<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001567619-20-005409.txt : 20200303
<SEC-HEADER>0001567619-20-005409.hdr.sgml : 20200303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200303144507
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001567619-20-005409
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20200228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOHR MARSHALL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252986

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30713
		FILM NUMBER:		20681514

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC
		STREET 2:		1266 KIFER ROAD
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035267
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				770416458
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1020 KIFER ROAD
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4085232100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1020 KIFER ROAD
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-02-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252986</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOHR MARSHALL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1020 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>Executive VP &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>533.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4510</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4510</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4510</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3007</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3007</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3007</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Non-statutory stock option granted pursuant to the 2010 Employee Stock Option Plan.  The option vests 1/8th six months after the date of grant and 1/48th monthly thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each RSU granted represents a contingent right to receive one share of Intuitive Surgical common stock.  The grant vests 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and annually thereafter, over a four year period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Donna Spinola For: Marhall L. Mohr</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>marshallmohrpoa.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
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  <div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">POWER OF ATTORNEY</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 72pt; font-size: 12pt;">Know all by these present that the undersigned hereby authorizes (i) Lori Serrano, (ii) Donna Spinola,&#160; (iii) Brian King and (iv) Siang
      Chin of Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Company</font>&#8221;) and (v) any attorney employed in the Menlo Park, CA office of Latham &amp;
      Watkins LLP and each of them individually to execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned&#8217;s capacity as an officer and/or director of the Company, Forms 3, 4 and 5, and other forms as may be required, any amendments thereto, and
      cause such form(s) to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the <font style="font-weight: bold;">&#8220;</font><font style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">SEC</font><font style="font-weight: bold;">&#8221;</font>) pursuant to Section&#160;16(a) of the Securities Act of 1934, relating to
      the undersigned&#8217;s beneficial ownership of securities in the Company. The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be
      done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all
      that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact&#8217;s substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing
      attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned&#8217;s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 72pt; font-size: 12pt;">This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with
      respect to the undersigned&#8217;s holdings of, and transactions in, securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 72pt; margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size: 12pt;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 29th day of July
      2019.</div>
    <div style="margin-left: 216pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>/s/ Marshall Mohr</u></font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 252pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="text-indent: 216pt; font-size: 12pt;">Signature</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-indent: 216pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Marshall Mohr</u></font>_________________________________</div>
    <div style="text-indent: 216pt; font-size: 12pt;">Print Name</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
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