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		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 24, 2014	Jan. 25, 2013	Jan. 24, 2014	Jan. 25, 2013	Oct. 25, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013	Oct. 26, 2012	Apr. 27, 2012	Dec. 30, 2013 TYRX [Member]	Aug. 07, 2013 Cardiocom [Member]	Jan. 25, 2013 China Kanghui Holdings [Member]	Jan. 25, 2013 China Kanghui Holdings [Member]	Jan. 25, 2013 Physio Control Business	Dec. 30, 2013 Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member] TYRX [Member]	Aug. 07, 2013 Customer-Related Intangible Assets [Member] Cardiocom [Member]	Aug. 07, 2013 Customer-Related Cardiocom [Member]	Jan. 24, 2014 Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Member] Ardian [Member]	Jan. 24, 2014 Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Member] Ardian [Member]	Jan. 24, 2014 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration	Jan. 25, 2013 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration	Jan. 24, 2014 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration	Jan. 25, 2013 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration	Jan. 24, 2014 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration Ardian [Member]	Jul. 26, 2013 Change in the Amount of Contingent Consideration Ardian [Member]	Jan. 25, 2013 Impairment of Acquired in Process Research and Development [Member]	Jan. 24, 2014 Impairment of Acquired in Process Research and Development [Member] Ardian [Member]	Jan. 24, 2014 Impairment of Acquired in Process Research and Development [Member] Ardian [Member]	Jan. 24, 2014 Impairment of Long-Lived Assets other than Acquired in Process Research and Development [Member] Ardian [Member]	Jan. 24, 2014 Impairment of Long-Lived Assets other than Acquired in Process Research and Development [Member] Ardian [Member]	Dec. 30, 2013 Product Development Milestone [Member] TYRX [Member]	Dec. 30, 2013 Revenue-based Payments TYRX [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total consideration transferred									$ 222	$ 193
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	66	141	66	141	45	142	213	231																						25	35
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired [Abstract]			369	820					159
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High																														40
Current assets									6	14
Property, plant and equipment									1	7
Intangible assets									94	61				94	61
Goodwill	10,593		10,593			10,329			141	123
Total assets acquired									242	205
Current liabilities									4	12
Total liabilities assumed									20	12
Net assets acquired									222	193
Acquisition-related items	200	(55)	104	(44)							10	13	5				236	236	(39)	(70)	(135)	(67)	(39)	(96)	5	192	192	44	44
Other Disclosures
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life														14 years		7 years
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent									$ 16