Sec Form 4 Filing - SMITH LONNIE M @ INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC - 2012-08-06

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 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 SMITH LONNIE M 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC [ ISRG] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chairman of the Board (Last) (First) (Middle) 1266 KIFER ROAD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 08/06/2012 (Street) SUNNYVALE, CA94086 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 08/06/2012 G 30,000 D $ 0 ( 1 ) 244,775 D Common Stock 08/15/2012 G 50 D $ 0 ( 2 ) 244,725 D Common Stock 08/15/2012 G 50 D $ 0 ( 3 ) 244,675 D Common Stock 08/21/2012 G 6,870 A $ 0 ( 4 ) 251,545 D Common Stock 10/07/2012 G 5,990 A $ 0 ( 5 ) 257,535 D Common Stock 10/22/2012 M 17,500 A $ 106.69 275,035 D Common Stock 10/22/2012 S 17,500 ( 6 ) D $ 543.2851 ( 7 ) 257,535 D Common Stock 08/06/2012 G 30,000 A $ 0 ( 1 ) 140,681 I by Trust Common Stock 08/21/2012 G 6,870 D $ 0 ( 4 ) 133,811 I by Trust Common Stock 09/07/2012 G 5,990 D $ 0 ( 5 ) 127,821 I by Trust

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 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) $ 106.69 10/22/2012 M 17,500 ( 8 ) 02/07/2016 Common Stock 17,500 $ 0 37,500 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 517.31 08/15/2012 A 2,500 ( 9 ) 08/15/2022 Common Stock 2,500 $ 0 2,500 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other SMITH LONNIE M 1266 KIFER ROAD SUNNYVALE, CA94086 X Chairman of the Board Signatures By: Lori Serrano For: Lonnie Smith 10/23/2012 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The reporting person contributed shares to a grantor retained annuity trust No. 8 ("GRAT No. 8"). ( 2 )These shares were gifted from the account of Lonnie Smith & Cheryl Smith, Community Property to Rebecca S Eggleston ACF Madeleine Diane Eggleston U/CO/UTMA. ( 3 )These shares were gifted from the account of Lonnie Smith & Cheryl Smith, Community Property to Rebecca S Eggleston ACF Parker Keith Eggleston U/CO/UTMA. ( 4 )Shares were distributed by GRAT No. 7 to Lonnie Smith & Cheryl Smith, Community Property. ( 5 )Shares were distributed by GRAT No. 6 to Lonnie Smith & Cheryl Smith, Community Property. ( 6 )These shares were sold pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan, entered into on March 8, 2012. ( 7 )These shares were sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 Plan. The shares were sold at an average price of $543.285130. The actual selling price of the shares was: $541.00 - $541.99 - 494 shares sold; $542.00 - $542.99 - 13,506 shares sold; $543.00 - $543.99 - 1,000 shares sold; $547.00 - $547.99 - 1,500 shares sold; $548.00 - $548.99 - 1,000 shares sold. ( 8 )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. ( 9 )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.

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

* 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).

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