Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 11,549	$ 11,536
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,233)	(6,097)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	17,281	17,295
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill	6,984	6,998
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	0
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(17)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	3
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,707	3,704
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	0
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	3
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,774	417
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	1,379
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(22)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,503	2,877
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	(1,379)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	1
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	3
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	16,884	16,898
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)	278	278
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,396	9,386
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,984)	(4,880)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	517	517
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(381)	(379)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,636	1,633
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (868)	$ (838)