquired net tangible liabilities								49		17
Acquisition-related Items
Transaction value net of acquired cash					797
Acquisition-related items	(55)	15	(44)	(1)		10	13		(32)		(6)	5	5			(70)	15	(67)	32	5	5
Net value of acquisition transaction								$ 452		$ 96
Other Disclosures
Acquisition date					Nov. 01, 2012			Aug. 31, 2011		Aug. 31, 2011
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life					11 years			12 years		12 years