Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015 reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2014
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	$ 1,891us-gaap_Revenues	$ 1,778us-gaap_Revenues
Segment Reporting, Sales from Divested Businesses	0	2
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(123)	(6)
Net sales	1,768us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	1,774us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	480	405
Amortization expense	(113)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	(109)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Operating (loss) income allocated to reportable segments	24us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	197us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Other expense, net	(75)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	(51)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income (loss) before income taxes	(51)	146
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Global Interventional Cardiology (IC) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	541	501
Global Peripheral Interventions (PI) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	232	204
Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	773	705
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	236	171
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	483	464
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	61	58
Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	544	522
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	78	66
Global Endoscopy (Endo) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	328	316
Global Urology (Uro) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	130	126
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	116	109
MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	574	551
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	166	168
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	(82)	(50)
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (261)	$ (49)

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The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

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Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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