| **Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets Narrative (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
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| Operating Expense [Member]                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)                                                                           | $ 58us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember                                                                                                       | $ 29us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember |   |
| Operating Expense [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member]                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Intangible asset impairment charges, Finite-lived                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | 31us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember |
| Operating Expense [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Intangible asset impairment charges, Finite-lived                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 13us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember |   |
| Operating Expense [Member] | In Process Research and Development [Member]                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)                                                                           | 50us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember | 15us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember |   |
| Operating Expense [Member] | Trade Names [Member]                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)                                                                           | 8us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember                       | 14us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis= us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember |   |
| CardioMEMS, Inc [Member]                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Reclassification of Acquired in Process Research and Development from indefinite-lived to definite-lived                                         | 63stj_ReclassificationofAcquiredinProcessResearchandDevelopmentfromindefinitelivedtodefinitelived/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis= stj_CardioMEMSIncMember                                                                                         |   |   |
| CardioMEMS, Inc [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member]                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life                                                                            | 11 years                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |   |   |
| Endosense S.A. [Member]                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Reclassification of Acquired in Process Research and Development from indefinite-lived to definite-lived                                         | $ 33stj_ReclassificationofAcquiredinProcessResearchandDevelopmentfromindefinitelivedtodefinitelived/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis= stj_EndosenseS.A.Member                                                                                       |   |   |
| Endosense S.A. [Member] | Developed Technology Rights [Member]                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |   |
| Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life                                                                            | 7 years                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |   |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Reclassification of Acquired in Process Research and Development from indefinite-lived to definite-lived
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of impairment loss resulting from write-down of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit to fair value.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275
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| X                                                                                                                                               |
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| X                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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