Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 reportablesegments	Jun. 30, 2012
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	$ 1,835	$ 1,804	$ 3,584	$ 3,630
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	19	31	55	60
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(45)	(7)	(69)	4
Net sales	1,809	1,828	3,570	3,694
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	438	422	821	829
Amortization expense	(101)	(99)	(204)	(195)
Operating (loss) income allocated to reportable segments	220	(3,587)	(109)	(3,390)
Other expense, net	(68)	(31)	(133)	(105)
Income (loss) before income taxes	152	(3,618)	(242)	(3,495)
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments			3
Global Interventional Cardiology (IC) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	537	551	1,050	1,149
Global Peripheral Interventions (PI) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	205	196	400	384
Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	742	747	1,450	1,533
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	194	195	364	386
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	485	494	970	998
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	37	37	72	74
Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	522	531	1,042	1,072
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	61	77	124	160
Global Endoscopy (Endo) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	334	309	647	607
Global Urology (Uro) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	126	125	245	243
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	111	92	200	175
MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	571	526	1,092	1,025
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	183	150	333	283
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	(77)	(71)	(146)	(155)
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (40)	$ (3,839)	$ (580)	$ (3,869)