Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended
Jul. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,049	$ 3,773
Costs And Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of products sold	1,006	893
Research and development expense	371	370
Selling, general, and administrative expense	1,408	1,334
Acquisition-related items	13	15
Amortization Of Intangible Assets	88	82
Other expense, net	109	(35)
Interest expense, net	32	74
Total costs and expenses	3,027	2,733
Earnings before income taxes	1,022	1,040
Provision for income taxes	201	210
Net earnings	$ 821	$ 830
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.77	$ 0.76
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.77	$ 0.76
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	1,063.5	1,086.1
Diluted - weighted average shares outstanding	1,069.6	1,089.7
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.2425	$ 0.2250

Net amount of interest expense or income. Interest expense includes the expense associated with the interest paid on outstanding borrowings, including short- and long-term instruments, and the amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts. Interest income includes interest earned on cash and cash equivalents, short- and long-term investments, the net realized gains or losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities, and the net realized and unrealized gains or losses on trading securities.

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The following items are included within acquisition-related items: For business combinations prior to FY09, the amount of the purchase price that is allocated to in-process research and development (IPR&D) was expensed in the period acquired. Similarly, for transactions other than a business combination, such as asset acquisitions, IPR&D is expensed in the period acquired. Additionally, the change in the fair value of the contingent milestone consideration for the reporting period and certain-related acquisition costs, such as banker fees, legal fees, severance, and other professional fees.

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Total costs of sales and expenses for the period.

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The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by (used in) operations using the indirect method.

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Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

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The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during the reporting period.

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income (loss) from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest.

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The sum of the current income tax expense (benefit) and the deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. If the entity does not present consolidated financial statements, the amount of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes.

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The aggregate amount of income (expense) from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

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The costs incurred in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, excluding in-process research and development acquired in a business combination consummated during the period. Excludes software research and development, which has a separate concept.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

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The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS, determined based on the timing of issuance of shares in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares and other shares not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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