Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Research and Development in Process	$ 6,000,000
Asset Impairment Charges	55,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,599,000,000		9,630,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,256,000,000)		(4,147,000,000)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	15,794,000,000		15,790,000,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900,000,000)		(9,900,000,000)
Goodwill	5,697,000,000		5,693,000,000
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(2,000,000)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	6,000,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900,000,000)		(9,900,000,000)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of Reportable Segments	3
Goodwill impairment charge	0	(423,000,000)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax		(422,000,000)
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
Core technology	64,000,000
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	4,305,000,000
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,259,000,000		3,252,000,000
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479,000,000)		(1,479,000,000)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Goodwill, Other Changes	7,000,000
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	292,000,000		294,000,000
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(2,000,000)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(6,960,000,000)		(6,960,000,000)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,146,000,000		2,147,000,000
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	6,000,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,461,000,000)		(1,461,000,000)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Goodwill, Other Changes	(7,000,000)
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	15,597,000,000		15,593,000,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900,000,000)		(9,900,000,000)
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	197,000,000		197,000,000
In-process research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	262,000,000		270,000,000
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	8,232,000,000		8,272,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(3,431,000,000)		(3,342,000,000)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	521,000,000		513,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(332,000,000)		(326,000,000)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	846,000,000		845,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (493,000,000)		$ (479,000,000)
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	20.00%
Core technology [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	15.00%