| **Commitments And Contingencies**                       | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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| **Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       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| Commitments And Contingencies                           | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIESProduct Liability LitigationRiata® Litigation: In April 2013, a lawsuit seeking a class action was filed against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington by plaintiffs alleging they suffered injuries caused by Riata® and Riata® ST Silicone Defibrillation Leads. The potential class of plaintiffs in this lawsuit is limited to residents of the State of Washington. The complaint seeks compensatory damages in unspecified amounts, punitive damages and a declaratory judgment that the Company is liable to the proposed class members for any past, present and future evaluative monitoring, and corrective medical, surgical and incidental expenses and losses. As of August 1, 2013, the Company is aware of 29 lawsuits from plaintiffs alleging injuries caused by, and asserting product liability claims concerning, Riata® and Riata® ST Silicone Defibrillation Leads. Most of the lawsuits have been brought by a single plaintiff, but some of them name multiple individuals as plaintiffs. The action in Washington is the only case that seeks a class action. Outside of this class action, five separate multi-plaintiff lawsuits have been initiated against the Company that involve more than one unrelated plaintiff: a multi-plaintiff lawsuit joining 29 unrelated claimants was filed in the Superior Court of California for the city and county of Los Angeles on April 4, 2013; a multi-plaintiff lawsuit joining two unrelated claimants was filed in the Superior Court of California for the city and county of Los Angeles on April 4, 2013; a multi-plaintiff lawsuit joining two claimants was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on April 4, 2013; a multi-plaintiff lawsuit joining three unrelated claimants was filed in the Superior Court of California for the city and county of Los Angeles on April 29, 2013; and a multi-plaintiff lawsuit joining 21 unrelated claimants was filed in the Superior Court of California for the city and county of Los Angeles on July 15, 2013. Of the 29 lawsuits, ten cases are pending in federal courts, including three in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, four in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, one in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, one in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and one discussed above pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The remaining 19 lawsuits are pending in state courts across the country, including seven in Minnesota, ten in California, one in Indiana and one in Georgia.All but one of the claimants in the aforementioned suits allege bodily injuries as a result of surgical removal and replacement of Riata® leads, or other complications, which they attribute to the leads. The majority of the claimants who seek recovery for implantation and/or surgical removal of Riata® leads are seeking compensatory damages in unspecified amounts, and declaratory judgments that the Company is liable to the claimants for any past, present and future evaluative monitoring, and corrective medical, surgical and incidental expenses and losses. Several claimants also seek punitive damages. The Company is responsible for legal costs incurred in defense of the Riata product liability claims including any potential settlements, judgments and other legal defense costs.Silzone® Litigation and Insurance Receivables: The Company has been sued in various jurisdictions beginning in March 2000 by some patients who received a heart valve product with Silzone® coating, which the Company stopped selling in January 2000. The Company's outstanding Silzone cases consist of one class action in Ontario that has been appealed by the plaintiffs and one individual case in Ontario. In June 2012, the Ontario Court ruled in the Company's favor on all nine common class issues in a class action involving Silzone patients, and the case was dismissed. In September 2012, counsel for the class filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal for the Province of Ontario and filed their initial appellate brief in February 2013. The Company is scheduled to file its responsive brief in August 2013, and the appeal is expected to be heard in November 2013. The individual case in Ontario requests damages in excess of $1 million (claiming unspecified special damages, health care costs and interest). Based on the Company’s historical experience, the amount ultimately paid, if any, often does not bear any relationship to the amount claimed. To the extent that the Company’s future Silzone costs (inclusive of settlements, judgments, legal fees and other related defense costs) exceed its remaining historical insurance coverage of $13 million, the Company would be responsible for such costs. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the claims that have been asserted. The Company has not recorded an expense related to any potential damages in connection with these product liability litigation matters because any potential loss is not probable or reasonably estimable. Other than disclosed above, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a loss or range of loss, if any, that may result from these litigation matters.Patent and Other Intellectual Property LitigationVolcano Corporation & LightLab Imaging Litigation: The Company's subsidiary, LightLab Imaging, has pending litigation with Volcano Corporation (Volcano) and Axsun Technologies, Inc. (Axsun), a subsidiary of Volcano, in the Massachusetts state court and in state court in Delaware. LightLab Imaging makes and sells optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging systems. Volcano is a LightLab Imaging competitor in medical imaging. Axsun makes and sells lasers and is a supplier of lasers to LightLab Imaging for use in OCT imaging systems. The lawsuits arise out of Volcano's acquisition of Axsun in December 2008. Before Volcano acquired Axsun, LightLab Imaging and Axsun had worked together to develop a tunable laser for use in OCT imaging systems. While the laser was in development, LightLab Imaging and Axsun entered into an agreement pursuant to which Axsun agreed to sell its tunable lasers exclusively to LightLab in the field of human coronary artery imaging for a certain period of time.After Volcano acquired Axsun in December 2008, LightLab Imaging sued Axsun and Volcano in Massachusetts, asserting a number of claims arising out of Volcano's acquisition of Axsun. In January 2011, the Court ruled that Axsun's and Volcano's conduct constituted knowing and willful violations of a statute