Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| reportablesegments			3
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,393	$ 2,222	$ 7,262	$ 6,640
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	710	613	2,146	1,813
Amortization expense	(148)	(139)	(437)	(424)
Operating income (loss)	388	377	1,187	967
Other expense, net	68	(68)	(61)	(261)
Income (loss) before income taxes	456	309	1,126	706
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	746	676	2,207	1,997
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 274	$ 248	$ 807	$ 707
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	36.80%	36.70%	36.60%	35.40%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 740	$ 689	$ 2,252	$ 2,057
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 168	$ 126	$ 481	$ 372
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	22.70%	18.30%	21.40%	18.10%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 908	$ 857	$ 2,806	$ 2,586
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 268	$ 239	$ 858	$ 733
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	29.50%	27.90%	30.60%	28.30%
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	$ (97)	$ (55)	$ (297)	$ (172)
Special Charges [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	$ (77)	$ (42)	$ (225)	$ (250)

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