Certain Litigation Charges, Net	12 Months Ended
Apr. 26, 2013
Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]
Certain Litigation Charges, Net	Certain Litigation Charges, Net The Company classifies material litigation reserves and gains recognized as certain litigation charges, net. During fiscal year 2013, the Company recorded certain litigation charges, net of $245 million related to probable and reasonably estimated damages resulting from patent litigation with Edwards Lifesciences, Inc. Refer to Note 17 for additional information. During fiscal year 2012, the Company recorded certain litigation charges, net of $90 million related to the agreement to settle the federal securities class action initiated in December 2008 by the Minneapolis Firefighters’ Relief Association. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, Medtronic settled all of these class claims for $85 million and incurred $5 million in additional litigation fees. During fiscal year 2011, the Company recorded certain litigation charges, net of $245 million related primarily to a $221 million settlement involving the Sprint Fidelis family of defibrillation leads and charges for certain Other Matters litigation. The Sprint Fidelis settlement related to the resolution of certain outstanding product liability litigation related to the Sprint Fidelis family of defibrillation leads that were subject to a field action announced October 15, 2007. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company paid out the settlement for both the Sprint Fidelis settlement and for certain Other Matters litigation. Refer to Note 17 for additional information.

Certain Litigation Charges, Net

The Company classifies material litigation reserves and gains recognized as certain litigation charges, net.

During fiscal year 2013, the Company recorded certain litigation charges, net of $245 million related to probable and reasonably estimated damages resulting from patent litigation with Edwards Lifesciences, Inc. Refer to Note 17 for additional information.

During fiscal year 2012, the Company recorded certain litigation charges, net of $90 million related to the agreement to settle the federal securities class action initiated in December 2008 by the Minneapolis Firefighters’ Relief Association. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, Medtronic settled all of these class claims for $85 million and incurred $5 million in additional litigation fees.

During fiscal year 2011, the Company recorded certain litigation charges, net of $245 million related primarily to a $221 million settlement involving the Sprint Fidelis family of defibrillation leads and charges for certain Other Matters litigation. The Sprint Fidelis settlement related to the resolution of certain outstanding product liability litigation related to the Sprint Fidelis family of defibrillation leads that were subject to a field action announced October 15, 2007. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company paid out the settlement for both the Sprint Fidelis settlement and for certain Other Matters litigation. Refer to Note 17 for additional information.