| **Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets**                 | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
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| **Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets                     | GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETSThe changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for each of the Company’s reportable segments (see Note 13) for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 were as follows (in millions):  CRM/NMD CV/AF TotalBalance at December 31, 2011$1,235 $1,718 $2,953Foreign currency translation and other3 11 14Balance at September 29, 2012$1,238 $1,729 $2,967The following table provides the gross carrying amount of other intangible assets and related accumulated amortization (in millions): September 29, 2012 December 31, 2011 GrossCarryingAmount AccumulatedAmortization GrossCarryingAmount AccumulatedAmortizationDefinite-lived intangible assets:       Purchased technology and patents$934 $350 $922 $276Customer lists and relationships61 38 48 25Trademarks and tradenames24 11 24 8Licenses, distribution agreements and other6 4 6 4 $1,025 $403 $1,000 $313Indefinite-lived intangible assets:       Acquired IPR&D$109   $120  Trademarks and tradenames49   49   $158   $169   During the second quarter of 2012, the Company received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to market its AMPLATZER™ Vascular Plug 4 technology acquired in connection with its AGA Medical, Inc. acquisition in November 2010. As a result of the approval, the Company reclassified $11 million of acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) from an indefinite-lived intangible asset to a purchased technology definite-lived intangible asset. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final.  May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.
+ References
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