Quarterlytics / Healthcare / Medical - Devices / Intuitive Surgical

Intuitive Surgical

isrg · NASDAQ Healthcare
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Industry Medical - Devices
Employees 5001-10,000
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FY2023 Annual Report · Intuitive Surgical
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Annual Report
2023

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.  intuitive.com

Dear Owner, 

At Intuitive, we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. 
Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of 
physicians to heal without constraints. We envision a future of care that is less 
invasive and profoundly better, where diseases are identified early and treated 
quickly so patients can get back to what matters most.

Looking to the future, our customers recognize the importance of high-quality 
minimally invasive care and acute interventions, and Intuitive is well positioned 
to play a key role in bringing substantive improvements to patients and to 
healthcare environments for years to come.

A look back at 2023
The past year was a good one for Intuitive, with use of our platforms growing 
nicely, hospitals building additional system capacity to support that growth,  
and increased average utilization per system per year for each of our platforms.

Here are a few highlights:

•  In 2023, our customers used our products in more than 2.2 million procedures. 

Total experience on da Vinci platforms is now over 14 million procedures.  
This represents 22% growth in 2023.

•  On the capital front, we placed 1,313 da Vinci multiport systems in 2023.  

Ion placements were 213, and da Vinci SP placements were 57 for the year. 

•  At year end, our total installed base of systems was more than 9,100, with 

da Vinci multiport at over 8,400, Ion at over 530, and da Vinci SP at over 170.

•  Our 2023 revenue was approximately $7.12 billion, with 14% growth from 2022. 
Pro forma gross margin was 68.1% for 2023, compared with 69.2% for 2022. 
Recurring revenue accounted for 83% of our total revenues.

•  We made solid strides toward our goal to help more people in more countries. 

Our performance in Europe and Japan was healthy, driven by balanced 
regional teams helping to broaden customer adoption beyond urology.

•  At year end, we had more than 13,000 full-time employees—roughly 

2,000 of whom were engaged in research and development, over 5,000 
in manufacturing and operations, over 4,000 in commercial and service 
operations, with the balance in administrative activities. Our employees are 
based in 30 countries around the world.

Intuitive Annual Report 2023Revenue trend
(USD, in millions)

$8,000

$7,000

$6,000

$5,000

$4,000

$3,000

$2,000

$1,000

83%

79%

75%

71%

71%

71%

72%

77%

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Recurring

Nonrecurring

Source: Intuitive 2023 earnings

13%–16%
growth

22%
growth

Worldwide procedure trend

2,500,000

2,250,000

2,000,000

1,750,000

1,500,000

1,250,000

1,000,000

750,000

500,000

250,000

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Urology

Gynecology

General Surgery

Other

2024
guidance

Source: Intuitive 2023 earnings

Every year brings challenges. In 2023:
•  Product margins were challenged because of higher-than-expected costs, 

primarily for our newer platforms.

•  Throughout the year, there was considerable public and industry focus  

on GLP-1 medications to treat obesity. Robotic-assisted bariatric procedures 
grew year-over-year. However, we saw a moderation of growth throughout 
2023, likely the result of patient interest in these medications as a  
primary treatment.

•  In China, our customers experienced uncertainty related to a national 
campaign against healthcare corruption, as well as regional pricing  
pressures. These pressures and the continued emergence of local surgical 
robotics companies in China are likely to be a feature of 2024 as well.

Intuitive Annual Report 2023The problems to solve
We see a continued and significant opportunity to help solve the top surgical and 
interventional challenges faced by healthcare systems around the world. For the 
past several years, we have aligned ourselves around our customers’ framework 
of the Quadruple Aim: better outcomes, better patient experiences, better care 
team experiences, and lower total cost-to-treat per patient episode. Our hospital 
customers report the following priorities as they look to 2024 and 2025:

•  Workforce challenges remain a concern. There is a staggering shortage 

of trained healthcare workers in many global economies—a shortage that 
continues to increase. We provide technology that can help reduce the total 
labor intensity required to manage patients through minimally invasive 
surgery. Said simply, higher quality care using our platforms can require  
fewer human resources across the care episode.

•  Financial constraints continue to challenge hospitals. We provide customized 
hospital analytics that demonstrate healthy returns on investments made by 
our customers operating well run robotics programs. Our customers, often 
with our help, analyze their clinical and economic performance using real-
world data to understand this benefit. As a result, they continue to standardize 
on Intuitive platforms.

Customer Standardization Trends

IDNs globally with  
20+ dV systems

Hospitals globally with  
7+ dV systems

~22% 
YoY 2023 Q4

~48% 
YoY 2023 Q4

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

•  Behavioral health and addiction are an increasing challenge for hospitals  

and care teams. With minimally invasive surgery, patients may have shorter 
stays and easier recovery, and surgeons report that they are able to reduce  
or avoid prescribing opioids.

•  Patient safety and quality outcomes remain foundational goals for all 

healthcare providers. Yet, there is significant variability in patient outcomes 
and the skill and performance of care teams. Outstanding training and  
strong program analytics are core to our mission. In total, more than 76,000 
surgeons and 13,000 care teams have been trained on our technology to help 
patients. In 2023, more than 15,000 surgeons and nearly 4,000 care teams 
were trained. In addition, with our footprint of 95 training centers worldwide, 
we can offer learning and education in close proximity to our customers.

Phase 1 

Adopt 

Phase 2

Operationalize 

Phase 3

Standardize 

Intuitive Annual Report 2023Managing our operations for global scale
Our customers use our platforms to perform millions of procedures each year, 
and continuity of supply for high-quality instruments, accessories, and systems 
is required to meet their needs. Meeting customer demand at a global scale is 
requiring a period of increased capital investment in our infrastructure, which 
started in 2022 and will persist through 2025. In 2024, our capital investments  
will provide for new manufacturing facilities and cross-functional centers, along 
with investments in manufacturing automation and business productivity tools.

Sunnyvale, CA

Mexicali, MX

Worchester, MA

Durham, NC

Peachtree Corners, GA

Biebertal, GER

Freiburg, GER

Parvomay, BUL

Shanghai, CH

We also continue to invest in expanding the indications for our newer platforms 
globally. For example, we have new indications for da Vinci SP undergoing 
regulatory review in the U.S. and are enrolling in a new clinical trial for nipple-
sparing mastectomy. Outside of the U.S., we received clearance for da Vinci SP 
in Europe, and for Ion we will continue to support market development activities 
to support commercial expansion in Europe. In China, we are also pursuing 
regulatory clearance for Ion. 

Intuitive Annual Report 2023Our next-generation multiport system: da Vinci 5
In our January 2024 earnings call, we shared publicly that we had submitted 
to the FDA our 510k application for our next-generation multiport platform, 
da Vinci 5. With this product, as with all new products and platforms, our team 
keeps the following four design principles at the forefront of their work.

•  We look for opportunities to bring better minimally invasive care  

to more patients.

•  We work to improve the performance of our platforms and  

existing procedures. 

•  We seek to improve care team satisfaction through product utility, 

dependability, and usability improvements. 

•  We strive to help lower the total cost-to-treat per patient episode.

Once cleared by the FDA, we believe da Vinci 5 will fulfill our design priorities 
through hundreds of design changes that respond to surgeon and care team 
input. The da Vinci 5 system will join our existing robotic surgical system  
portfolio alongside multiport systems da Vinci X and Xi, and single-port system 
da Vinci SP, offering surgeons and hospitals their choice of highly capable and 
proven solutions from Intuitive.

We are planning a phased launch over several quarters following FDA clearance, 
giving us time to mature our supply and manufacturing processes for the new 
system. It has taken a lot of hard work to get here, and the team has done an 
outstanding job.

Intuitive Annual Report 2023Customer focus and culture
We believe that outstanding companies focus relentlessly on meeting their 
customers’ needs while building a high-performance team with a strong culture.

Our teams continue to deliver their best to meet customer demand—engaging 
customers at their hospitals, providing outstanding training and consulting 
services, driving quality and availability improvements, running clinical trials,  
and readying new products and services for the market. We use blinded 
customer assessment tools to evaluate our customers’ perceptions of our 
products, services, staff, and culture. In 2023, we continued to see strength  
in our Net Promoter Scores. 

We have worked hard to build a mission-oriented and inclusive culture for our 
growing workforce. We do so because we know that our future depends on  
each and every employee. We are purposeful with our workforce strategy.  
As we grow, we strive to hire high-performing team members who embody  
our founding principles and are committed to our mission and vision. 

We also work to be responsible stewards of the environment, our communities, 
and our governance values. In 2023, we continued to progress in these areas.  
For details, please see our ESG report.

In closing, thank you
Thank you for putting your trust in our team and for your continued support 
as we work to transform minimally invasive care for the better. We believe the 
opportunities ahead are far greater than the road traveled so far.

Gary Guthart, PhD
Chief Executive Officer

Intuitive Annual Report 2023UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K 

(MARK ONE)

☒

☐

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to                 
Commission file number 000-30713

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

77-0416458
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1020 Kifer Road
Sunnyvale, California 94086
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(408) 523-2100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

Trading Symbol(s)
ISRG

Name of each exchange on which registered
The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate  by  check  mark  if  the  registrant  is  a  well-known  seasoned  issuer,  as  defined  in  Rule  405  of  the  Securities 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate  by  check  mark  if  the  registrant  is  not  required  to  file  reports  pursuant  to  Section  13  or  Section  15(d)  of  the 

Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to 
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  has  submitted  electronically  every  Interactive  Data  File  required  to  be 
submitted  pursuant  to  Rule  405  of  Regulation  S-T  (§  232.405  of  this  chapter)  during  the  preceding  12  months  (or  for  such 
shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

 
 
 
 
Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  is  a  large  accelerated  filer,  an  accelerated  filer,  a  non-accelerated  filer,  a 
smaller  reporting  company,  or  emerging  growth  company.  See  definition  of  “large  accelerated  filer,”  “accelerated  filer,” 
“smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer

☒

☐

Accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

☐

☐

☐

If  an  emerging  growth  company,  indicate  by  check  mark  if  the  registrant  has  elected  not  to  use  the  extended  transition 
period  for  complying  with  any  new  or  revised  financial  accounting  standards  provided  pursuant  to  Section  13(a)  of  the 
Exchange Act.    ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the 
effectiveness  of  its  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  under  Section  404(b)  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  (15  U.S.C. 
7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.    ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of 

the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.    ☐

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  any  of  those  error  corrections  are  restatements  that  required  a  recovery  analysis  of 
incentive-based  compensation  received  by  any  of  the  registrant’s  executive  officers  during  the  relevant  recovery  period 
pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).    ☐

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  is  a  shell  company  (as  defined  in  Rule  12b-2  of  the  Exchange 

Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2023, based 
upon the closing price of Common Stock on such date as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, was approximately 
$119.6 billion. Shares of voting stock held by each officer and director have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed 
to be affiliates. This assumption regarding affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of January 25, 2024, was 352,325,863.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part  III  incorporates  information  by  reference  to  the  definitive  proxy  statement  for  the  Company’s  Annual  Meeting  of 
Stockholders  to  be  held  on  or  about  April  25,  2024,  to  be  filed  within  120  days  of  the  registrant’s  fiscal  year  ended 
December 31, 2023.

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.

INDEX

PART I

Item 1.

Business

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 1C.

Cybersecurity

Item 2.

Item 3.

Item 4.

PART II

Item 5.

Item 6.

Item 7.

Properties

Legal Proceedings

Mine Safety Disclosures

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of 
Equity Securities

[RESERVED]

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8.

Item 9.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.

Other Information

Item 9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

SIGNATURES

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3

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This  report  contains  “forward-looking  statements”  within  the  meaning  of  Section  27A  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as 
amended,  and  Section  21E  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  “Exchange  Act”).  Forward-looking 
statements relate to expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts. Statements using words such as “estimates,” 
“projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “targeted,” and 
similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, 
but  are  not  limited  to,  statements  related  to  future  results  of  operations,  future  financial  condition,  the  expected  impacts  of 
COVID-19 on our business, financial condition, and results of operations, our financing plans and future capital requirements, 
our potential tax assets or liabilities, and statements based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about 
the economies and markets in which we operate and our beliefs and assumptions regarding these economies and markets. These 
forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the 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 be considered in light of various important factors, including, but not limited to, the 
following: the overall macroeconomic environment, which may impact customer spending and our costs, including the levels of 
inflation  and  interest  rates;  the  conflict  in  Ukraine;  the  conflict  between  Israel  and  Hamas;  disruption  to  our  supply  chain, 
including increased difficulties in obtaining a sufficient supply of materials in the semiconductor and other markets; curtailed or 
delayed capital spending by hospitals; the impact of global and regional economic and credit market conditions on healthcare 
spending;  the  risk  that  COVID-19  could  lead  to  material  delays  and  cancellations  of,  or  reduced  demand  for,  procedures; 
closures  of  our  facilities;  delays  in  surgeon  training;  delays  in  gathering  clinical  evidence;  delays  in  obtaining  new  product 
approvals,  clearances,  or  certifications  from  the  U.S.  Food  and  Drug  Administration  (“FDA”),  comparable  regulatory 
authorities, or notified bodies; diversion of resources to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks; the risk of our inability to comply 
with complex FDA and other regulations, which may result in significant enforcement actions; regulatory approvals, clearances, 
certifications, and restrictions or any dispute that may occur with any regulatory body; guidelines and recommendations in the 
healthcare  and  patient  communities;  healthcare  reform  legislation  in  the  U.S.  and  its  impact  on  hospital  spending, 
reimbursement,  and  fees  levied  on  certain  medical  device  revenues;  changes  in  hospital  admissions  and  actions  by  payers  to 
limit  or  manage  surgical  procedures;  the  timing  and  success  of  product  development  and  market  acceptance  of  developed 
products;  the  results  of  any  collaborations,  in-licensing  arrangements,  joint  ventures,  strategic  alliances,  or  partnerships, 
including the joint venture with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd.; our completion of and ability to successfully 
integrate  acquisitions;  procedure  counts;  intellectual  property  positions  and  litigation;  competition  in  the  medical  device 
industry  and  in  the  specific  markets  of  surgery  in  which  we  operate;  risks  associated  with  our  operations  and  any  expansion 
outside of the United States; unanticipated manufacturing disruptions or the inability to meet demand for products; our reliance 
on sole- and single-sourced suppliers; the results of legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, including, but 
not limited to, product liability claims; adverse publicity regarding us and the safety of our products and adequacy of training; 
the  impact  of  changes  to  tax  legislation,  guidance,  and  interpretations;  changes  in  tariffs,  trade  barriers,  and  regulatory 
requirements; and other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.” Readers are cautioned 
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report and which are 
based  on  current  expectations  and  are  subject  to  risks,  uncertainties,  and  assumptions  that  are  difficult  to  predict.  Our  actual 
results  may  differ  materially  and  adversely  from  those  expressed  in  any  forward-looking  statement,  and  we  undertake  no 
obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Additional 
risks are described throughout this report, particularly in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and include, but are not limited to, 
those summarized on the following pages.

4

RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS

•

Our markets are highly competitive, and customers may choose to purchase our competitors’ products or services or 
may not accept robotic-assisted medical procedures, which could result in reduced revenue and loss of market share.

• Macroeconomic conditions could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

• We are subject to a variety of risks due to our operations outside of the U.S.

• We  are  subject  to  litigation,  investigations,  and  other  legal  proceedings  relating  to  our  products,  customers, 
competitors,  and  government  regulators  that  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  financial  condition,  divert 
management’s attention, and harm our business.

•

•

Our reliance on sole- and single-sourced suppliers and ability to purchase at acceptable prices a sufficient supply of 
materials could harm our ability to meet product demand in a timely manner or within budget.

New  product  developments  and  introductions  may  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  or  results  of 
operations.

• We may encounter manufacturing problems or delays that could result in lost revenue.

• We expect gross profit margins to vary over time, and changes in our gross profit margins could adversely affect our 

business, financial condition, or results of operations.

•

•

•

If our products do not achieve and maintain market acceptance, we will not be able to generate the revenue necessary 
to support our business.

If hospitals are unable to obtain coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products, if reimbursement is 
insufficient to cover the costs of purchasing our products, or if limitations are imposed by governments on the amount 
hospitals can charge for certain procedures, we may be unable to generate sufficient sales to support our business.

If  our  products  contain  defects  or  encounter  performance  problems,  we  may  have  to  recall  our  products  and  our 
reputation may suffer.

• We utilize distributors for a portion of our sales and service of our products in certain countries, which subjects us to a 

number of risks that could harm our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

•

Public  health  crises  or  epidemic  diseases,  or  the  perception  of  their  effects,  could  materially  adversely  affect  our 
business, financial condition, or results of operations.

• We  could  be  subject  to  significant,  uninsured  losses,  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our  business, 

financial condition, or results of operations.

•

•

•

Information  technology  system  failures,  cyberattacks,  or  deficiencies  in  our  cybersecurity  could  harm  our  business, 
customer relations, financial condition, or results of operations.

The  failure  to  attract  and  retain  key  personnel  could  harm  our  ability  to  compete,  and  changes  in  our  existing  labor 
relationships could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Negative  publicity,  whether  accurate  or  inaccurate,  concerning  our  products  or  our  company  could  reduce  market 
acceptance of our products and could result in decreased product demand and reduced revenues.

• We experience long and variable capital sales cycles and seasonality in our business, which may cause fluctuations in 

our financial results.

• We offer alternative capital acquisition approaches and, as a result, we are exposed to the credit risk of some of our 

customers and the risk of losses of revenue, which could result in material losses.

•

•

•

•

Third parties may offer to sell to our customers remanufactured and/or unauthorized instruments and accessories or to 
service our systems, which could negatively impact safety, our financial results, and our reputation.

Our  business  is  subject  to  complex  and  evolving  laws  and  regulations  regarding  privacy,  data  protection,  and  other 
matters relating to information collection.

Ongoing  and  potential  future  global  conflicts  could  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  or  results  of 
operations.

Incorporating artificial intelligence into our products, services, and operations may result in legal and regulatory risks 
or reputational harm or have other adverse consequences to our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

• We may incur losses associated with currency fluctuations and may not be able to effectively hedge our exposure.
•

If  we  do  not  successfully  manage  our  collaboration,  licensing,  joint  venture,  strategic  alliance,  or  partnership 
arrangements with third parties, we may not realize the expected benefits from such arrangements, which may have a 
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
If we fail to successfully acquire or integrate new businesses, products, and technology, we may not realize expected 
benefits, or our business may be harmed.

•

5

• We are exposed to credit risk and fluctuations in the market value of our investments.

•

•

Changes in our effective tax rate may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Disruptions at the FDA and other government agencies or notified bodies could hinder their ability to hire, retain, or 
deploy personnel, or otherwise prevent products from being developed, cleared, certified, approved, or commercialized 
in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

• We are subject to risks associated with real estate construction and development.

•

•

Climate change, natural disasters, or other events beyond our control could disrupt our business, financial condition, or 
results of operations.

Continued consolidation in the healthcare industry could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or 
results of operations.

• We use estimates, make judgments, and apply certain methods in determining our financial results and in measuring 
the  progress  of  our  business.  As  these  estimates,  judgments,  and  methods  change,  our  results  of  operations  and  our 
assessment of the progress of our business could vary.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

•

•

•

•

•

•

Complying with FDA and foreign regulations is a complex process, and our failure to fully comply could subject us to 
significant enforcement actions.

Our  products  are  subject  to  a  lengthy  and  uncertain  domestic  regulatory  review  process.  If  we  do  not  obtain  and 
maintain the necessary domestic regulatory authorizations, we will not be able to sell our products in the U.S.
Our products may cause or contribute to adverse medical events or be subject to failures or malfunctions that we are 
required  to  report  to  the  FDA  and  foreign  regulatory  authorities  and,  if  we  fail  to  do  so,  we  would  be  subject  to 
sanctions that could harm our reputation, business, financial condition, or results of operations.

If  our  manufacturing  facilities  do  not  continue  to  meet  federal,  state,  or  other  manufacturing  standards,  we  may  be 
required to temporarily cease all or part of our manufacturing operations, import/export of our products, and/or recall 
some products, which would result in significant product delivery delays and lost revenue.

Our products are subject to international regulatory processes and approval or certification requirements. If we do not 
obtain and maintain the necessary international regulatory approvals or certifications, we will not be able to sell our 
products in other countries.

Changes in healthcare legislation and policy may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or 
results of operations.

