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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Samath Jamie   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) VP & Principal Accounting Offi (Last) (First) (Middle) 1020 KIFER ROAD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/03/2018 (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 12/03/2018   M(1)   59 A $ 238.9133 138 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   S(1)   59 D $ 541.86 79 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   M(1)   35 A $ 230.9967 114 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   S(1)   35 D $ 541.86 79 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   M(1)   35 A $ 178.3867 114 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   S(1)   35 D $ 541.86 79 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   M(1)   49 A $ 177.6833 128 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   S(1)   49 D $ 541.86 79 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   M(1)   49 A $ 171.3333 128 D   Common Stock 12/03/2018   S(1)   49 D $ 541.86 79 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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)

$ 171.3333

12/03/2018

M(1)

49

(2)

02/17/2025

Common Stock

49

$ 0

148

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 177.6833

12/03/2018

M(1)

49

(3)

08/17/2025

Common Stock

49

$ 0

149

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 178.3867

12/03/2018

M(1)

35

(2)

02/16/2026

Common Stock

35

$ 0

527

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 230.9967

12/03/2018

M(1)

35

(3)

08/15/2026

Common Stock

35

$ 0

528

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 238.9133

12/03/2018

M(1)

59

(2)

02/15/2027

Common Stock

59

$ 0

1,604

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Samath Jamie 1020 KIFER ROAD SUNNYVALE, CA 94086			VP & Principal Accounting Offi

Signatures

By: Lori Serrano For: Jamie Samath		12/04/2018
**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 in accordance with a Trading Plan that complies with SEC Rule 10b5-1 and expires on November 4, 2019.
(2)	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.
(3)	Non-statutory stock option granted pursuant to the 2010 Employee Stock Option Plan. Option shall vest 7/48 one month after the date of grant and 1/48th each month thereafter.

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