Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2012
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	$ 1,779	$ 1,706	$ 5,363	$ 5,338
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	2	32	56	91
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(46)	(3)	(114)	(1)
Net sales	1,735	1,735	5,305	5,428
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	439	402	1,261	1,231
Amortization expense	(101)	(99)	(305)	(294)
Operating (loss) income allocated to reportable segments	103	(594)	(6)	(3,985)
Other expense, net	(143)	(69)	(276)	(174)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(40)	(663)	(282)	(4,159)
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments			3
Global Interventional Cardiology (IC) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	487	496	1,538	1,646
Global Peripheral Interventions (PI) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	202	188	601	571
Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	689	684	2,139	2,217
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	184	175	548	561
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	474	467	1,445	1,466
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	35	35	106	109
Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	509	502	1,551	1,575
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	68	58	192	218
Global Endoscopy (Endo) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	331	308	979	916
Global Urology (Uro) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	134	124	378	367
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	116	88	316	263
MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	581	520	1,673	1,546
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	187	169	521	452
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	(103)	(58)	(251)	(214)
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (132)	$ (839)	$ (711)	$ (4,708)