• We are subject to federal, state, and foreign laws governing our business practices, which, if violated, could result in 
substantial penalties. Additionally, challenges to, or investigation into, our practices could cause adverse publicity and 
be costly to respond to and, thus, could harm our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

•

If hospitals and other surgery facilities do not continue to meet federal, state, or other regulatory standards, they may 
be required to temporarily cease all or part of their system utilization.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

•

•

•

If we are unable to fully protect and successfully defend our intellectual property from use by third parties, our ability 
to compete in the market may be harmed.

Others may be successful in asserting that our products infringe their intellectual property rights, which may cause us 
to pay substantial damages and/or enjoin us from commercializing our products.

Our products rely on licenses from third parties, which may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or 
at all. If we lose access to these technologies, our revenues could decline.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

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•

•

Our future operating results may be below securities analysts’ or investors’ expectations, which could cause our stock 
price to decline.

Our stock price has been, and will likely continue to be, volatile.

Changes to financial accounting standards may affect our reported results of operations.

The summary of material risk factors described above should be read together with the text of the full risk factors below in the 
section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and the other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our 
Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes, as well as other documents that we file with the U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission. The risks summarized above or described in full below are not the only risks that we face. Additional 
risks  and  uncertainties  not  precisely  known  to  us  or  that  we  currently  deem  to  be  immaterial  may  also  materially  adversely 
affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

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ITEM 1.  

BUSINESS

PART I

In this report, “Intuitive Surgical,” “Intuitive,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and 
its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries. Intuitive®, Intuitive Surgical®, da Vinci®, da Vinci S®, da Vinci Si®, da Vinci X®, 
da Vinci Xi®, da Vinci 5™, da Vinci SP®, EndoWrist®, Firefly®, Intuitive 3D Models™, Intuitive Hub™, Ion®, My Intuitive™, 
OnSite®, SimNow®, SureForm®, and SynchroSeal® are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Company.

Company Background

As part of Intuitive’s mission, we believe minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent 
technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. We envision a future of care that is less invasive 
and profoundly better, where diseases are identified earlier and treated quickly so patients can get back to what matters most.

Intuitive is committed to advancing minimally invasive care through a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services. 
This connected ecosystem includes systems, instruments and accessories, learning, and services connected by a digital portfolio 
that enables actionable digital insights across the care continuum and provides enhanced capabilities, intraoperative guidance, 
decision support, and a personalized learning journey, all with the goal to help improve outcomes and efficiency.

Intuitive  brings  nearly  three  decades  of  experience  and  technical  innovation  to  our  robotic-assisted  surgical  solutions. 
While  surgery  and  acute  interventions  have  improved  significantly  in  the  past  decades,  there  remains  a  significant  need  for 
better outcomes and decreased variability of these outcomes across care teams. The current healthcare environment continues to 
stress  critical  resources,  including  the  professionals  who  staff  care  teams.  At  the  same  time,  governments  strain  to  cover  the 
healthcare needs of their populations and demand lower total costs per patient to treat disease. In the face of these challenges, 
we  believe  scientific  and  technological  advances  in  biology,  computing,  imaging,  algorithms,  and  robotics  may  offer  new 
methods to solve continued and difficult problems.

We  address  our  customers’  needs  by  sharing  their  goals  reflected  in  the  Quadruple  Aim.  First,  we  focus  on  improving 
patient  outcomes  through  an  ecosystem  of  advanced  robotic  systems,  instruments  and  accessories,  progressive  technology 
learning  pathways,  and  comprehensive  support  and  program  assistance  services.  Second,  we  seek  to  improve  the  patient 
experience by minimizing disruption to lives and creating greater predictability for the treatment experience. Third, we seek to 
improve  care  team  satisfaction  by  creating  products  and  services  that  are  dependable,  smart,  and  optimized  for  the  care 
environment in which they are used. Finally, we seek to lower the total cost to treat per patient episode when compared with 
existing treatment alternatives, providing a return on investment for hospitals and healthcare systems and value for payers.

Products

Systems

Advanced  robotic  systems  provide  precise,  powerful  systems  with  high-performance  vision,  extending  the  care  team’s 
capabilities  to  enhance  minimally  invasive  care.  These  systems  include  the  da  Vinci  surgical  system,  which  was  designed  to 
enable complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach, and the Ion endoluminal system, which extends our commercial 
offerings beyond surgery into diagnostic procedures, enabling minimally invasive biopsies in the lung.

Da Vinci Surgical Systems

By  striving  to  find  less  invasive  ways  to  enter  the  body,  provide  clearer  views  of  anatomy  and  more  precise  tissue 
interactions,  and  help  hone  surgical  skills,  Intuitive  launched  its  first  da  Vinci  surgical  system  in  1999.  In  2000,  the  FDA 
cleared da Vinci for general laparoscopic surgery.

There are several models of the da Vinci surgical system: our fourth generation da Vinci X, da Vinci Xi, and da Vinci SP 
surgical systems, our third generation da Vinci Si surgical system, our second generation da Vinci S surgical system, and our 
first generation da Vinci standard surgical system. The da Vinci surgical systems are designed to enable surgeons to perform a 
wide range of surgical procedures within our targeted general surgery, urologic, gynecologic, cardiothoracic, and head and neck 
specialties.  To  date,  surgeons  have  used  the  da  Vinci  surgical  system  to  perform  dozens  of  different  types  of  surgical 
procedures.  Da  Vinci  systems  offer  surgeons  three-dimensional,  high  definition  (“3DHD”)  vision,  a  magnified  view,  and 
robotic and computer assistance. They use specialized instrumentation, including a miniaturized surgical camera (endoscope) 
and  wristed  instruments  (e.g.,  scissors,  scalpels,  and  forceps)  that  are  designed  to  help  with  precise  dissection  and 
reconstruction deep inside the body.

Our da Vinci surgical systems are comprised of the following components:

Surgeon Console.  The da Vinci surgical system allows surgeons to operate while comfortably seated at an ergonomic 
console viewing a 3DHD image of the surgical field. The surgeon’s fingers grasp instrument controls below the display 

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with the surgeon’s hands naturally positioned relative to his or her eyes. Using electronic hardware, software, algorithms, 
and mechanics, our technology translates the surgeon’s hand movements into precise and corresponding real-time micro 
movements of the da Vinci instruments positioned inside the patient. On most of our current systems (da Vinci X, da 
Vinci Xi, da Vinci SP, and da Vinci Si), a second surgeon console may be used in two ways: to provide assistance to the 
primary surgeon during surgery or to act as an active aid during surgeon-proctor training sessions. With the da Vinci X, 
da Vinci Xi, da Vinci SP, and da Vinci Si, a surgeon sitting at a second console can view the same surgery as the primary 
surgeon and can be passed control of some or all of the da Vinci instruments during the surgery. In addition, surgeons 
can  control  3D  virtual  pointers  to  augment  the  dual-surgeon  experience.  The  da  Vinci  surgical  system  is  designed  to 
allow surgeons to operate while seated, which may be clinically advantageous because of reduced surgeon fatigue. The 
da  Vinci  surgical  system’s  design  provides  natural  hand-eye  alignment  at  the  surgeon  console.  Because  the  da  Vinci 
surgical system’s robotic arms hold the camera and instruments steady, there is less surgeon and assistant fatigue.

