Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	$ 7,376	$ 7,085	$ 7,127
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,507	1,546	1,564
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	3,812	3,914
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	7,462	7,072	6,958
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(86)	13	169
Net sales	7,380	7,143	7,249
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	7,376	7,085	7,127
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	4	58	122
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	1,802	1,555	1,492
Amortization expense	(438)	(410)	(395)
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	(301)	120	(3,868)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(509)	(223)	(4,107)
Depreciation	287	279	288
Goodwill	5,898	5,693	5,973
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	5,606	5,950	6,289
Other assets unallocated to segments	1,726	1,014
TOTAL ASSETS	17,042	16,571
Long-Lived Assets	13,011	13,189	13,826
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,002	998	1,065
Net sales
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	3,885	3,743	3,756
Japan [Member]
Net sales
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	678	744	931
IRELAND
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	197	240	252
Other countries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	308	308	247
Net sales
Revenue by country at actual foreign currency rates	2,813	2,598	2,440
Global Interventional Cardiology (IC) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	2,092	1,995	2,116
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	308	203	132
Depreciation	0	(4)	(3)
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	1,357	822	4,833
Amortization expense	438	410	395
Other expense, net	(208)	(343)	(239)
Global Peripheral Interventions (PI) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	861	805	764
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	1,501	1,545
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	120	111	107
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	2,953	2,800	2,880
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	767	665	685
Goodwill	3,426	3,252	3,249
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	1,922	1,882	1,887
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	228	154	145
Rhythm Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	1,329	1,343
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	92	99	109
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	2,150	2,036	2,032
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	289	211	217
Goodwill	290	294	577
Global Endoscopy (Endo) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	1,343	1,277	1,190
Global Urology (Uro) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	542	505	489
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	474	454	367
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets allocated to reportable segment	982	1,026
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	75	73	75
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	2,359	2,236	2,046
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	746	679	590
Goodwill	2,182	2,147	2,147
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation allocated to reportable segments	287	283	291
Interventional Cardiology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	2,057	1,997	2,179
Cardiac Rhythm Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	1,912	1,886	1,908
Endoscopy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	1,323	1,280	1,239
Peripheral Interventions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	850	809	787
Urology / Women's Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	535	505	500
Neuromodulation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	472	453	367
Electrophysiology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from core businesses	$ 227	$ 155	$ 147