<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-019125
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030818
<FILING-DATE>20030826
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MILLER ERIC
<CIK>0001260970
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30713
<FILM-NUMBER>03867386
</FILING-VALUES>
</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_bpa3em.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-18</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035267</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISRG</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260970</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILLER ERIC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>950 KIFER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94086</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. Vice President, Marketing</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><remarks>
No securities owned.
</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Eric Miller</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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