Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 7,911,000,000	$ 6,998,000,000	$ 6,678,000,000
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	0
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(29,000,000)	12,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	12,383,000,000	11,536,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,617,000,000)	(6,097,000,000)
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900,000,000)	(9,900,000,000)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,372,000,000	5,837,000,000	5,883,000,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	942,000,000	308,000,000
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Other intangible asset charges	35,000,000	4,000,000	11,000,000
Goodwill, Gross	17,811,000,000	16,898,000,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900,000,000)	(9,900,000,000)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	18,417,000,000	17,295,000,000
Future Amortization Expense, Year One	639,000,000
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two	635,000,000
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three	599,000,000
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four	571,000,000
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five	551,000,000
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	9,823,000,000	9,048,000,000	8,386,000,000
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,925,000,000	3,704,000,000	3,513,000,000
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	0
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(3,000,000)	9,000,000
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	224,000,000	182,000,000
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,063,000,000	2,877,000,000	2,875,000,000
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	(1,379,000,000)
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(3,000,000)	2,000,000
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	568,000,000	0
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,924,000,000	417,000,000	$ 290,000,000
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	1,379,000,000
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(22,000,000)	1,000,000
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	150,000,000	126,000,000
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	10,197,000,000	9,386,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(5,266,000,000)	(4,880,000,000)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	520,000,000	517,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(393,000,000)	(379,000,000)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,666,000,000	1,633,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(958,000,000)	(838,000,000)
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	486,000,000	278,000,000
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120,000,000	120,000,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	$ 0	$ 0