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.

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

- Definition

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.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Segment and Geographic Information By Region Line Items

+ Details

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

- Definition

Segment and Geographic Information Line Items

+ Details

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

- Definition

Segment Reporting Earnings Before Income Taxes Line Items

+ Details

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

- Definition

Segment Reporting Information Geographic Net Sales

+ Details

Name:	mdt_SegmentReportingInformationGeographicNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Segment Reporting Information Net Sales

+ Details

Name:	mdt_SegmentReportingInformationNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	mdt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Segment Reporting Net Assets

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the sum of short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, which are due within one year (or one business cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 1(i)
-Article 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer plus capital lease obligations due to be paid more than one year after the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 6
-Section H

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of income or loss for the reportable segment before income taxes and extraordinary items.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationIncomeLossBeforeIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of net assets (total assets less total liabilities) attributed to the reportable segment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 28

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationNetAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total of all Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph A3
-Appendix A

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section E

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30, 31
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Segment and Geographic Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2010	Apr. 29, 2011
Segment Reporting Earnings Before Income Taxes [Line Items]
Certain litigation charges, net
Interest expense, net	32	74
Total Earnings Before Income Taxes	1,022	1,040
Purchased In Process Research And Development Charges And Certain Acquistion Related Costs	13	15
Segment Reporting Net Assets [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	1,857		1,723
Long-term debt	8,195		8,112
Total Net Assets	16,340		15,968
Segment and Geographic Information [Line Items]
Net sales	4,049	3,773
United States [Member]
Segment and Geographic Information By Region [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Geographic Net Sales	2,206	2,229
Europe [Member]
Segment and Geographic Information By Region [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Geographic Net Sales	1,087	925
Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment and Geographic Information By Region [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Geographic Net Sales	591	484
Other Foreign [Member]
Segment and Geographic Information By Region [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Geographic Net Sales	165	135
Cardiac and Vascular Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Earnings Before Income Taxes [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Income Loss Before Income Taxes	711	717
Cardiac and Vascular Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Net Assets [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Net Assets	7,005		6,774
Cardiac and Vascular Group [Member]
Segment and Geographic Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Net Sales	2,206	2,027
Restorative Therapies Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Earnings Before Income Taxes [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Income Loss Before Income Taxes	491	489
Restorative Therapies Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Net Assets [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Net Assets	10,656		10,539
Restorative Therapies Group [Member]
Segment and Geographic Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Net Sales	1,843	1,746
Reportable Segments Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Earnings Before Income Taxes [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Income Loss Before Income Taxes	1,202	1,206
Reportable Segments Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Net Assets [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Net Assets	17,661		17,313
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Earnings Before Income Taxes [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Income Loss Before Income Taxes	(135)	(77)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Net Assets [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information Net Assets	$ 8,731		$ 8,490