which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices or acts of unfair competition, entitling LightLab Imaging to double damages, and furthermore, that LightLab Imaging was entitled to recover attorneys' fees. In February 2011, Volcano and Axsun were ordered to pay the Company for reimbursement of attorneys' fees and double damages, which Volcano paid to the Company in July 2011. The Court also issued certain injunctions and declaratory relief against Volcano. The Company has also appealed certain rulings relating to the trial court's exclusion of certain expert testimony and its refusal to enter permanent injunctions. In January 2013, the Supreme Judicial Court for Massachusetts granted the Company's request to bypass the intermediary appellate court and has accepted the matter for its direct review, which is expected to be finalized in 2014. In May 2011, LightLab Imaging initiated a lawsuit against Volcano and Axsun in the Delaware state court. The suit seeks to enforce LightLab Imaging's exclusive contract with Axsun, and also alleges claims to prevent Volcano from interfering with that contract and to bar Axsun and Volcano from using LightLab Imaging confidential information and trade secrets, and to prevent Volcano and Axsun from violating a Massachusetts statute prohibiting unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices relating to LightLab Imaging's tunable laser technology. In May 2012, the Court granted Volcano's motion to stay the proceedings until Volcano provides notice of its intent to begin clinical trials or engage in other public activities with an OCT imaging system that uses a type of light source that is in dispute in the lawsuit.  Volcano is under an order to provide such a notice at least 45 days before beginning such trials or engaging in such activities. In April 2013, the Court denied a motion by the Company to lift the stay.  Volcano Corporation & St. Jude Medical Patent Litigation: In July 2010, the Company filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Delaware against Volcano for patent infringement. In the suit, the Company asserted certain patents against Volcano and seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages. The infringed patents are part of the St. Jude Medical PressureWire® technology platform, which was acquired as part of St. Jude Medical's purchase of Radi Medical Systems in December 2008. On October 19, 2012 a jury ruled in favor of Volcano finding that certain Volcano patents did not infringe the Company's patents and that certain St. Jude Medical patents were invalid. The Company has filed a motion for judgment as a matter of law and for a new trial. If necessary, the Company will appeal to the appellate court and raise challenges to various issues related to the trial that resulted in the October 19, 2012 jury decision. Volcano also filed counterclaims against the Company in this case, alleging certain St. Jude Medical patent claims are unenforceable and that certain St. Jude Medical products infringe certain Volcano patents. On October 25, 2012, a jury ruled that the Company did not infringe certain Volcano patents and entered judgment on both October jury verdicts in January 2013. Both parties filed post-trial motions, which have yet to be ruled upon by the Court, and are moving forward with other post-trial proceedings. On April 16, 2013, Volcano filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Delaware against the Company alleging that the Company is infringing two U.S. patents owned by Volcano which were issued that same day. The allegations relate to the Company's PressureWire® technology (Fractional Flow Reserve) FFR Platforms, including ILUMIENTM PCI Optimization System and QuantienTM Integrated FFR platforms. In its complaint, Volcano seeks both injunctive relief and monetary damages. A hearing on claims construction has been scheduled for November 2013. The Company plans to vigorously defend against the claims asserted.Securities and Other Shareholder LitigationMarch 2010 Securities Class Action Litigation: In March 2010, a securities lawsuit seeking class action status was filed in federal district court in Minnesota against the Company and certain officers on behalf of purchasers of St. Jude Medical common stock between April 22, 2009 and October 6, 2009. The lawsuit relates to the Company's earnings announcements for the first, second and third quarters of 2009, as well as a preliminary earnings release dated October 6, 2009. The complaint, which seeks unspecified damages and other relief as well as attorneys' fees, alleges that the Company failed to disclose that it was experiencing a slowdown in demand for its products and was not receiving anticipated orders for cardiac rhythm management devices. Class members allege that the Company's failure to disclose the above information resulted in the class purchasing St. Jude Medical stock at an artificially inflated price. In December 2011, the Court issued a decision denying a motion to dismiss filed by the defendants in October 2010. In October 2012, the Court granted plaintiffs' motion to certify the case as a class action, which defendants did not oppose. The discovery phase of the case closes in September 2013 and the trial is scheduled in July 2014. The Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the claims asserted in this lawsuit.December 2012 Securities Class Action Litigation: On December 7, 2012, a securities class action lawsuit was filedin federal district court in Minnesota against the Company and an officer for alleged violations of the federalsecurities laws, on behalf of all purchasers of the publicly traded securities of the Company between October 17, 2012 and November 20, 2012. The complaint, which seeks unspecified damages and other relief as well as attorneys' fees, challenges the Company’s disclosures concerning its high voltage cardiac rhythm lead products during the purported class period. On December 10, 2012, a second securities class action lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Minnesota against the Company and certain officers for alleged violations of the federal securities laws, on behalf of all purchasers of the publicly traded securities of the Company between October 19, 2011 and November 20, 2012. The second complaint pursues similar claims and seeks unspecified damages and other relief as well as attorneys’ fees. In March 2013, the Court consolidated the two cases and appointed a lead counsel and lead plaintiff. The Company is scheduled to file its responsive pleading by August 26, 2013. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the claims asserted in this matter.December 2012 Derivative Litigation: In December 2012, a shareholder derivative action was initiated in Minnesota state court in Ramsey County, on behalf of the Company, against members of St. Jude Medical’s Board of Directors as well as certain officers of the Company (collectively, the defendants). The plaintiffs in this action allege breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment. The claims center around and involve the Company’s high voltage cardiac rhythm lead products and related activities and events. No damages are sought against the Company. The defendants in this matter intend to vigorously defend against the claims asserted in this lawsuit. On March 11, 2013, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' complaint. The plaintiffs' filed their response on April 25, 2013, and the defendants filed their reply on May 16, 2013.  No hearing on the motions has yet been scheduled.The Company has not recorded an expense related to any potential damages in connection with these litigation matters because any potential loss is not probable or reasonably estimable. The Company cannot reasonably estimate a loss or range of loss, if any, that may result from these litigation matters.Governmental InvestigationsIn March 2010, the Company received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the Civil Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The CID requests documents and sets forth interrogatories related to communications by and within the Company on various indications for tachycardia implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems (ICDs) and a National Coverage Decision issued by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Similar requests were made of the Company's major competitors. The Company provided its response to the DOJ in June 2010. On September 20, 2012, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (OIG) issued a subpoena requiring the Company to produce certain documents related to payments made by the Company to healthcare professionals practicing in California, Florida, and Arizona, as well as policies and procedures related to payments made by the Company to non-employee healthcare professionals. The Company has provided its response to the OIG. The Company is cooperating with the two open investigations and is responding to these requests. However, the Company cannot predict when these investigations will be resolved, the outcome of these investigations or their impact on the Company. The Company has not recorded an expense related to any potential damages in connection with these governmental matters because any potential loss is not probable or reasonably estimable. The Company cannot reasonably estimate a loss or range of loss, if any, that may result from these matters. Regulatory MattersIn late September 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commenced an inspection of the Company's Sylmar, California facility, and, following such inspection, issued eleven observations on a Form 483, which the Company disclosed on a Form 8-K filed on October 24, 2012 along with an exhibit containing a redacted version of the Form 483. The FDA subsequently released its own redacted version of the 483 Letter on November 20, 2012. The redacted version of the Form 483 that was released by the FDA on November 20, 2012 and included in its website at that time is attached to this 10-Q as Exhibit 99.1. In early November 2012, the Company's provided written responses to the FDA on the Form 483 detailing proposed corrective actions and immediately initiated efforts to address the FDA's inspectional observations. The Company subsequently received a warning letter dated January 10, 2013 from the FDA relating to these inspectional observations with respect to its Sylmar, California facility. The warning letter does not identify any specific concerns regarding the performance of, or indicate the need for any field or other action regarding, any particular St. Jude Medical product. The Sylmar, California facility will continue to manufacture cardiac rhythm management devices while the Company works with the FDA to address its concerns.The FDA inspected the Company's Plano, Texas manufacturing facility at various times between March 5 and April 6, 2009. On April 6, 2009, the FDA issued a Form 483 identifying certain inspectional observations with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). Following the receipt of the Form 483, the Company provided written responses to the FDA detailing proposed corrective actions and immediately initiated efforts to address the FDA's inspectional observations. The Company subsequently received a warning letter dated June 26, 2009 from the FDA relating to these inspectional observations with respect to its legacy Neuromodulation division's Plano, Texas and Hackettstown, New Jersey facilities.With respect to both of these warning letters, the FDA notes that it will not grant requests for exportation certificates to foreign governments or approve pre-market approval applications for Class III devices to which the quality system regulation deviations are reasonably related until the violations have been corrected. The Company is working cooperatively with the FDA to resolve all of its concerns.Customer orders have not been and are not expected to be impacted while the Company works to resolve the FDA's concerns. The Company is working diligently to respond timely and fully to the FDA's observations and requests. While the Company believes the issues raised by the FDA can be resolved without a material impact on the Company's financial results, the FDA has recently been increasing its scrutiny of the medical device industry and raising the threshold for compliance. The government is expected to continue to scrutinize the industry closely with inspections, and possibly enforcement actions, by the FDA or other agencies. The Company is regularly monitoring, assessing and improving its internal compliance systems and procedures to ensure that its activities are consistent with applicable laws, regulations and requirements, including those of the FDA.Product WarrantiesThe Company offers a warranty on various products, the most significant of which relates to its ICDs and pacemakers systems. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its warranties and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time the product is sold. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost per claim. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary.Changes in the Company’s product warranty liability during the three and six months ended June 29, 2013 and June 30, 2012 were as follows (in millions): Three Months EndedSix Months EndedJune 29, 2013 June 30, 2012June 29, 2013 June 30, 2012Balance at beginning of period$37 $37$38 $36Warranty expense recognized1 13 3Warranty credits issued(1) —(4) (1)Balance at end of period$37 $38$37 $38 |

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The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6449706&loc=d3e16207-108621Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308
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