Stock Purchase and Award Plans, ESPP, Valuation Assumptions and Compensation Expense (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2007	Apr. 27, 2012		Apr. 29, 2011		Apr. 30, 2010
Fair Value Assumptions Used in Black-Scholes Model
Weighted average fair value of options granted (per share)		$ 6.88		$ 8.19		$ 8.77
Expected life (years)		6 years 5 months	[1]	6 years 4 months	[1]	6 years 2 months	[1]
Risk-free interest rate		1.82%	[2]	2.25%	[2]	3.17%	[2]
Volatility		25.97%	[3]	26.03%	[3]	26.91%	[3]
Dividend yield		2.78%	[4]	2.40%	[4]	2.29%	[4]
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 161		$ 198		$ 225
Income tax benefits		(45)		(58)		(67)
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax		116		140		158
Cost of Products Sold
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		12		22		26
Research and Development Expense
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		29		49		55
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		118		127		144
Physio-Control Divestiture-related Costs
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		2		0		0
Stock Options
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		60		87		112
Restricted Stock Awards
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		86		97		98
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Maximum employee contribution rate		10.00%
Purchase price of common stock as a percentage of its fair market value		85.00%
Shares purchased by employees (in shares)		2
Average purchase price		$ 31.40
Amount withheld to purchase common stock		5
Shares available for future purchase (in shares)		10
The discount rate from market value on purchase date		15.00%
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		13		14		15
Physio-Control Award Acceleration
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		2		0		0
Kyphon Unvested Share-based Awards
Stock-based Compensation Expense by Plan
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 1		$ 4		$ 12
Award vesting period (in years)	2 years 6 months

[1] Expected life:  The Company analyzes historical employee stock option exercise and termination data to estimate the expected life assumption. The Company calculates the expected life assumption using the midpoint scenario, which combines historical exercise data with hypothetical exercise data, as the Company believes this data currently represents the best estimate of the expected life of a new employee option. The Company also stratifies its employee population into two groups based upon distinctive exercise behavior patterns.

[2] Risk-free interest rate:   The rate is based on the grant date yield of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond whose maturity period equals the expected term of the option.

[3] Volatility: Expected volatility is based on a blend of historical volatility and an implied volatility of the Company’s common stock. Implied volatility is based on market traded options of the Company’s common stock.

[4] Dividend yield: The dividend yield rate is calculated by dividing the Company’s annual dividend, based on the most recent quarterly dividend rate, by the closing stock price on the grant date.