Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended						3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended											3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 08, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jan. 05, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Jun. 08, 2012 twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Jan. 04, 2011 Sadra Medical, Inc. [Member]	Jan. 05, 2011 Intelect Medical, Inc., [Member]	Feb. 15, 2011 ReVascular Therapeutics, Inc. [Member]	Mar. 03, 2011 Atritech, Inc. [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 United States [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2012 United States [Member] 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Segment, Geographical, Groups of Countries, Group One [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2012 Segment, Geographical, Groups of Countries, Group One [Member] 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Segment, Geographical, Groups of Countries, Group Two [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2012 Segment, Geographical, Groups of Countries, Group Two [Member] 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Japan [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2012 Japan [Member] 2011 Acquisitions [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 R&D- and commercialization-based milestones [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Technology-related [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2012 Low end of range [Member] Technology-related [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 High end of range [Member] Technology-related [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Purchased research and development [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2012 Purchased research and development [Member] Low end of range [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Purchased research and development [Member] High end of range [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Benefit related to change in fair value of contingent liability	$ 20,000,000				$ 9,000,000
Transaction costs associated with 2011 and 2012 acquisitions	0		0		0	0
Business Acquisition, Preexisting Relationship, Gain (Loss) Recognized											39,000,000						38,000,000
Initial cash payment for Cameron acquisition							150,000,000
Contingent payment related to business combination	0				4,000,000	0
Accrued Contingent Consideration	(604,000,000)				(604,000,000)			(358,000,000)
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability			6,000,000			18,000,000
The components of the preliminary purchase price as of the acquisition date for acquisitions consummated in the first quarter of 2011 are as follows
Payment to acquire in cash												134,000,000	193,000,000	60,000,000	19,000,000	98,000,000		370,000,000
Fair value of contingent consideration									(287,000,000)			(259,000,000)						287,000,000									(305,000,000)
Prior investments												79,000,000						55,000,000
Total												481,000,000						712,000,000
The preliminary purchase price allocation:
Goodwill											314,000,000	314,000,000						266,000,000	184,000,000	161,000,000	97,000,000	99,000,000	27,000,000	5,000,000	6,000,000	1,000,000
Amortizable intangible assets												42,000,000						97,000,000										40,000,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets												48,000,000						470,000,000													48,000,000
Deferred income taxes												74,000,000						(121,000,000)
Additional Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Payment to acquire in cash												134,000,000	193,000,000	60,000,000	19,000,000	98,000,000		370,000,000
Percentage of equity acquired													86.00%	85.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Future acquisition related consideration contingent upon the achievement of certain revenue-based milestones	1,927,000,000				1,927,000,000								193,000,000	0	16,000,000	275,000,000
Aggregate carrying value of equity interest in Sadra and Intelect prior to acquisition of remaining equity										1100000000.00%
Risk-adjusted discount rate for contingent consideration, low																	2.00%
Risk adjusted discount rate for contingent consideration, high																	20.00%
Note receivable from acquired company prior to acquisition										6,000,000		40,000,000
Intangible asset impairment charges	13,000,000	129,000,000	9,000,000	12,000,000	142,000,000	21,000,000
Potential payment due upon FDA approval of S-ICD system	150,000,000				150,000,000
Maximum potential payment due upon achievement of certain milestones, per Cameron agreement	1,050,000,000				1,050,000,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Subsequent Adjustment	10,000,000	110,000,000
Business Combination, Liabilities Arising from Contingencies, Amount Recognized					$ 259,000,000
Range Of Risk Adjusted Discount Rates Used In Purchase Price Allocation																												14.00%	22.60%	25.00%	14.00%	23.60%	30.00%