Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
MELTZER MARK J
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC [ISRG] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP & General Counsel
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1266 KIFER ROAD		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
10/22/2012
(Street)

SUNNYVALE, CA 94086		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 10/22/2012   M   2,000 A $ 107.27 2,574 D  
Common Stock 10/22/2012   S   2,000 (1) D $ 543.5915 (2) 574 D  
Common Stock 10/22/2012   M   5,000 A $ 309.46 5,574 D  
Common Stock 10/22/2012   S   5,000 (1) D $ 550 574 D  
Common Stock 10/22/2012   M   2,625 A $ 107.27 3,199 D  
Common Stock 10/22/2012   S   2,625 (1) D $ 543.8827 (3) 574 D  
Common Stock 10/22/2012   M   375 A $ 309.46 949 D  
Common Stock 10/22/2012   S   375 (1) D $ 543.8827 574 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 107.27 10/22/2012   M     2,000   (4) 02/17/2019 Common Stock 2,000 $ 0 5,125 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 107.27 10/22/2012   M     2,625   (4) 02/17/2019 Common Stock 2,625 $ 0 2,500 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 309.46 10/22/2012   M     5,000   (4) 11/07/2017 Common Stock 5,000 $ 0 25,000 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 309.46 10/22/2012   M     375   (4) 11/07/2017 Common Stock 375 $ 0 24,625 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
MELTZER MARK J
1266 KIFER ROAD
SUNNYVALE, CA 94086		       SVP & General Counsel  

Signatures

 Mark Meltzer   10/23/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These shares were sold pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan, entered into on March 13, 2012.
(2) The average selling price for the transactions was $543.591511. The shares sold at: $541.00 - $541.99 = 1,000 shares; $542.00 to $542.99 = 125 shares; $543.00 - $543.99 = 375 shares; $548.00 - $548.99 = 500 shares.
(3) The average selling price for the transactions was $543.591511. The shares sold at: $542.00 to $542.99 = 1,500 shares; $543.00 - $543.99 = 500 shares; $545.00 - $545.99 = 500 shares; $548.00 - $548.99 = 500 shares.
(4) Non-statutory stock option granted pursuant to the 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan. Option shall vest 1/8 six months after the date of grant and 1/48th each month thereafter.

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