Patient-Side Cart.  The patient-side cart holds electromechanical arms that manipulate the instruments inside the patient. 
For our da Vinci Xi, da Vinci X, and da Vinci Si surgical systems, up to four arms attached to the cart can be positioned, 
as appropriate, and then locked into place. At least two arms hold surgical instruments, one representing the surgeon’s 
left hand and one representing the surgeon’s right hand. A third arm positions the endoscope, allowing the surgeon to 
easily move, zoom, and rotate the field of vision. A fourth instrument arm extends surgical capabilities by enabling the 
surgeon to add a third instrument to perform additional tasks. The fourth instrument arm is a standard, integrated feature 
on  the  da  Vinci  X,  da  Vinci  Xi,  and  da  Vinci  Si  surgical  systems.  Our  da  Vinci  single-port  (“SP”)  surgical  system 
includes a single arm with three multi-jointed, wristed instruments and the first da Vinci fully wristed, 3DHD camera. 
The instruments and the camera all emerge through a single cannula and are triangulated around the target anatomy to 
avoid external instrument collisions that can occur in narrow surgical workspaces.

3DHD Vision System.  Our vision system includes a 3DHD endoscope with two independent vision channels linked to 
two separate color monitors through sophisticated image processing electronics and software. The resulting 3DHD image 
has high resolution, high contrast, low flicker, and low cross fading. A digital zoom feature in the 3DHD vision system 
allows  surgeons  to  magnify  the  surgical  field  of  view  without  adjusting  the  endoscope  position  and,  thereby,  reduces 
interference between the endoscope and instruments. The 3DHD vision system is a standard, integrated feature on the da 
Vinci X, da Vinci Xi, da Vinci SP, da Vinci Si, and da Vinci S surgical systems.

Firefly Fluorescence Imaging (“Firefly”).  Firefly is a standard feature of the da Vinci X, da Vinci Xi, and da Vinci SP 
surgical systems and is available as an upgrade on our da Vinci Si surgical system. This imaging capability combines an 
injectable  fluorescent  dye  with  a  specialized  da  Vinci  camera  head,  endoscope,  and  laser-based  illuminator  to  allow 
surgeons  to  identify  vasculature,  tissue  perfusion,  or  biliary  ducts  in  three  dimensions  beneath  tissue  surfaces  in  real-
time. The most common procedural categories for the use of Firefly are urology, gynecology, and general surgery.

Da Vinci Xi Integrated Table Motion.  Integrated Table Motion coordinates the movements of the da Vinci robotic arms 
with an advanced operating room (“OR”) table, the TS 7000dV OR Table sold by HillromTM, to enable managing the 
patient’s  position  in  real-time  while  the  da  Vinci  robotic  arms  remain  docked.  This  gives  OR  teams  the  capability  to 
improve  the  positioning  of  the  operating  table  during  da  Vinci  surgical  system  procedures.  Integrated  Table  Motion 
enables  the  patient  to  be  dynamically  positioned  during  the  procedure.  It  enables  surgeons  to  extend  reach,  facilitate 
access,  and  choose  the  angle  of  approach  to  target  anatomy,  as  well  as  reposition  the  table  during  the  procedure  to 
enhance anesthesiologists’ management of the patient.

Ion Endoluminal System

In 2019, the FDA cleared our Ion endoluminal system, which is a flexible, robotic-assisted, catheter-based platform that 
utilizes instruments and accessories for which the first cleared indication is minimally invasive biopsies in the lung. Our Ion 
system extends our commercial offering beyond surgery into diagnostic, endoluminal procedures. The system features an ultra-
thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that can articulate 180 degrees in all directions and allows navigation far into the peripheral 
lung and provides the stability necessary for precision in a biopsy. Many suspicious lesions found in the lung may be small and 
difficult to access, which can make diagnosis challenging, and Ion helps physicians obtain tissue samples from deep within the 
lung, which could help enable earlier diagnosis.

Surgical Instruments and Accessories

We offer a comprehensive suite of stapling, energy, and core instrumentation for our multi-port da Vinci surgical systems. 
Our technology is designed to transform the surgeon’s natural hand movements outside of the body into corresponding micro-
movements inside the patient’s body and suture with precision, just as they can in open surgery. With our technology, a surgeon 
can  also  use  “motion  scaling,”  a  feature  that  translates,  for  example,  a  three-millimeter  hand  movement  outside  the  patient’s 
body into a one-millimeter instrument movement in the surgical field inside the patient’s body. Motion scaling is designed to 
allow precision and control for delicate tasks. In addition, our technology filters the tremor inherent in a surgeon’s hands.

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Da  Vinci  Instruments.    Most  of  the  various  instruments  that  we  manufacture  incorporate  wristed  joints  for  natural 
dexterity and tips customized for various surgical procedures. Various da Vinci instrument tips include forceps, scissors, 
electrocautery  tools,  scalpels,  and  other  surgical  tools  that  are  familiar  to  the  surgeon  from  open  surgery  and 
conventional minimally invasive surgery (“MIS”). A variety of instruments may be selected and used interchangeably 
during a surgery. Most instruments are sterilizable at the hospital, while others are provided sterile, and most are reusable 
for a defined number of procedures. A programmed memory chip inside each instrument performs several functions that 
help determine how the da Vinci system and instruments work together. In addition, the chip generally will not allow the 
instrument  to  be  used  for  more  than  the  prescribed  number  of  procedures  to  help  ensure  that  its  performance  meets 
specifications during each procedure.

In 2020, we announced our “Extended Use Program,” which consists of select da Vinci Xi and da Vinci X instruments 
possessing  12  to  18  uses  (“Extended  Use  Instruments”)  compared  to  the  previous  10  uses.  These  Extended  Use 
Instruments  represent  some  of  our  higher  volume  instruments  but  exclude  stapling,  monopolar,  and  advanced  energy 
instruments. Instruments included in the program are used across a number of da Vinci surgeries. Their increased uses 
are  the  result  of  continuous,  significant  investments  in  the  design  and  production  capabilities  of  our  instruments, 
resulting in improved quality and durability. Extended Use Instruments were introduced in the U.S. and Europe in the 
fourth quarter of 2020 and were launched in most other countries around the world during the first half of 2021, except 
China,  where  they  were  launched  in  the  second  half  of  2023.  We  believe  that,  as  of  the  end  of  2021,  in  the  U.S.  and 
Europe,  full  cutover  to  Extended  Use  Instruments  had  occurred,  as  customers  had  substantially  utilized  all  of  their 
remaining 10 use instruments.

