| **Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets (Schedule Of Changes In Carrying Amount Of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Beginning balance                                                                                                                                      | $ 3,524us-gaap_Goodwill                                                                                                                        | $ 2,961us-gaap_Goodwill                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Foreign currency translation and other                                                                                                                 | (81)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments                                                                                                     | (9)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Ending balance                                                                                                                                         | 3,532us-gaap_Goodwill                                                                                                                          | 3,524us-gaap_Goodwill                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                           |   | 3,532us-gaap_Goodwill |   |
| Spinal Modulation [Member]                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Beginning balance                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   | 46us-gaap_Goodwill/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember |
| Goodwill, acquired during the period                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                           | 82us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments                                                                                                              | (36)us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember |                                                                                                                                | (36)us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember | (35)us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember |   |   |
| Ending balance                                                                                                                                         | 46us-gaap_Goodwill/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember                                |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   | 46us-gaap_Goodwill/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember | 46us-gaap_Goodwill/ us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis= stj_SpinalModulationMember |
| Endosense [Member]                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Goodwill, acquired during the period                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                           | 258us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis= stj_EndosenseMember                                       |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Nanostim [Member]                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Goodwill, acquired during the period                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                           | 149us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis= stj_NanostimMember                                        |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Cardiomems [Member]                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Goodwill, acquired during the period                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                           | 83us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis= stj_CardiomemsMember                                       |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| NeuroTherm, Inc. [Member]                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Goodwill, acquired during the period                                                                                                                   | 125us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis= stj_NeuroThermInc.Member                                             |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   |   |   |
| Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                           |   | $ (7)us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis= stj_NeuroThermInc.Member |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_Goodwill**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e961-128460
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_CardiomemsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                           |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_EndosenseMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                          |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_NanostimMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=stj_NeuroThermInc.Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis=stj_SpinalModulationMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |