Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 11,533	$ 11,235
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(5,824)	(5,564)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	16,983	16,790
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill	6,871	6,678
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	8
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	185
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,702	3,513
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	4
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	185
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479)	(1,479)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	291	290
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	1
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(6,960)	(6,960)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,878	2,875
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	3
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,461)	(1,461)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	16,771	16,578
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120	120
In-process research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	92	92
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,390	9,123
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,675)	(4,468)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	511	529
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(370)	(374)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,632	1,583
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (779)	$ (722)