<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-019133
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030822
<FILING-DATE>20030826
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NUSSBAUM BENNETT
<CIK>0001260972
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30713
<FILM-NUMBER>03867444
</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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpa92681_bpa5bn.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-22</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><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></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><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.92</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-22</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.  Option shall vest 1/12th each month after the date of Grant which is 08-22-2003</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Bennett L. Nussbaum</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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