The following items are included within special charges: Contributions to the Medtronic Foundation.

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Definition

Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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- Definition

The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

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Special Charges and Certain Litigation Charges, Net Certain Litigation Charges, Net (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 24, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013	Oct. 24, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Special Charges	$ 100	$ 0	$ 100	$ 40
Certain litigation charges, net	0	24	0	24
Payments for Legal Settlements			800	3
PatentAndOtherMattersLitigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Certain litigation charges, net		24		24
PatentAndOtherMattersLitigation [Member] \| Patent Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Certain litigation charges, net		12		12
PatentAndOtherMattersLitigation [Member] \| Other Matters
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Certain litigation charges, net		$ 12		$ 12