Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments	2
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ (214)	$ (203)
Operating income (loss)	675	552
Other expense, net	(67)	(108)
Income (loss) before income taxes	608	444
Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Net Sales	29	52
Net sales	3,856	3,389
MedSurg [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	474	409
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 1,402	$ 1,266
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	33.80%	32.30%
Net sales	$ 1,412	$ 1,280
Cardiovascular [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	653	553
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	$ 2,426	$ 2,072
Segment operating income as percentage of net sales	26.90%	26.70%
Net sales	$ 2,445	$ 2,110
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenues from contracts with customers, disaggregated - performance measurement	3,827	3,337
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	1,128	963
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Unallocated to Segment	(115)	(98)
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	$ (124)	$ (110)