Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 11,527	$ 11,235
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(5,956)	(5,564)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	16,994	16,790
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill	6,882	6,678
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	13
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	191
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,715	3,513
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	11
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	191
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	2,876	2,875
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	1
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	16,782	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	9,388	9,123
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,774)	(4,468)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	514	529
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(375)	(374)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,625	1,583
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (807)	$ (722)