Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 reportablesegments	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
In process research and development associated with Sadra	$ 178		$ 184	$ 178	$ 184
Goodwill	5,553			5,553		5,973
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)			(9,900)		(9,477)
Goodwill						1,764
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments				3
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(3,942)			(3,942)		(3,785)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	15,695			15,695		15,692
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,355			9,355		9,389
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)			(9,900)		(9,477)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0	(423)	(3,602)	(423)	(3,602)
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,026			6,026		6,289
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Subsequent Adjustment						2,380
Number of Reportable Segments				3
Intangible asset impairment charges	53		129	53	129
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax			3,579
Discount rate used for measurement of fair value of Sadra IPRD asset	16.50%		20.00%
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Terminal value growth rate		2.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		12.00%
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net						4,636
Neuromodulation [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Level of excess fair value over carrying value for reporting unit	16.00%			16.00%
Hypothetical change in WACC	0.80%
Hypothetical change in revenue growth rates	2.00%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,252			3,252		3,249
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479)			(1,479)		(1,479)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments				3
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge				0
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Allocated Goodwill	1,356			1,356
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	154			154		577
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(6,960)			(6,960)		(6,537)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments				0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge				(423)
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,147			2,147		2,147
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,461)			(1,461)		(1,461)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments				0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				0
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge				0
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)			(9,900)		(9,477)
Goodwill, Gross	15,453			15,453		15,450
Purchased research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	371			371		443
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	242			242		242
Technology Developed [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	4,510			4,510
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(3,171)			(3,171)		(3,005)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	8,045			8,045		8,020
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(452)			(452)		(428)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	810			810		810
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(319)			(319)		(352)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	500			500		559
EMEA [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Change in WACC			1.00%
Sadra Medical Inc [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Intangible asset impairment charges	51		129
2011 Acquisitions, excluding Sadra [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Intangible asset impairment charges	$ 2