Da  Vinci  Stapling.    The  EndoWrist  and  SureForm  Staplers  are  wristed,  stapling  instruments  intended  for  resection, 
transection, and creation of anastomoses. These instruments enable surgeons to precisely position and fire the stapler. We 
have  various  clearances  for  five  staplers  that  can  be  used  with  the  da  Vinci  X  and  da  Vinci  Xi  surgical  systems:  the 
EndoWrist  30  and  45  staplers  and  the  SureForm  30,  45,  and  60  staplers,  where  the  numeric  designation  indicates  the 
length of the staple line. The EndoWrist 30 stapler is intended to deliver particular utility with fine tissue interaction in 
lobectomy  and  other  thoracic  procedures.  The  EndoWrist  45  stapler  is  used  in  general  surgery,  gynecologic,  thoracic, 
and  urologic  procedures.  The  SureForm  30,  45,  and  60  staplers  are  single-use,  fully  wristed,  stapling  instruments 
intended to be used in general surgery, thoracic, gynecologic, urologic, and pediatric surgery procedures. The SureForm 
30 stapler may deliver particular utility in thoracic procedures. The SureForm 45 stapler may receive particular use in 
thoracic  and  colorectal  procedures  where  maneuverability  and  visualization  are  limited.  The  SureForm  60  stapler  is 
intended to deliver particular value in bariatric procedures. We also have various clearances for five stapler reloads: gray 
(2.0 mm), white (2.5 mm), blue (3.5 mm), green (4.3 mm), and black (4.6 mm). Not all reloads are available for use on 
all staplers. Not all staplers or reloads are available in all countries.

Da  Vinci  Energy.    Vessel  Sealer  Extend  is  a  single-use,  fully  wristed,  advanced  bipolar  instrument  that  is  compatible 
with our fourth-generation multi-port surgical systems. Vessel Sealer Extend is also compatible with certain third-party 
electrosurgical generators. It is intended for grasping and blunt dissection of tissue, bipolar coagulation, and mechanical 
transection of vessels up to 7 mm in diameter and tissue bundles that fit in the jaws of the instrument. This instrument 
enables  surgeons  to  control  vessel  sealing,  while  providing  the  benefits  of  robotic-assisted  surgery,  and  is  designed  to 
enhance surgical efficiency and autonomy in a variety of general surgery and gynecologic procedures.

The  E-100  generator  is  Intuitive’s  first  generator  and  is  offered  as  an  upgrade  to  power  our  da  Vinci  Vessel  Sealer 
Extend and SynchroSeal instruments. SynchroSeal enables a surgeon to perform rapid, one-step sealing and transection 
with a single pedal press. SynchroSeal uses advanced bipolar energy from its raised cut electrode to transect tissue and 
then cool down quickly.

Accessory  Products.    We  sell  various  accessory  products,  which  are  used  in  conjunction  with  the  da  Vinci  surgical 
systems  as  surgical  procedures  are  performed.  Accessory  products  include  sterile  drapes  used  to  help  ensure  a  sterile 
field  during  surgery,  vision  products,  such  as  replacement  3D  stereo  endoscopes,  camera  heads,  and  light  guides,  and 
other items that facilitate use of the da Vinci surgical systems.

Learning

Intuitive provides a progressive learning journey to support the use of our technology. These training pathways leverage 
both learning engagements and learning technologies. Learning engagement touchpoints vary by specific pathway, skill level, 
and  interest,  while  learning  technologies  enable  and  provide  training  directly  to  the  customer.  The  portfolio  of  learning 
offerings includes role-specific training pathways, learning engagements, and learning technology.

Training  Pathways.    Intuitive’s  training  pathways  provide  a  systematic  learning  journey  that  helps  customers  build 
technical  proficiency.  There  are  pathways  for  surgeons  and  physicians,  residents  and  fellows,  OR  care  teams,  patient  side 
assists, and robotic coordinators, as well as recommendations for executives.

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Learning Engagements.  Intuitive learning engagements are touchpoints that support customers throughout their learning 
journeys.  They  vary  by  pathway,  skill  level,  and  focus  area.  Engagements  include  case  observations,  online  education,  in-
service  training,  simulation/skills  training,  OR  care  team  training,  technology  training,  reprocessing  training,  proctoring, 
advanced training, and curriculum development support. Many of these programs take place at Intuitive training centers and are 
taught by experienced Intuitive staff, while our advanced courses are taught by surgeon and physician instructors.

Learning Technology.  Learning technologies are designed to help customers access training. Enabling technology helps 
bring innovative offerings to the customer. Intuitive’s enabling technologies include Telepresence and the Procedure Analytics 
Platform.  Learning  technology  solutions  include  Intuitive  Learning,  SimNow,  customized  training  models,  remote  case 
observations, and remote proctoring. Two of the technology solutions most often used by customers are Intuitive Learning and 
SimNow.

Intuitive  Learning.    Intuitive  Learning  enables  customers  to  complete  technology  and  procedure  education,  while  also 
being  able  to  view,  assign,  and  track  technology  and  simulation  learning.  Intuitive  Learning’s  user  roles  include 
surgeons/physicians,  residents/fellows,  care  teams,  patient  side  assists,  robotic  coordinators,  and  sterile  reprocessing 
staff.

SimNow.  Our cloud-enabled SimNow simulation platform is a practice tool that gives a user the opportunity to practice 
their skills and gain familiarity with the surgeon console controls and supports the user’s progressive learning pathway. 
SimNow  incorporates  3D,  physics-based  computer  simulation  technology  to  immerse  the  user  within  a  virtual 
environment and provides training capabilities that have been used extensively by surgeons. The user navigates through 
the environment and completes exercises by controlling virtual instruments from the surgeon console. Upon completion 
of  a  skills  exercise,  the  skills  simulator  provides  a  quantitative  assessment  of  user  performance  based  on  a  variety  of 
task-specific metrics. The SimNow online connection drives real-time simulation performance tracking for surgeons and 
administrators through an online dashboard and supports remote updates of the VR content and 3DHD videos to drive a 
more  interactive  and  engaging  customer  experience.  SimNow  is  intended  to  augment,  not  replace,  existing  training 
programs for the da Vinci X, da Vinci Xi, and da Vinci SP surgical systems.

Services

We have a network of field service engineers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia and maintain relationships with various 
distributors around the globe. This infrastructure of service and support specialists offers a full complement of services for our 
customers, including installation, repair, maintenance, 24/7 technical support, and proactive system health monitoring.

Our comprehensive support and program assistance helps ensure customers and care teams maximize program performance 
and  protect  their  investment.  Services  include  readiness  support,  maintenance  support,  perioperative  consulting,  Custom 
Hospital Analytics, and market consulting optimization.

Readiness and Maintenance Support.  Readiness support is operational support to ensure smooth onboarding and adoption 
of  new  systems  and  technology.  Maintenance  support  helps  to  maximize  operational  efficiency  and  reduce  unplanned 
equipment downtime. It includes service care plans, support teams, OnSite monitoring, software upgrades and updates, as 
well as a customer portal. The service plan portfolio offers flexible service plans to ensure reliability of the systems and 
instruments and help optimize the robotics program. The support team of expert field service, remote technical support, and 
customer care agents resolve and prevent any technology issues that could inhibit optimal utilization. OnSite monitoring 
offers remote service in real-time for pre-operative and intraoperative troubleshooting, as well as proactive monitoring of 
system  performance.  Software  upgrades  and  updates  enable  the  latest  product  innovations,  enhancements,  and  reliability 
improvements.  The  customer  portal  is  an  online  tool  that  enables  customers  to  access  system  utilization  and  program 
analytics, view orders and maintenance history, and initiate product returns and exchanges to help achieve the operational 
and financial goals of a robotics program.

