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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	$ 7	$ 10	$ 9		$ 7	$ 19
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	11,051				11,051		$ 10,997
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(5,425)				(5,425)		(5,022)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	16,610				16,610		16,592
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)				(9,900)		(9,900)
Goodwill	6,498				6,498		6,473
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments					2
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					23
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)				(9,900)		(9,900)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge					0
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,452				3,452		3,451
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments					1
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479)				(1,479)		(1,479)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge					0
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount				70.00%
Goodwill	291				291		292
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments					(1)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(6,960)				(6,960)		(6,960)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge					0
Allocated Goodwill				$ 292
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,755				2,755		2,730
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments					2
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					23
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,461)				(1,461)		(1,461)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge					0
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount			28.00%	36.00%
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	16,398				16,398		16,373
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)				(9,900)		(9,900)
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120				120		120
In-process research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	92				92		99
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	8,991				8,991		8,948
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,360)				(4,360)		(4,054)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	525				525		520
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(371)				(371)		(358)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,535				1,535		1,529
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (694)				$ (694)		$ (610)
Core technology [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Core technology		$ 8
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		10.00%
In Process Research and Development 2 [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
In process research and development			$ 6
In Process Research and Development 2 [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate			16.50%
In Process Research and Development 2 [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate			20.00%