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

Name:	mdt_AdditionalLegalPayments
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount related to material litigation reserves and gains recognized in the period in the statement of earnings. Excludes the amount of expense provided in the period for legal fees.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_CertainLitigationCharges
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Certain Litigation Charges, net line items

+ Details

Name:	mdt_CertainLitigationChargesNetLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	mdt_CertainLitigationChargesNoteAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount contributed to the Company's foundation, which is a related party non-profit organization

+ Details

Name:	mdt_ContributionToCompanyFoundation
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The useful life of all finite-lived intangible assets. This may be stated as a fixed number (for example, 10 years) if all assets have the same useful life, or it can be stated in a range (for example, six to eight years) if there is a range of useful lives in the asset group.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsefulLifeWord
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_LitigationSettlementsGross
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount related to the litigation settlement that was recorded as purchased intellectual property.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_PaymentForLegalSettlementRecordedAsIntellectualProperty
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash payment related to the litigation payment of past damages that was expensed in the period.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_PaymentForLegalSettlementRelatedToPastDamages
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ Details

Name:	mdt_PaymentForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount previously recorded related to material litigation reserves and gains recognized in the period in the statement of earnings. Excludes the amount of expense provided in the period for legal fees.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_PreviousCertainLitigationCharge
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Certain Litigation Charges, Net (Details) (USD $) In Millions	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010	Apr. 24, 2009
Certain Litigation Charges Note [Abstract]
Contribution To Company Foundation			$ 100
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Certain litigation charges, net	245	374	714
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life (in years)	from three to 20 years
Spring Fidelis [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Certain litigation charges, net	221
Gore and Associates [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Certain litigation charges, net		(70)
Abbott and evYsio [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Payments for Legal Settlements		444
Certain litigation charges, net		444
Abbott [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Payments for Legal Settlements		400
Ev Ysio Medical Devices [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Payments for Legal Settlements		42
Additional Legal Payment		2
Depuy Spine [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Certain litigation charges, net			178
Johnson and Johnson [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Certain litigation charges, net			270
Cordis Corporation [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Payments for Legal Settlements			472
Certain litigation charges, net			229
Previous Certain Litigation Charge			243
Litigation Settlement, Gross			521
Fastenetix [Member]
Certain Litigation Charges, net
Payments for Legal Settlements			125
Payment for Legal Settlement Related to Past Damages			37
Payment for Legal Settlement Recorded as Intellectual Property			$ 88
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life (in years)			seven years