Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2013
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	$ 1,778	$ 1,706
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	2	36
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(6)	19
Net sales	1,774	1,761
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	405	355
Amortization expense	(109)	(103)
Operating (loss) income allocated to reportable segments	197	(330)
Other expense, net	(51)	(64)
Income (loss) before income taxes	146	(394)
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3
Global Interventional Cardiology (IC) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	501	498
Global Peripheral Interventions (PI) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	204	193
Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	705	691
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	171	158
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	464	475
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	58	34
Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	522	509
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	66	57
Global Endoscopy (Endo) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	316	300
Global Urology (Uro) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	126	117
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	109	89
MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	551	506
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	168	140
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	(50)	(42)
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (49)	$ (540)