Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| reportablesegments			3
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,707	$ 2,393	$ 7,831	$ 7,262
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	766	710	2,216	2,146
Amortization expense	(178)	(148)	(498)	(437)
Operating income (loss)	383	388	1,308	1,187
Other expense, net	(292)	68	(615)	(61)
Income (loss) before income taxes	91	456	693	1,126
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	845	746	2,429	2,207
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 319	$ 274	$ 870	$ 807
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	37.80%	36.80%	35.80%	36.60%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 780	$ 740	$ 2,323	$ 2,252
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 166	$ 168	$ 488	$ 481
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	21.30%	22.70%	21.00%	21.40%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,011	$ 908	$ 3,009	$ 2,806
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 281	$ 268	$ 857	$ 858
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	27.80%	29.50%	28.50%	30.60%
Excludes BTG Acquisition [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,636		$ 7,760
BTG Acquisition [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	(16)		(16)
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	(75)	$ (97)	(215)	$ (297)
Special Charges [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	(146)	$ (77)	(210)	$ (225)
BTG Acquisition [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 71		$ 71

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