XML 56 R44.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Special Charges and Certain Litigation Charges (Details) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jan. 29, 2016 | Jan. 23, 2015 | Jan. 29, 2016 | Jan. 23, 2015
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Special charges (gains) | $ 0 | $ (138,000,000) | $ 0 | $ (38,000,000)
Gain (loss) on sale of equity method investment |  | 97,000,000 |  |
Charitable cash contribution |  |  |  | 100,000,000
Certain litigation charges | 0 | 0 | 26,000,000 | $ 0
INFUSE [Member] | Product liability litigation [Member] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Certain litigation charges | $ 0 |  | $ 26,000,000 |
Surgical Technologies Division [Member] |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sale of product line |  | $ 41,000,000 |  |

X
- Definition Charitable Cash Contribution + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mdt_CharitableCashContribution
Namespace Prefix: | mdt_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Special Charges (Gains) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mdt_SpecialChargesGains
Namespace Prefix: | mdt_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of equity securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading or available-for-sale. This element includes investments in which the entity holds a small ownership stake (generally, less than 20% of the shares outstanding) and cannot exert significant influence. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfEquityInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=mdt_INFUSEProductLiabilityLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_DamagesFromProductDefectsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=mdt_SurgicalTechnologiesDivisionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |