<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-019225
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030825
<FILING-DATE>20030827
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MILLER ERIC
<CIK>0001260970
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30713
<FILM-NUMBER>03868993
</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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpa92681_bpa4em.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><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></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><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.10</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-02-25</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Incentive Stock Option granted  pursuant to the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.  Option shall vest 1/8 of the total number of shares granted 6 months from 8/25/2003 and 1/48 of the shares shall vest monthly</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/Eric Miller</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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