INTUITIVE SURGICAL INC

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrantx

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant¨

Check the appropriate box:

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

NOTICE OF THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To the stockholders of Intuitive Surgical, Inc.:

We are pleased to provide notice of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. that will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The Annual Meeting will be held both in person and virtually online. You will be able to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting in person at 1020 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, California 94086, or online by visiting and following the instructions posted atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ISRG2024, where you will be able to listen to the meeting live, submit questions, and vote.

Items of Business and Board Voting Recommendations

And any other business that is properly brought before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Record Date

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on February 29, 2024, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Proxy Materials

We are pleased to continue to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet instead of mailing printed documents. We believe that this process allows us to provide information regarding the Annual Meeting in a more timely manner, while reducing the environmental impact and the cost of our Annual Meeting. The Notice will be mailed to stockholders starting on or about March 12, 2024, and contains instructions on how to access our proxy materials over the Internet. The Notice also contains instructions on how to request a copy of our proxy materials, including the attached Proxy Statement, our 2023 Annual Report, and a form of proxy card or voting instruction card.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting In Person

To attend and participate in the Annual Meeting in person, you will need to present valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and proof of stock ownership as of the record date. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker, or other holder of record, you should bring your bank or brokerage statement evidencing your beneficial ownership of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stock to gain admission to the meeting. We reserve the right to deny admittance to anyone who cannot show valid identification or sufficient proof of share ownership as of February 29, 2024. If you will attend the Annual Meeting in person, please check in at the reception desk at 1020 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, California 94086 by 2:45 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Admission to the Annual Meeting in person will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Late arrivals will not be permitted to attend the Annual Meeting in

person. The use of cell phones, smartphones, recording and photographic equipment, and/or computers is not permitted in the meeting rooms at the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is important! Whether or not you are able to attend the Annual Meeting in person or virtually online, it is important that your shares be represented. Please vote as soon as possible.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, thank you for your participation in this important annual process.

By order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Gary S. Guthart, Ph.D.

Gary S. Guthart, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Sunnyvale, California

March 8, 2024

Please note that attendance at the Annual Meeting, whether in person or virtually online, will be limited to stockholders as of the record date, or their authorized representatives, and guests of Intuitive.