Segment and Geographic Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2013	Jan. 25, 2013	Oct. 26, 2012	Jul. 27, 2012	Apr. 27, 2012	Jan. 27, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 26, 2013 segment		Apr. 27, 2012		Apr. 29, 2011
Segment Reporting Information
Number of Reportable Segments									2
Net Sales	$ 4,459	$ 4,027	$ 4,095	$ 4,008	$ 4,297	$ 3,918	$ 4,023	$ 3,946	$ 16,590		$ 16,184		$ 15,508
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									5,145		4,875		4,911
Restructuring Charges including Cost of Products Sold Impact									182	[1]			270	[1]
Restructuring charges, net									(172)		(87)	[1]	(259)
Certain litigation charges, net									(245)		(90)		(245)
Acquisition-related items									49		(12)		(14)
Interest expense, net									(151)		(149)		(278)
Corporate									(365)		(392)		(440)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes									4,251		4,145		3,664
Net Assets by Reportable Segment
Net assets of reportable segments	18,856				18,317				18,856		18,317
Short-term borrowings	(910)				(3,274)				(910)		(3,274)
Long-term debt	(9,741)				(7,359)				(9,741)		(7,359)
Corporate	10,466				9,429				10,466		9,429
Total net assets of continuing operations	18,671				17,113				18,671		17,113
Geographic Information
Net sales to external customers									16,590		16,184		15,508
Property, plant, and equipment, net	2,490				2,473				2,490		2,473		2,488
United States
Geographic Information
Net sales to external customers									9,059		8,828		8,872
Property, plant, and equipment, net	1,849				1,894				1,849		1,894		1,920
Europe and Canada
Geographic Information
Net sales to external customers									4,199		4,313		3,996
Property, plant, and equipment, net	391				389				391		389		409
Asia Pacific
Geographic Information
Net sales to external customers									2,604		2,399		2,084
Property, plant, and equipment, net	206				154				206		154		134
Other Foreign
Geographic Information
Net sales to external customers									728		644		556
Property, plant, and equipment, net	44				36				44		36		25
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales									8,695		8,482		8,119
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									2,935		2,772		2,826
Net Assets by Reportable Segment
Net assets of reportable segments	6,941				7,004				6,941		7,004
Geographic Information
Number of Businesses									4
Restorative Therapies Group
Segment Reporting Information
Net Sales									7,895		7,702		7,389
Earnings before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Reportable segments' earnings before income taxes									2,210		2,103		2,085
Net Assets by Reportable Segment
Net assets of reportable segments	$ 11,915				$ 11,313				$ 11,915		$ 11,313
Geographic Information
Number of Businesses									4

[1] For fiscal years 2013 and 2011, restructuring charges, net within this table include the impact of amounts recorded within cost of products sold in the consolidated statements of earnings related to the fiscal year 2013 initiative and fiscal year 2011 initiative, respectively.