Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended									9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 08, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2013 twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Jun. 08, 2012 twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2013 R&D- and commercialization-based milestones [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 R&D- and commercialization-based milestones [Member] Minimum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 R&D- and commercialization-based milestones [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Technology-related [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2013 Customer Contracts [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2013 Purchased research and development [Member] twenty twelve acquisitions [Domain]	Sep. 30, 2013 Discounted cash flow [Member] revenue-based payments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Discounted cash flow [Member] revenue-based payments [Member] Minimum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Discounted cash flow [Member] revenue-based payments [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Monte Carlo [Member] revenue-based payments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Monte Carlo [Member] revenue-based payments [Member] Minimum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Monte Carlo [Member] revenue-based payments [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Monte Carlo [Member] revenue-based payments [Member] Low end of range [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Monte Carlo [Member] revenue-based payments [Member] High end of range [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Potential payment due upon closing of Bard acquisition	$ 275		$ 275
InProcessResearchandDevelopmentReclassified		47
Number of Reportable Segments			3
Note Receivable									40
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount								314
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	23	(20)	18	(9)
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid									134
Maximum future contingent consideration for acquisitions completed after January 1, 2009	2,179		2,179
Benefit related to change in fair value of contingent liability			18
Contingent payment related to business combination	100		115	4
Fair value of contingent consideration									(259)	(126)						(144)			(266)
Revenue Volatility - Contingent Consideration																						13.00%	28.00%
contingent consideration liability, projected year of payment											2013	2014					2013	2018		2013	2018
contingent consideration liability, probability of payment											70.00%	98.00%					15.00%	100.00%
Risk-adjusted discount rate for contingent consideration											0.80%	1.10%					12.00%	18.00%
Accrued Contingent Consideration	(536)		(536)		(663)
Business Combination, Liabilities Arising from Contingencies, Amount Recognized			(6)
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable									79
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain							39
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Notes Payable and Long-term Debt									9
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price								481	481
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Amortizable Intangible Assets								42					40	2
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets Not Amortizable								48							48
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Other Noncurrent Assets								1
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Deferred Taxes Asset (Liability), Net, Noncurrent								76
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life													11 years	5 years
Range Of Risk Adjusted Discount Rates Used In Purchase Price Allocation													14.00%	14.00%	14.00%
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangibles								90
Initial cash payment for Cameron acquisition						150
Potential payment due upon FDA approval of S-ICD system					150
Maximum potential payment due upon achievement of certain milestones, per Cameron agreement	$ 1,050		$ 1,050