Perioperative Consulting.  Perioperative consulting is a suite of customized solutions to improve a hospital’s efficiency and 
performance with Intuitive technologies. New system integration support is available to streamline the start-up process and 
expedite  increased  procedure  volumes.  Overall  program  assessments  help  to  support  efficiency  improvements,  cost 
reductions, and system access optimization.

Program  Analytics.  Our  Custom  Hospital  Analytics  program  enables  the  integration  of  data  sources  so  that  individual 
health institutions can analyze their data in their own environment. Using this data, executives, administrators, care teams, 
and surgeons can gain alignment around their programs based on their KPIs, determine best practices, assess gaps, and take 
actionable steps to address any gaps.

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Digital Solutions

Integrated digital capabilities provide connected offerings, streamlining performance for hospitals with program-enhancing 
insights. Secure-by-design, cloud-enabled products analyze and simplify essential data to continuously optimize the use of time, 
tools, and techniques.

Intuitive Hosted & Managed Services.  The vast majority of our systems are network connected and directly communicate 
with Intuitive to enable proactive monitoring as well as provide software updates and data insights to Intuitive customers.

3D Modeling Services.  Intuitive 3D Models is our augmented reality imaging product for use in kidney, prostate, lung, and 
rectal  procedures.  The  service  extracts  CT  and  MR  scans,  runs  them  through  segmentation  algorithms  and,  after 
technicians’  revision  and  radiologists’  review,  returns  a  3D  segmented  model  of  the  organ  for  use  in  planning  for  a 
procedure, intraoperative visualization, and surgical education. The tool uses augmented reality to give surgeons an image 
with details of organ anatomy – blood vessels, tumor shape, and size – that they may not be able to see well with other 
imaging.  Intuitive  designed  this  to  help  with  pre-operative  planning  and  intraoperative  guidance  to  let  surgeons  know 
where critical anatomy sits as they work through a procedure, as well as to be shared as a teaching tool for other physicians 
and patients. The product has recently been launched, and we are in the process of bringing the first sites onboard.

My  Intuitive.    This  mobile  and  web  application  was  developed  to  be  the  single  point  for  Intuitive  customers  to  access 
individual or program-level data from Intuitive. The application also offers comparisons of those insights with anonymized 
national  benchmarks  to  help  drive  operational  efficiencies  and  decreased  costs.  It  enables  mobile  access  to  Intuitive’s 
Learning  platform,  case  reports  generated  automatically  for  the  surgeon,  and  an  ability  for  surgeons  to  publish  their 
practice information online for patients seeking local physicians.

Intuitive Hub.  Intuitive Hub is part of our OR informatics platform that integrates multiple applications and data sets to 
help  orchestrate  medical  procedure  workflows.  For  the  care  team,  Intuitive  Hub  acts  as  a  point-of-care  device  that 
automates  tasks,  such  as  video  recording  and  bookmarking,  and  can  be  used  to  facilitate  peer-to-peer  collaboration  by 
utilizing the telepresence feature. For surgeons, Intuitive Hub connects video and other data that can be accessed after a 
surgical procedure to help facilitate personalized learning and increased efficiency.

Business Strategy

We  align  our  goals  to  those  of  our  customers,  often  called  the  Quadruple  Aim:  enabling  physicians  and  hospitals  to 
improve outcomes for their patients, improve their patient’s and the care team’s experience, and lower the total cost to treat per 
patient  episode.  Through  the  use  of  Intuitive’s  smart,  connected  systems,  robotic  technologies,  advanced  imaging,  and 
informatics, our objective is to create value for patients, physicians, and hospitals, as summarized below.

Patient Value.  We believe that the value of a medical procedure to a patient can be defined: Patient Value = Procedure 
Efficacy / Invasiveness. We define procedure efficacy as a measure of the success of the procedure in helping resolve the 
underlying disease, and invasiveness as a measure of patient pain and disruption of regular activities. When the patient 
value  of  a  procedure  using  an  Intuitive  product  is  greater  than  that  of  alternative  intervention  options,  patients  may 
benefit  from  seeking  out  physicians  and  hospitals  that  offer  those  products,  which  could  potentially  result  in  a  local 
market  share  shift.  Adoption  of  Intuitive  technology  occurs  by  procedure  and  by  market  and  is  driven  by  the  relative 
patient  value  and  the  total  intervention  costs  of  da  Vinci  and  Ion  procedures  as  compared  to  alternative  intervention 
options for the same disease state or condition. We believe that most patients will place a higher value on procedures that 
are  not  only  more  efficacious  but  also  less  invasive  than  alternative  interventions.  Our  goal  is  to  provide  products  to 
physicians  who,  in  turn,  provide  patients  with  procedure  options  that  are  both  highly  effective  and  less  invasive  than 
others.

Physician Value.  We offer physicians and their operating room staff training on the technical use of our products. Our 
da Vinci surgical system provides an ergonomic platform for surgeons to perform their procedures. We seek to provide 
surgeons  with  reliable  and  easy-to-use  products.  For  example,  the  change  to  cloud-based  analytics  and  routine  use  of 
local analytics may help surgeons track their procedures and processes and, with a network-connected smartphone and 
the My Intuitive app, surgeons can access and explore their procedure data, such as console time and instrument usage, 
to  gain  insights  into  their  program.  Ion  brings  physicians  an  immersive  bronchoscopy  experience  from  visualizing  the 
lung anatomy and planning each patient’s procedure to navigating and biopsying small nodules in the peripheral lung. 
Results from early studies have demonstrated relatively low occurrence of pneumothorax requiring intervention.

Hospital  Value.    We  help  hospitals  build  value  by  increasing  surgical  revenue  and  reducing  costs  through  lower 
complication  rates  and  reduced  lengths  of  patient  stay.  For  example,  we  believe  robotic-assisted  surgery  with  the  da 
Vinci  surgical  system  is  a  cost-effective  approach  to  many  surgeries  as  compared  to  alternative  treatment  options,  as 
recognized  in  many  published  studies.  We  also  offer  our  Custom  Hospital  Analytics  program,  which  enables  the 
integration of data sources so that individual health institutions can analyze their data in their own environment. Using 

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this data, administrators, chiefs of surgery, and surgeons can gain alignment around their programs based on their KPIs, 
determine best practices, assess gaps, and take actionable steps to address any gaps.

