Segment and Geographic Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Jul. 29, 2011

Segment and Geographic Information (Tables) [Abstract]

Schedule of Reporting Segment Revenue [Text Block]

	Three months ended
	July 29,		July 30,
(in millions)	2011		2010
Cardiac and Vascular Group	$	2,206	$	2,027
Restorative Therapies Group		1,843		1,746
Total Net Sales	$	4,049	$	3,773

Schedule of Reporting Segment By Region [Text Block]

Geographic information
Net sales to external customers by geography are as follows:
	Three months ended
	July 29,		July 30,
(in millions)	2011		2010
United States	$	2,206	$	2,229
Europe		1,087		925
Asia Pacific		591		484
Other Foreign		165		135
Total Net Sales	$	4,049	$	3,773

Schedule of Reporting Segment Earnings Before Income Taxes [Text Block]

	Three months ended
	July 29,		July 30,
(in millions)	2011		2010
Cardiac and Vascular Group	$	711	$	717
Restorative Therapies Group		491		489
Total Reportable Segments' Earnings Before Income Taxes		1,202		1,206
Acquisition-related items		(13)		(15)
Interest expense, net		(32)		(74)
Corporate		(135)		(77)
Total Earnings Before Income Taxes	$	1,022	$	1,040

Schedule of Reporting Segment Net Assets [Text Block]

	July 29,		April 29,
(in millions)	2011		2011
Cardiac and Vascular Group	$	7,005	$	6,774
Restorative Therapies Group		10,656		10,539
Total Net Assets of Reportable Segments		17,661		17,313
Short-term borrowings		(1,857)		(1,723)
Long-term debt		(8,195)		(8,112)
Corporate		8,731		8,490
Total Net Assets	$	16,340	$	15,968