Stock Purchase and Award Plans , ESPP, Valuation Assumptions and Compensation Expense (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2013		Apr. 27, 2012		Apr. 29, 2011
Fair Value Assumptions Used in Black-Scholes Model
Weighted average fair value of options granted (per share)	$ 7.42		$ 6.88		$ 8.19
Expected life (years)	6 years 6 months	[1]	6 years 4 months 24 days	[1]	6 years 3 months 18 days	[1]
Risk-free interest rate	0.94%	[2]	1.82%	[2]	2.25%	[2]
Volatility	26.22%	[3]	25.97%	[3]	26.03%	[3]
Dividend yield	2.64%	[4]	2.78%	[4]	2.40%	[4]
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 152		$ 161		$ 198
Income tax benefits	(43)		(45)		(58)
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	109		116		140
Cost of Products Sold
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	12		12		22
Research and Development Expense
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	31		29		49
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	109		118		127
Physio-Control Divestiture-related Costs
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	0		2		0
Stock Options
Share-based Payments
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	10 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	4 years
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	44		60		87
Restricted Stock Awards
Share-based Payments
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	4 years
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	96		86		97
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award
Share-based Payments
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Maximum employee contribution rate	10.00%
Purchase price of common stock as a percentage of its fair market value	85.00%
Shares purchased by employees (in shares)	2
Average purchase price	$ 36.11
Amount withheld to purchase common stock	6
Shares available for future purchase (in shares)	8
The discount rate from market value on purchase date	15.00%
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	12		13		14
Physio-Control Award Acceleration
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 0		$ 2		$ 0
2008 Plan
Share-based Payments
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	29

[1] Expected life: The Company analyzes historical employee stock option exercise and termination data to estimate the expected life assumption. The Company calculates the expected life assumption using the midpoint scenario, which combines historical exercise data with hypothetical exercise data, as the Company believes this data currently represents the best estimate of the expected life of a new employee option. The Company also stratifies its employee population into two groups based upon distinctive exercise behavior patterns.

[2] Risk-free interest rate: The rate is based on the grant date yield of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond whose maturity period equals the expected term of the option.

[3] Volatility: Expected volatility is based on a blend of historical volatility and an implied volatility of the Company’s common stock. Implied volatility is based on market traded options of the Company’s common stock.

[4] Dividend yield: The dividend yield rate is calculated by dividing the Company’s annual dividend, based on the most recent quarterly dividend rate, by the closing stock price on the grant date.