Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($) reportablesegments	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments			2
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ (210)	$ (204)	$ (412)	$ (402)
Operating income (loss)	514	423	1,066	889
Other expense, net	(88)	(78)	(195)	(388)
Income (loss) before income taxes	426	345	870	501
Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Net Sales	91	101	179	254
Net sales	3,599	3,244	6,988	6,270
MedSurg [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	448	359	847	689
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 1,331	$ 1,217	$ 2,582	$ 2,322
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	33.60%	29.50%	32.80%	29.70%
Net sales	$ 1,360	$ 1,248	$ 2,640	$ 2,402
Cardiovascular [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	566	454	1,106	843
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 2,179	$ 1,926	$ 4,228	$ 3,695
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	26.00%	23.60%	26.20%	22.80%
Net sales	$ 2,239	$ 1,996	$ 4,349	$ 3,868
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	3,509	3,143	6,810	6,016
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	1,013	812	1,954	1,531
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(49)	6	(124)	68
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net (charges) credits, restructuring- and restructuring-related net (charges) credits, EU MDR implementation costs and litigation-related net (charges) credits
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	$ (241)	$ (192)	$ (351)	$ (308)