| **Segment And Geographic Information (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|---------|
||
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | $ 1,326        | $ 1,383        | $ 4,131 | $ 4,205 |   |
| Operating profit                                                                                | 235            | 311            | 875     | 958 |   |
| Total Assets                                                                                    | 9,019          |           | 9,019   |   | 9,005 |
| International, Net Sales                                                                        | 686            | 725            | 2,162   | 2,193 |   |
| Long-Lived Assets                                                                               | 1,409          |           | 1,409   |   | 1,388 |
| International, Long-Lived Assets                                                                | 383            |           | 383     |   | 381 |
| CRM/NMD [Member]                                                                                |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 792            | 853            | 2,482   | 2,603 |   |
| Operating profit                                                                                | 526            | 523            | 1,650   | 1,624 |   |
| Total Assets                                                                                    | 2,330          |           | 2,330   |   | 2,412 |
| CV/AF [Member]                                                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 534            | 530            | 1,649   | 1,602 |   |
| Operating profit                                                                                | 298            | 281            | 915     | 834 |   |
| Total Assets                                                                                    | 2,986          |           | 2,986   |   | 3,093 |
| Other [Member]                                                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 0              | 0              | 0       | 0 |   |
| Operating profit                                                                                | (589)          | (493)          | (1,690) | (1,500) |   |
| Total Assets                                                                                    | 3,703          |           | 3,703   |   | 3,500 |
| United States [Member]                                                                          |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 640            | 658            | 1,969   | 2,012 |   |
| Long-Lived Assets                                                                               | 1,026          |           | 1,026   |   | 1,007 |
| Europe [Member]                                                                                 |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 311            | 359            | 1,059   | 1,139 |   |
| Long-Lived Assets                                                                               | 79             |           | 79      |   | 84 |
| Japan [Member]                                                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 172            | 162            | 500     | 466 |   |
| Long-Lived Assets                                                                               | 35             |           | 35      |   | 31 |
| Asia Pacific [Member]                                                                           |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 118            | 111            | 339     | 310 |   |
| Long-Lived Assets                                                                               | 83             |           | 83      |   | 81 |
| Other Countries [Member]                                                                        |           |           |    |   |   |
| **Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]**                                                  |           |           |    |   |   |
| Net sales                                                                                       | 85             | 93             | 264     | 278 |   |
| Long-Lived Assets                                                                               | $ 186          |           | $ 186   |   | $ 185 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Foreign sales, total.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-lived assets other than financial instruments, deferred tax assets, or intangible assets in which the entity holds in total.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**stj_LongLivedAssets**Namespace Prefix:**stj_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 12 -Article 7Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON) -Number 6 -Paragraph 25 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 18 -Article 5Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets, located in foreign countries in total in which the entity holds assets.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 41 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e9038-108599Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 131 -Paragraph 38 -Subparagraph b(2) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5
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| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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