Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments			2
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ (208)	$ (202)	$ (620)	$ (604)
Operating income (loss)	693	358	1,759	1,247
Other expense, net	(83)	(114)	(279)	(502)
Income (loss) before income taxes	610	245	1,480	745
Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Net Sales	59	46	238	300
Net sales	3,527	3,170	10,515	9,440
MedSurg [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	446	359	1,293	1,048
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 1,318	$ 1,199	$ 3,900	$ 3,521
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	33.80%	30.00%	33.20%	29.80%
Net sales	$ 1,341	$ 1,213	$ 3,981	$ 3,614
Cardiovascular [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	570	451	1,677	1,294
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 2,149	$ 1,925	$ 6,378	$ 5,620
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	26.50%	23.40%	26.30%	23.00%
Net sales	$ 2,185	$ 1,958	$ 6,534	$ 5,826
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	3,468	3,124	10,277	9,141
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	1,016	810	2,970	2,342
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(97)	(1)	(221)	67
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	$ (19)	$ (249)	$ (370)	$ (558)