| **Business Combinations Business Combinations - Business Combinations (Tables)** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
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| **Statement [Line Items]**                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]             | The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation of the estimated fair values of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of the Company's acquisitions of Endosense and Nanostim during fiscal year 2013 as follows (in millions):  EndosenseNanostimTotalAssets acquired:    Current assets $2$1$3Goodwill 258149407IPR&D 332760Other intangible assets 203454Other long-term assets 112   Total assets acquired 314212526     Liabilities assumed:    Current liabilities 11213Net assets acquired 303210513     Cash paid 180124304Cash acquired (9)(3)(12)Net cash consideration 171121292Contingent consideration 13256188Fair value of St. Jude Medical, Inc.'s previously held interest —3333Total purchase consideration $303$210$513 |
| Spinal Modulation [Member]                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Statement [Line Items]**                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]                        | The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of Spinal Modulation’s assets and liabilities included in St. Jude Medical's consolidated balance sheets as of the June 7, 2013 consolidation date, and as of December 28, 2013 after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions (in millions):  June 7, 2013December 28, 2013Cash and cash equivalents $41$25Other current assets 95Goodwill 8282IPR&D 4545Other intangible assets 77Other long-term assets 11   Total assets 185165    Current liabilities 65Deferred income taxes, net 1919   Total liabilities 2524    Non-controlling interest $120$104                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Cardiomems [Member]                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Statement [Line Items]**                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]                        | The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of CardioMEMS’ assets and liabilities included in St. Jude Medical's consolidated balance sheets as of the February 27, 2013 consolidation date, and as of December 28, 2013 after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions (in millions):  February 27, 2013December 28, 2013Cash and cash equivalents $33$14Other current assets 26Goodwill 8383IPR&D 6363Other long-term assets 22   Total assets 183168    Current liabilities 137Deferred income taxes, net 2323Other liabilities 54   Total liabilities 4134    Noncontrolling interest $84$68                                                                                                                                                                                              |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of a material business combination completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This table  does not include leveraged buyouts.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest (as defined) held by the entity requires the variable interest entity (VIE) (as defined) to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the VIE, individually or in aggregate (as applicable); the nature of restrictions, if any, on the consolidated VIE's assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by an entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities; the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with involvement in the VIE; how involvement with the VIE affects the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of the consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary (if applicable); the terms of arrangements, giving consideration to both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests, if any, that could require the entity to provide financial support to the VIE, including events or circumstances that could expose the entity to a loss; the methodology used by the entity for determining whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity; the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance are shared (as defined); the carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of the VIE included in the statement of financial position; the entity's maximum exposure to loss, if any, as a result of its involvement with the VIE, including how the maximum exposure is determined and significant sources of the entity's exposure to the VIE; a comparison of the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities and the entity's maximum exposure to loss; information about any liquidity arrangements, guarantees, and (or) other commitments by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the entity's variable interest in the VIE; whether or not the entity has provided financial support or other support (explicitly or implicitly) to the VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide or whether the entity intends to provide that support, including the type and amount of the support and the primary reasons for providing the support; and supplemental information the entity determines necessary to provide.
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