Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation	*Basis of Presentation* In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ("financial statements") of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have been prepared on a consistent basis with the December 31, 2010 audited Consolidated Financial Statements and include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the information set forth herein. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and, therefore, omit certain information and footnote disclosure necessary to present the statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which was filed on February 1, 2011. The results of operations for the first six months of fiscal 2011 are not indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year or any future periods.
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles	*New Accounting Standards Recently Adopted* No new accounting standards have been adopted since the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 was filed. *Recent Accounting Pronouncements* In June 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to the presentation of comprehensive income that increases comparability between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. This guidance eliminates the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity and instead requires presenting in one continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance is effective for the Company's interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2012. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, as it only requires a change in the format of presentation.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ("financial statements") of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have been prepared on a consistent basis with the December 31, 2010 audited Consolidated Financial Statements and include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the information set forth herein. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and, therefore, omit certain information and footnote disclosure necessary to present the statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which was filed on February 1, 2011. The results of operations for the first six months of fiscal 2011 are not indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year or any future periods.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

New Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

No new accounting standards have been adopted since the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 was filed.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to the presentation of comprehensive income that increases comparability between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. This guidance eliminates the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity and instead requires presenting in one continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance is effective for the Company's interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2012. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, as it only requires a change in the format of presentation.