Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contacts:	Ben Gong	408-523-2175
		Laura Lee Luna	408-523-2161

INTUITIVE SURGICAL ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. October 20, 2009 – Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG), the industry leader in surgical robotics, today reported third quarter of 2009 revenue of $280.1 million, compared with $236.0 million for the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter of 2009 revenue included $6.3 million of revenue that was originally deferred in the first quarter of 2009 in association with discounted offers made to certain customers to upgrade da Vinci S Surgical Systems to our recently introduced da Vinci Si Surgical Systems. All da Vinci Si upgrades related to these offers have now been completed and the full $20.1 million of revenue deferred in the first quarter of 2009 has been recognized, $13.8 million during the second quarter of 2009 and $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Third quarter of 2009 instruments and accessories revenue increased to $100.8 million from $75.9 million in the third quarter of 2008. The growth in instruments and accessories revenue was primarily driven by growth in da Vinci surgical procedures of approximately 49%, partially offset by lower instruments and accessories revenue per procedure. Third quarter of 2009 instruments and accessories revenue included recognition of $0.7 million of revenue that was originally deferred in the first quarter of 2009.

Third quarter of 2009 systems revenue was $135.5 million, compared to $126.3 million during the third quarter of 2008. 86 da Vinci Surgical Systems were sold during the third quarter of 2009, compared to 91 sold during the third quarter of 2008. 70 of the 86 systems sold during the third quarter of 2009 were the new da Vinci Si model. In addition, 23 da Vinci S Surgical systems were field upgraded during the third quarter of 2009 to da Vinci Si models, including 13 related to the first quarter offers described above. Third quarter of 2009 systems revenue included recognition of $5.6 million of revenue that was originally deferred in the first quarter of 2009.

Third quarter of 2009 service revenue increased to $43.9 million from $33.7 million during the third quarter of 2008, reflecting growth in the installed base of da Vinci Surgical Systems. The Company ended the third quarter of 2009 with 1,308 da Vinci Surgical Systems installed throughout the world.

Third quarter of 2009 operating income increased to $104.5 million from $85.0 million during the third quarter of 2008, reflecting growth in revenue but also included the impact of recognizing $6.3 million of revenue that was originally deferred in the first quarter of 2009. Since there was no cost deferred in association with the deferred revenue, the $6.3 million of revenue recognized had an equal impact on total revenue, operating income and pretax income. Operating results for the third quarter of 2009 also included $24.6 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense compared with $21.0 million for the third quarter of 2008.

Third quarter of 2009 net income was $64.5 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, compared with $57.6 million, or $1.44 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2008. The $6.3 million of revenue recognized in the third quarter of 2009, related to revenue deferred in the first quarter, increased third quarter 2009 net income by approximately $3.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted share.

Intuitive ended the third quarter of 2009 with cash, cash equivalents and investments of $1,024 million, up $122 million from the previous quarter.

Commenting on the announcement, Lonnie Smith, Chairman and CEO of Intuitive Surgical, said, “We are pleased with our third quarter financial results, procedure growth, and system placements. Throughout these challenging economic times, patients, surgeons and hospitals have continued to recognize the value that our products bring to surgery and surgical outcomes.”

The Company will also announce these results at a conference call today at 1:30 pm PDT. The dial-in numbers for the call are 877-909-3508 for participants located in the U.S. and 517-645-6051 for participants located outside the U.S. The passcode is ISRG and the meeting leader is Mr. Lonnie Smith. To access financial information that will be discussed on the call, please visit Intuitive Surgical’s website at www.intuitivesurgical.com.

About Intuitive’s Products

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG), headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, is the global technology leader in robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery. Intuitive Surgical develops, manufactures and markets robotic technologies designed to improve clinical outcomes and help patients return more quickly to active and productive lives. The Company’s mission is to extend the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to the broadest possible base of patients. Intuitive Surgical — Taking surgery beyond the limits of the human hand™.

About the da Vinci^® Surgical System

The da Vinci^® System is a breakthrough surgical platform designed to enable complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach. The da Vinci^® System consists of an ergonomic surgeon console or consoles, a patient-side cart with four interactive robotic arms, a high-performance vision system and proprietary EndoWrist^® instruments. Powered by state-of-the-art robotic and computer technology, the da Vinci^® System is designed to scale, filter and seamlessly translate the surgeon's hand movements into more precise movements of the EndoWrist^® instruments. The net result is an intuitive interface with breakthrough surgical capabilities. By providing surgeons with superior visualization, enhanced dexterity, greater precision and ergonomic comfort, the da Vinci Surgical System makes it possible for more surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures involving complex dissection or reconstruction. This ultimately has the potential to raise the standard of care for complex surgeries, translating into numerous potential patient benefits, including less pain, a shorter recovery and quicker return to normal daily activities.

