Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	$ 7,481	$ 7,462	$ 7,829
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,670	1,697	1,722
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	3,560	3,557
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	111	132	157
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	7,359	7,541	7,967
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	140	346	364
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	123	(81)	(143)
Net sales	7,622	7,806	8,188
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	7,481	7,462	7,829
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	141	344	359
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	1,994	2,137	2,697
Amortization expense	(421)	(513)	(511)
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	904	(656)	(894)
Other expense, net	(262)	(407)	(414)
Income (loss) before income taxes	642	(1,063)	(1,308)
Depreciation	296	303	323
Assets Held-for-sale, at Carrying Value		576
Goodwill	9,761	10,186	11,936
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,473	6,343	6,667
Other assets unallocated to segments	1,496	1,466
TOTAL ASSETS	21,290	22,128
Long-Lived Assets	17,904	18,226	20,325
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	4
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,141	1,188	1,206
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	1,851	1,936
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	85	96	119
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	4,010	4,215	4,550
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	4,010	4,215	4,550
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	627	733	1,042
EMEA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	1,003	936
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	10	19	20
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	1,781	1,798	1,814
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	735	759	810
Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	243	256
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	9	10	10
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	842	863	944
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	951	886	908
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	367	400	555
Inter-Continental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	463	429
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	7	7	8
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	726	665	659
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	265	245	290
IRELAND
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	231	219	249
Other countries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	298	290	267
Net sales
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	2,520	2,361	2,371
Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(264)	(305)	(464)
Depreciation	125	123	125
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(270)	(271)	(431)
Depreciation	60	48	41
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(135)	(1,704)	(2,185)
Interventional Cardiology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	2,495	2,602	2,859
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	2,087	2,180	2,413
Endoscopy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	1,187	1,079	1,006
Peripheral Interventions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	731	669	661
Urology / Women's Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	498	481	456
Neuromodulation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	336	304	285
Electrophysiology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	$ 147	$ 147	$ 149