Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) reportablesegments	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 20,999	$ 19,042
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,782	1,697	$ 1,630
Net sales	9,823	9,048	8,386
Amortization expense	(599)	(565)	(545)
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	1,506	1,285	447
Other expense, net	(85)	(353)	(270)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,422	933	177
Depreciation	(296)	(279)	(270)
Goodwill	7,911	6,998	6,678
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,372	5,837	5,883
Long-Lived Assets	$ 16,064	14,531	14,191
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments	3
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	$ 1,061	1,065	1,082
Net sales	5,538	5,162	4,759
IRELAND
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	242	210	181
Other countries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	478	422	367
Special Charges [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(398)	(407)	(1,029)
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	1,954	1,824
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	3,777	3,500	3,292
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	1,117	988	946
Depreciation	(133)	(120)	(118)
Goodwill	$ 3,925	$ 3,704	$ 3,513
TOTAL ASSETS	29.60%	28.20%	28.70%
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 1,846	$ 1,871
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	3,007	2,742	$ 2,445
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	1,102	984	852
Depreciation	(72)	(68)	(60)
Goodwill	$ 2,063	$ 2,877	$ 2,875
TOTAL ASSETS	36.70%	35.90%	34.90%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 1,696	$ 1,607
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	3,041	2,808	$ 2,649
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	655	537	402
Depreciation	(91)	(91)	(91)
Goodwill	$ 1,924	$ 417	$ 290
TOTAL ASSETS	21.50%	19.10%	15.20%
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 5,497	$ 5,302
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	2,875	2,509	$ 2,200
Corporate Expenses including hedging activities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(372)	(252)	$ (179)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 1,219	$ 905