| **Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                   |
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| **Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]**                                                             |                                                                                                             |   |
| Net earnings before noncontrolling interest                                                                  | $ 256us-gaap_ProfitLoss                                                                                          | $ 239us-gaap_ProfitLoss |
| **Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]**                                                 |                                                                                                             |   |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities                                                      | 1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax                                | 0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments, net of taxes of $5 million                       | 29us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax                     | 0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax |
| Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                                      | (127)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax | 10us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax                                                                | (97)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax                                                                 | 10us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
| Total comprehensive income before noncontrolling interest                                                    | 159us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest                       | 249us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |
| Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest                                             | (6)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest                                       | (10)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |
| Total comprehensive income attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                            | $ 165us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax                                                                         | $ 259us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax |

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| - Definition
Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
+ References
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| - Definition
Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
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| - Definition
Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
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| - Definition
Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.
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| - Definition
Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.
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| - Definition
Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).
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| - Definition
Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).
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| - Definition
The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.
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