<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-06-028092
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060317
<FILING-DATE>20060505
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060505
<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>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Gong Benjamin B
<CIK>0001344823
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30713
<FILM-NUMBER>06814332
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>(408) 523-2100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC
<STREET2>950 KIFER ROAD
<CITY>SUNNYVALE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94086
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035267</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISRG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001344823</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gong Benjamin B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>950 KIFER ROAD</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>Vice President, Finance</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Effective March 17, 2006 Mr. Gong ceased to be the company's Interm Chief Financial Officer, and therefore, he is no longer a Section 16 officer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Benjamin Gong</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
