Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 patents lawsuits matters years plaintiffs claims units charges	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 units charges claims lawsuits	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 U.S. Cardiovascular reporting unit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 U.S. Neuromodulation reporting unit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 U.S. CRM reporting unit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Reporting Unit Four [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 U.S. CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge			$ 697,000,000			$ 697,000,000	$ 1,817,000,000
Allocated Goodwill									782,000,000	2,300,000,000	1,300,000,000	4,000,000,000
Estimated fair value of goodwill balance as determined by first step of the goodwill impairment test					1,479,000,000
Number of reporting units with material goodwill at higher risk of failure of step one of impairment test	4					4
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Subsequent Adjustment							1,817,000,000
Carrying value of goodwill prior to impairment								1,479,000,000					3,296,000,000
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
CRM amortizable intangible assets	3,300,000,000					3,300,000,000
Level of excess fair value over carrying value for reporting units, except U.S. CRM reporting unit, minimum	8.00%					8.00%
Level of excess fair value over carrying value for reporting units, except U.S. CRM reporting unit, maximum	15.00%					15.00%
Other intangible asset charges	$ 9,000,000	$ 12,000,000		$ 5,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 21,000,000	$ 65,000,000