Acquisitions and Acquisition-Related Items (Purchase Price Allocation and Cost of Aquired Entity) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended							0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011	Jan. 27, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011	Jan. 13, 2011	Jan. 27, 2012 Other Long-term Liabilities	Apr. 29, 2011 Other Long-term Liabilities	Jan. 27, 2012 Other Accrued Expenses	Apr. 29, 2011 Other Accrued Expenses	Aug. 31, 2011 Salient	Jan. 27, 2012 Salient	Aug. 31, 2011 PEAK	Jan. 27, 2012 PEAK	Jan. 13, 2011 Ardian	Jan. 28, 2011 Ardian	Jan. 27, 2012 Ardian	Nov. 16, 2010 Ostotech	Jan. 28, 2011 Ostotech	Jan. 27, 2012 Ostotech	Jan. 13, 2011 ATS Medical	Oct. 29, 2010 ATS Medical	Jan. 27, 2012 ATS Medical	Aug. 12, 2010 ATS Medical	Jan. 27, 2012 Cardio Vascular Acquiree	Sep. 14, 2010 Cardio Vascular Acquiree	Jun. 02, 2010 Axon	Jan. 27, 2012 Axon	Jan. 27, 2012 Salient and PEAK	Jan. 28, 2011 NeuroPace	Jan. 28, 2011 Certain Purchased Assets Cardio Vascular and Surgical Technologies
Preexisting Relationship
Previously held ownership percentage in acquiree					11.30%					8.90%		18.90%
Gain on previously held investments											$ 32		$ 6	$ 85	$ 85													$ 38
Purchase Price Allocation
Current assets										20		5		12			34						51
Property, plant and equipment										11		5		1			21						7
IPR&D										44		0		191			1						6
Other intangible assets										154		74		55			46						101			41
Goodwill										348		56		807			19						209			16
Inventory																	41
Other assets										1							3
Long-term deferred tax assets, net																							34
Total assets acquired										578		140		1,066			165						408
Current liabilities										43		10		10			19						14
Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net										38		17		36			8
Other long-term liabilities																	15
Total liabilities assumed										81		27		46			42						14
Net assets acquired										497		113		1,020			123						394
Debt acquired																							30
Acquired contingent consideration																							10
Acquired net tangible assets										49							57						78			5
Acquired net tangible liabilities														33
Cost of Acquired Entity
Total value of acquistion transaction																									21
Net value of acquistion transaction										452		96														62
Purchase price per share																	$ 6.50						$ 4.00
Upfront payment														717											15
Purchased IPR&D charge			32	30																									15	15
Net gain from acquisition-related items	15		(1)
Acquisition-related items	15	(39)	(1)	0											10			21			24							5
Contingent Consideration
Maximum additional payment																									10
Fair value of contingent consideration						271	269	32	66					212											6
Estimated maximum potential amount of undiscounted future contingent consideration	231		231
Other Disclosures
Acquisition date											2011-08-31		2011-08-31			2011-01-13			2010-11-16			2010-08-12		2010-09-14			2010-06-02
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (in years)										12 years		12 years		12 years			9 years			11 years						10 years
Esimated future costs to complete research and development project														$ 50