Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Benefit Plans	NOTE 11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS The Company sponsors various retirement plans for its eligible U.S. and non-U.S. employees. For employees in the U.S., the Company maintains the Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”). As allowed under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Plan provides tax-deferred salary contributions for eligible U.S. employees. The Plan allows employees to contribute up to 75% of their annual compensation to the Plan on a pretax and after-tax basis. Employee contributions are limited to a maximum annual amount as set periodically by the Internal Revenue Code. Employer matching contributions are made solely at the Company’s discretion. No employer matching contributions were made to the Plan during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010.

Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

NOTE 11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company sponsors various retirement plans for its eligible U.S. and non-U.S. employees. For employees in the U.S., the Company maintains the Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”). As allowed under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Plan provides tax-deferred salary contributions for eligible U.S. employees. The Plan allows employees to contribute up to 75% of their annual compensation to the Plan on a pretax and after-tax basis. Employee contributions are limited to a maximum annual amount as set periodically by the Internal Revenue Code. Employer matching contributions are made solely at the Company’s discretion. No employer matching contributions were made to the Plan during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010.