Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 13,345	$ 14,299
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(7,806)	(7,195)
Goodwill, Gross	19,924	20,076
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,973)	(9,900)
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	377	782
Intangible asset impairment charges	460	105	$ 35
Goodwill (Roll Forward)
Goodwill	9,951	10,176	7,911
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	22	66
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		2,218
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	(73)	0	0
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit		(19)
Goodwill, Transfers	(175)
Other Intangible Assets (Textuals) [Abstract]
Future Amortization Expense, Year One	689
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two	664
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three	651
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four	613
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five	560
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill (Roll Forward)
Goodwill	2,059	2,061	2,063
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(2)	(1)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit		0
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Goodwill (Roll Forward)
Goodwill	2,194	2,192	1,924
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	3	0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		268
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit		0
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill (Roll Forward)
Goodwill	5,697	5,676	3,925
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	22	58
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		1,712
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit		(19)
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Goodwill (Roll Forward)
Goodwill	0	247	$ 0
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	0	9
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		238
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	73
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit		0
Goodwill, Transfers	(175)
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	257	662
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120	120
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	11,059	12,020
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,179)	(5,706)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	511	525
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(407)	(408)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,775	1,754
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (1,220)	$ (1,081)