Intuitive^®, da Vinci^®, da Vinci S^®, da Vinci^® Si™, InSite^® and EndoWrist^® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including the following: the impact of the global economic recession and tight credit market and related impact on health care spending; possible health care reform in the United States and its implications on hospital spending, reimbursement, and fees which may be levied on certain medical device companies; timing and success of product development and market acceptance of developed products; regulatory approvals, clearances and restrictions; guidelines and recommendations in the health care and patient communities; intellectual property positions and litigation; competition in the medical device industry and in the specific markets of surgery in which Intuitive Surgical operates; unanticipated manufacturing

disruptions; delays in regulatory approvals of new manufacturing facilities or the inability to meet demand for products, the results of the year end audit, and the other factors detailed from time to time under the heading “Risk Factors” in our report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as updated from time to time by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements concerning forecasts, revenue growth, procedure growth, future financial results, and statements using words such as “estimate”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.

UNAUDITED QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

	Three months ended
	September 30, 2009		June 30, 2009		September 30, 2008
Revenue:
Instruments & Accessories	$	100,822	$	95,827	$	75,941
Systems		135,459		123,519		126,326
Services		43,853		41,278		33,725
Total revenue (1)		280,134		260,624		235,992
Cost of revenue:
Products		65,336		55,542		53,517
Services		15,794		14,897		12,900
Total cost of revenue (2)		81,130		70,439		66,417
Gross profit		199,004		190,185		169,575
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative		69,863		67,276		62,692
Research and development (3)		24,650		23,369		21,851
Total operating expenses (2)		94,513		90,645		84,543
Income from operations		104,491		99,540		85,032
Interest and other income, net		4,362		5,171		4,594
Income before income taxes		108,853		104,711		89,626
Provision for income taxes		44,329		42,323		32,032
Net lncome	$	64,524	$	62,388	$	57,594
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.69	$	1.65	$	1.48
Diluted (1)	$	1.64	$	1.62	$	1.44
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic		38,083		37,897		39,015
Diluted		39,245		38,557		40,108

(1) The Company offered certain customers the opportunity to upgrade the da Vinci S Surgical Systems purchased during the first quarter of 2009 to the recently introduced da Vinci Si Surgical Systems, at a discount from the list price of the upgrade. These customers were also given the opportunity to return certain da Vinci S accessories in exchange for da Vinci Si accessories. The customers were given until June 30, 2009 to accept the offer. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had deferred $20.1 million associated with these offers.

In the second quarter of 2009, the Company recognized $13.8 million of revenue originally deferred in the first quarter and associated with offers declined, upgrades completed or accessories delivered. Excluding the $13.8 million of revenue recognized, the total revenue and diluted earnings per share during the three months ended June 30, 2009 was $246.8 million and $1.40, respectively.

In the third quarter of 2009, the Company recognized the remaining $6.3 million of revenue originally deferred in the first quarter and associated with upgrades completed or accessories delivered. Excluding the $6.3 million of revenue recognized, the total revenue and diluted earnings per share during the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $273.9 million and $1.55, respectively.

(2) Includes stock compensation expense of $3.7 million, $3.6 million, and $3.1 million in total cost of revenue and $20.9 million, $21.0 million, and $17.9 million in total operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009, and September 30, 2008, respectively.

(3) Includes amortization of purchased intellectual property of $3.6 million, $3.8 million and $2.5 million in research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009, and September 30, 2008, respectively.

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.

UNAUDITED NINE MONTHS ENDED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2009		2008
Revenue:
Instruments & Accessories	$	276,177	$	211,414
Systems		328,500		341,584
Services		124,453		90,376
Total revenue		729,130		643,374
Cost of revenue:
Products		166,144		148,405
Services		45,093		39,532
Total cost of revenue (1)		211,237		187,937
Gross profit		517,893		455,437
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative		199,505		168,830
Research and development (2)		69,331		58,509
Total operating expenses (1)		268,836		227,339
Income from operations		249,057		228,098
Interest and other income, net		14,549		18,843
Income before income taxes		263,606		246,941
Provision for income taxes		108,552		93,384
Net lncome	$	155,054	$	153,557
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	4.05	$	3.96
Diluted (1)	$	3.97	$	3.84
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic		38,287		38,790
Diluted		39,046		39,978

(1) Includes stock compensation expense of $10.6 million and $8.3 million in total cost of revenue and $61.4 million and $47.0 million in total operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(2) Includes amortization of purchased intellectual property of $10.8 million and $5.8 million in research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS)

	9/30/2009		6/30/2009		12/31/2008
Cash, cash equivalents, and investments	$	1,023,984	$	902,061	$	901,873
Accounts receivable, net		186,530		175,216		170,107
Inventory		56,646		59,247		63,460
Property and equipment, net		122,865		122,584		117,021
Goodwill		110,740		110,740		110,740
Deferred tax assets		60,257		53,423		45,357
Other assets		76,789		78,011		66,066
Total assets	$	1,637,811	$	1,501,282	$	1,474,624
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	$	155,924	$	140,589	$	128,606
Deferred revenue		91,625		89,509		79,252
Total liabilities		247,549		230,098		207,858
Stockholders’ equity		1,390,262		1,271,184		1,266,766
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,637,811	$	1,501,282	$	1,474,624