| **Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)**                         | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
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| **Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]**                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]                                       | The tables below present the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, including current period other comprehensive income and reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (in millions): UnrealizedUnrealizedForeignAccumulated gain (loss) ongain (loss) onCurrencyOther available-for-salederivativeTranslationComprehensiveFor the three months ended March 30, 2013securitiesinstrumentsAdjustmentIncome (Loss)Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, at December 29, 201220—2646Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications(1)3(27)(25)Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income————Other comprehensive income (loss)(1)3(27)(25)Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, at March 30, 2013193(1)21 UnrealizedUnrealizedForeignAccumulated gain (loss) ongain (loss) onCurrencyOther available-for-salederivativeTranslationComprehensiveFor the three months ended March 31, 2012securitiesinstrumentsAdjustmentIncome (Loss)Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, at December 31, 201118—(2)16Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications2—3840Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income(2)——(2)Other comprehensive income (loss)——3838Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, at March 31, 201218—3654 |
| Schedule of Reclassifcation of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Net Earnings Statement [Table Text Block] | The table below provides details about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income and the line items impacted in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in millions):Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income Details about accumulated otherThree Months Endedcomprehensive income componentsMarch 31, 2012Statements of Earnings Classification   Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities:    Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities3Other expense, net (1)Income tax expense 2Net earnings before noncontrolling interest 2Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

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| - Definition
[Table Text Block] for Table providing details of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income and the related income statement line items impacted [Table]
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669686-108580
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