| **Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)**                                         | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
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| **Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Schedule of Stock-based Compensation Expense                                  | The Company's total stock-based compensation expense for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 by income statement line item was as follows (in millions): 2015 2014 2013Cost of sales$6 $6 $5Selling, general and administrative expense137 49 45Research and development expense17 16 15  Stock-based compensation expense$160 $71 $65                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Schedule of Weighted Average Fair Values                                      | The following table provides the weighted average grant date fair values of the Company's restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and ESPP purchase rights during fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, excluding Thoratec-related awards: 2015 2014 2013Weighted average grant date fair values:       Restricted stock awards$71.77 $63.48 $42.26  Restricted stock units$61.79 $69.08 $59.04  ESPP purchase rights$16.91 $15.46 $13.06                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Schedule of Stock Option Assumptions                                          | The following table includes the weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted to employees during fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the related weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model: 2015 2014 2013Fair value of options granted$12.54 $14.56 $13.83Assumptions:       Expected term (years)5.4 5.4 5.4  Risk-free interest rate1.7% 1.7% 1.6%  Volatility24.7% 24.9% 28.6%  Dividend yield1.8% 1.6% 1.8%                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Stock Option Activity                                             | The following table summarizes stock option activity under all stock-based compensation plans during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016:      Weighted     Weighted Average Aggregate   Average Remaining Intrinsic Options Exercise Contractual Value (shares in millions) Price Term (in years) (in millions)Outstanding as of January 3, 201517.7 $44.70      Granted2.7 61.76      Exercised(3.1) 39.06      Forfeited and expired(0.5) 53.75    Outstanding as of January 2, 201616.8 $48.22 4.9 $247Vested and expected to vest16.1 $47.59 4.8 $245Exercisable as of January 2, 201610.3 $40.76 3.6 $221 |
| Schedule of Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Award Activity        | The following table summarizes activity for restricted stock awards and restricted stock units under all stock-based compensation plans during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016, excluding the Company's Thoratec-related awards:  Restricted Stock Weighted Average Units and Awards Grant Date (shares in millions) Fair ValueUnvested balance as of January 3, 20151.5 $56.36Granted0.6 62.10Vested(0.5) 51.56Forfeited(0.1) 57.30Unvested balance as of January 2, 20161.5 $60.65                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the allocation of equity-based compensation costs to a given line item on the balance sheet and income statement for the period. This may include the reporting line for the costs and the amount capitalized and expensed.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average exercise prices (or conversion ratios) for share options (or share units) that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, vested and expected to vest, exercisable or convertible at the end of the year, and the number of share options or share units that were granted, exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the significant assumptions used during the year to estimate the fair value of stock options, including, but not limited to: (a) expected term of share options and similar instruments, (b) expected volatility of the entity's shares, (c) expected dividends, (d) risk-free rate(s), and (e) discount for post-vesting restrictions.
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| - Definition
Disclosure of the number and weighted-average grant date fair value for restricted stock and restricted stock units that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number of restricted stock and restricted stock units that were granted, vested, or forfeited during the year.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the weighted-average grant-date fair value of equity options or other equity instruments granted during the year.
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