| **Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)**             | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
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| **Accounting Policies [Abstract]**                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Summary Of Components Of Available-For-Sale Securities              | The following table summarizes the components of the balance of the Company's available-for-sale securities as of January 3, 2015 and December 28, 2013 (in millions):  January 3, 2015 December 28, 2013Adjusted cost$6 $7Gross unrealized gains24 28Fair value$30 $35                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Schedule Of Inventories                                             | Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Inventories consisted of the following (in millions):  January 3, 2015 December 28, 2013Finished goods$543 $494Work in process77 52Raw materials164 162    Inventories$784 $708                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Schedule of Product Warranty Liability                              | Changes in the Company's product warranty liability during fiscal years 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in millions):  2014 2013Balance at beginning of period$37 $38Warranty expense recognized3 3Warranty credits issued(5) (4)Balance at end of period$35 $37                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Net Earnings Per Share | The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions, except per share amounts): 2014 2013 2012Numerator:     Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$1,002 $723 $752Denominator:     Basic weighted average shares outstanding285.0 287.0 313.3  Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans4.7 3.6 1.5Diluted weighted average shares outstanding289.7 290.6 314.8Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$3.52 $2.52 $2.40Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$3.46 $2.49 $2.39 |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the reconciliation of available-for-sale securities from cost basis to fair value.
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No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of an entity's basic and diluted earnings per share calculations, including a reconciliation of numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per-share computations for income from continuing operations.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of merchandise, goods, commodities, or supplies held for future sale or to be used in manufacturing, servicing or production process.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361739&loc=d3e7789-107766Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 2 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph a,b,c -Article 5
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the changes in the guarantor's aggregate product warranty liability, including the beginning balance of the aggregate product warranty liability, the aggregate reductions in that liability for payments made (in cash or in kind) under the warranty, the aggregate changes in the liability for accruals related to product warranties issued during the reporting period, the aggregate changes in the liability for accruals related to preexisting warranties (including adjustments related to changes in estimates), and the ending balance of the aggregate product warranty liability.
+ References
Reference 1: 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=d3e12565-110249
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