Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 11,855	$ 11,536
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,314)	(6,097)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	17,535	17,295
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill	7,242	6,998
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	0
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(29)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	273
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,799	417
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	1,379
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(22)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	25
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,699	3,704
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	0
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(5)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	0
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,744	2,877
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	(1,379)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(2)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	248
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	17,142	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)	273	278
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,698	9,386
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(5,032)	(4,880)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	517	517
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(384)	(379)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,640	1,633
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (897)	$ (838)

Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs

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Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

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Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

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