
<PAGE>

                              INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
                   1998 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN

                             NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION

__________, Optionee:


     On __________________, 19___, an option was automatically granted to you 
 (the "Optionee") pursuant to the Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (the "Company") 
1998 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") to purchase 
shares of the Company's common stock ("Common Stock").  This option is NOT 
intended to qualify and will not be treated as an "incentive stock option" 
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended (the "Code").

     The grant hereunder is in connection with and in furtherance of the
Company's compensatory benefit plan for Non-Employee Directors (as defined in
the Plan).

     The details of your option are as follows:

     1.   The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to this option is
[__________________ (     )].
 

     2.   The exercise price of this option is ____________ ($____ ) per 
share, such amount being equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the 
Plan) of the Common Stock on the date of grant of this option.

     3.   (a)  Subject to the limitations contained herein:

               (i)    if this option is exercisable for 25,000 shares, then
this option shall vest (i.e., become exercisable) in installments as follows:
6/48th of the option shares shall vest on the six (6)-month anniversary of the
date of grant of the option and the remaining shares shall then vest equally
over the next forty two (42) months; or

               (ii)   if this option is exercisable for 2,500 shares, then this
option shall vest (i.e., become exercisable) in thirty six (36) equal monthly
installments over a three (3)-year period measured from the date of grant of the
option;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that you have, during the period from the date of grant to
such vesting date, continuously served as a Non-Employee Director or employee of
or consultant to the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in the Plan).

          (b)  Notwithstanding anything to the foregoing, this option shall NOT
be exercisable in whole or in part unless and until sufficient shares of the
Company's common stock to be issued under the Plan has been approved by the
Company's stockholders.

     4.   (a)  This option may be exercised, to the extent specified above, by
delivering a Notice of Exercise (in the form attached hereto or such other form
designated by the Company) together with the exercise price to the Secretary of
the Company, or to such other person as the Company may designate, during
regular business hours, together with such additional documents as the Company
may then require pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

          (b)  This option may only be exercised for whole shares.


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          (c)  You may elect to pay the exercise price under one of the
following alternatives:

               (i)    In cash (or check) at the time of exercise;

               (ii)   Provided that at the time of the exercise the Common
Stock is publicly traded and quoted regularly in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL,
payment by delivery of shares of Common Stock already owned by you, held for the
period required to avoid a charge to the Company's reported earnings, and owned
free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interest, which
Common Stock shall be valued at its Fair Market Value on the date immediately
preceding the date of exercise;

               (iii)  Payment pursuant to a program developed under Regulation
T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board which results in the receipt of
cash (or check) by the Company either prior to the issuance of shares of the
Common Stock or pursuant to the terms of irrevocable instructions issued by you
prior to the issuance of shares of the Common Stock; or

               (iv)   Payment by a combination of the methods of payment
specified in subparagraphs (i) through (iii) above.

          (d)  By exercising this option you agree that the Company may require
you to enter an arrangement providing for the cash payment by you to the Company
of any tax withholding obligation of the Company arising by reason of the
exercise of this option.

     5.   The term of this option is ten (10) years measured from the date of
grant, subject, however, to earlier termination upon your termination of
service, as set forth in Section 6(a) of the Plan.

     6.   Any notices provided for in this option or the Plan shall be given in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in the case of
notices delivered by the Company to you, five (5) days after deposit in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the address specified
below or at such other address as you hereafter designate by written notice to
the Company.

     7.   This option is subject to all the provisions of the Plan, a copy of
which is attached hereto and its provisions are hereby made a part of this
option, including without limitation the provisions of Section 6 of the Plan
relating to option provisions, and is further subject to all interpretations,
amendments, rules and regulations which may from time to time be promulgated and
adopted pursuant to the Plan.  In the event of any conflict between the
provisions of this option and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan
shall control.

     Dated the _____ day of __________, 19____.

                                             Very truly yours,
                                             INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.


                                                  Duly authorized on behalf
                                                  of the Board of Directors

ATTACHMENTS:   Notice of Exercise
               Prospectus-1998 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan


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The undersigned:

     (A)   Acknowledges receipt of the foregoing option and the attachments
referenced therein and understands that all rights and liabilities with respect
to this option are set forth in the option and the Plan; and

     (B)   Acknowledges that as of the date of grant of this option, it sets
forth the entire understanding between the undersigned Optionee and the Company
and its Affiliates regarding the acquisition of Common Stock in the Company and
supersedes all prior oral and written agreements on that subject with the
exception of (i) the options and any other stock awards previously granted and
delivered to the undersigned under stock award plans of the Company, and (ii)
the following agreements only:

           NONE:
                ______________
                  (Initial)

           OTHER:
                 __________________________-

                 __________________________-

                 __________________________-

                              __________________________-
                              Optionee


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<PAGE>

                              INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
                   1998 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                 NOTICE OF EXERCISE

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

________________________
                                                  Date of Exercise:
________________________                                           __________

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This constitutes notice under my stock option that I elect to purchase the
number of shares for the price set forth below.

     Type of option:               Nonstatutory
                                                         
     Stock option dated:           _____________________ 
                                                         
     Number of shares for                                
     which option is exercised:    _____________________ 
                                                         
     Certificates to be                                  
     issued in name of:            _____________________ 
                                                         
     Total exercise price:         $                     
                                    ____________________ 
                                                         
     Cash payment delivered                             
     herewith:                     $                     
                                    ____________________ 
                                   
     Value of______ shares of 

     common stock delivered                              
     herewith (1):                 $____________________ 


     By this exercise, I agree (i) to provide such additional documents as you
may require pursuant to the terms of the Company's 1998 Non-Employee Directors'
Stock Option Plan and (ii) to provide for the payment by me to you (in the
manner designated by you) of your withholding obligation, if any, relating to
the exercise of this option.

                                             Very truly yours,


                                             __________________________
                                             Optionee


____________________
(1)  Shares must meet the public trading requirements set forth in the option.
Shares must be valued in accordance with the terms of the option being
exercised, must have been owned for the minimum period required in the option,
and must be owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security
interests.  Certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by an executed
assignment separate from certificate.


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