<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-018687
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030815
<FILING-DATE>20030822
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NUSSBAUM BENNETT
<CIK>0001260972
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30713
<FILM-NUMBER>03863397
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5505 BLUE LAGOON DRIVE
<CITY>MIAMI
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33126
<PHONE>305 378 3007
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC
<CIK>0001035267
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3842
<IRS-NUMBER>770416458
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>950 KIFER ROAD
<CITY>SUNNYVALE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94086
<PHONE>4085232100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>950 KIFER ROAD
<CITY>SUNNYVALE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94086
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpa92681_bpa1bln.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-15</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035267</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISRG</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260972</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NUSSBAUM BENNETT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BURGER KING,
ONE WHOPPER WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5505 BLUE LAGOON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33126</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><remarks>
No securities owned.
</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Bennett L. Nussbaum</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