Clinical Applications

We are the beneficiaries of productive collaborations with leading surgeons in exploring and developing new techniques 
and  applications  for  robotic-assisted  surgery  with  the  da  Vinci  surgical  system  and  minimally  invasive  biopsies  with  the  Ion 
endoluminal  system—an  important  part  of  our  creative  process.  We  primarily  focus  our  development  efforts  on  those 
procedures in which we believe our products bring the highest patient value, surgeon value, and hospital value. We currently 
focus on five surgical specialties: general surgery, urologic surgery, gynecologic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and head and 
neck  surgery.  Key  procedures  that  we  are  focused  on  include  hernia  repair,  colon  and  rectal  procedures,  cholecystectomy, 
bariatric surgery, prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, hysterectomy, sacrocolpopexy, lobectomy, and transoral robotic surgery. 
We also focus on minimally invasive biopsies in the lung. Representative surgical applications are described below.

General Surgery

Hernia Repair.  A hernia occurs when an organ or other tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or 
connective  tissue.  During  a  hernia  repair  surgery,  the  weakened  tissue  is  secured,  and  defects  are  repaired.  Common 
types  of  hernias  are  ventral  and  inguinal.  Ventral,  or  abdominal  hernia,  may  occur  through  a  scar  after  surgery  in  the 
abdomen.  Inguinal  hernia  is  a  bulge  in  the  groin  and  is  more  common  in  men.  Hernia  repair  can  be  performed  using 
traditional  open  surgery  or  MIS.  There  is  a  wide  range  of  complexity  in  hernia  repair  surgeries  and  varying  surgeon 
opinions  regarding  optimal  surgical  approach.  The  benefits  of  minimally  invasive  and  robotic-assisted  hernia  repair 
surgery vary by patient.

Colorectal Surgery.  These procedures typically involve benign or cancerous conditions of the lower digestive system, in 
particular  the  rectum  or  colon.  Common  procedures  in  this  area  include  hemicolectomy,  sigmoidectomy,  low  anterior 
resection,  and  abdominoperineal  resection.  Surgeons  have  reported  that  the  use  of  robotic-assisted  surgery  with  a  da 
Vinci surgical system and our latest technologies, such as the EndoWrist Stapler and da Vinci Energy, has enabled them 
to offer MIS approaches to a broader range of colorectal surgery patients.

Cholecystectomy.    Cholecystectomy,  or  the  surgical  removal  of  the  gallbladder,  is  a  commonly  performed  general 
surgery  procedure.  Cholecystectomy  is  the  primary  method  for  the  treatment  of  gallstones  and  other  gallbladder 
diseases.  Most  cholecystectomies  are  performed  using  multi-port  MIS  techniques,  although  some  surgeons  choose  to 
perform cholecystectomy using manual single-port instrumentation. Firefly technology can be used to visualize biliary 
anatomy in three dimensions beneath the tissue surfaces during multi-port da Vinci cholecystectomies.

Bariatric  Surgery.    A  body  of  literature  points  to  the  benefit  of  surgery  to  treat  patients  with  morbid  obesity  and  its 
secondary  effects,  such  as  diabetes.  Sleeve  gastrectomy  and  Roux-en-Y  gastric  bypass  (“RYGB”)  are  commonly 
performed  surgical  procedures  for  morbid  obesity  in  the  U.S.  The  body  habitus  of  morbidly  obese  patients  can  make 
laparoscopic surgery physically challenging for the surgeon, and certain surgeons have found value in using the da Vinci 
surgical system to improve upon the ergonomics when performing MIS in morbidly obese patients. In addition, RYGB 
can  be  a  technically  challenging  procedure  due  to  the  suturing,  stapling,  and  tissue  (bowel)  manipulation  that  is 
required. Surgeons using the da Vinci surgical system have reported a reduction in a critical complication (anastomotic 
leaks) relative to laparoscopic RYGB. Also, we believe SureForm 60 may have particular utility in bariatric procedures.

Urologic Surgery

Prostatectomy.  Radical prostatectomy is the removal of the prostate gland in patients diagnosed with clinically localized 
prostate  cancer.  The  standard  approach  to  the  removal  of  the  prostate  was  via  an  open  surgical  procedure.  The 
conventional  laparoscopic  approach  is  an  option,  but  it  is  difficult  and  poses  challenges  to  even  the  most  skilled 
urologist. The da Vinci surgical system has enabled a large number of surgeons to convert from using an open surgical 
technique to a minimally invasive technique.

Partial Nephrectomy.  Partial nephrectomy is the removal of a small portion of a kidney (typically, an area of the kidney 
containing a tumor). Partial nephrectomies are most commonly performed in patients diagnosed with clinically localized 
renal  cancer.  Excluding  robotic-assisted  surgery  with  a  da  Vinci  surgical  system,  there  are  three  common  surgical 
approaches  to  performing  partial  nephrectomies:  open  surgical  technique,  laparoscopy,  and  hand-assisted  laparoscopy, 
which is a hybrid of the open and laparoscopic techniques. Surgeons have reported that the da Vinci surgical system’s 
capabilities  may  enable  a  large  number  of  these  procedures  to  be  performed  through  a  minimally  invasive  technique, 
conferring the benefits of MIS to a broader range of partial nephrectomy patients. Treatment guidelines for patients with 
localized renal cancer recommend partial nephrectomy due to the benefits that nephron-sparing surgery has in long-term 
patient  outcomes.  Published  clinical  literature  has  shown  that  the  presence  of  a  da  Vinci  surgical  system  is  associated 
with a higher-proportion of patients receiving a guideline-recommended partial nephrectomy.

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Gynecologic Surgery

Hysterectomy.  Removal of the uterus is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in gynecology and is performed 
for  a  variety  of  underlying  benign  and  cancerous  conditions.  Hysterectomies  can  be  performed  using  open  surgery 
(laparotomy)  or  MIS  techniques,  which  include  vaginal,  laparoscopic,  and  robotic-assisted  approaches.  Prior  to  the 
clearance of the da Vinci surgical system for use in gynecological procedures in 2005, the majority of hysterectomies 
performed  were  open  surgeries.  We  believe  that  robotic-assisted  surgery  with  the  da  Vinci  surgical  system  provides 
patients the opportunity to receive a minimally invasive treatment as an alternative to an open hysterectomy.

Sacrocolpopexy.    The  abdominal  (open)  sacrocolpopexy  is  one  of  the  operations  performed  to  treat  vaginal  vault 
prolapse.  Sacrocolpopexy  involves  suturing  a  synthetic  mesh  that  connects  and  supports  the  vagina  to  the  sacrum 
(tailbone).  A  sacrocolpopexy  can  be  performed  using  a  conventional  laparoscopic  technique;  however,  it  is  generally 
described  as  difficult  and  cumbersome  to  perform.  Surgeons  have  reported  that  the  da  Vinci  surgical  system’s 
capabilities  may  enable  a  larger  number  of  these  procedures  to  be  performed  through  a  minimally  invasive  technique, 
conferring the benefits of MIS to a broader range of sacrocolpopexy patients.

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery.  Conventional approaches to surgical procedures in the thorax include both open and video-assisted 
thoracoscopic  approaches.  Procedures  performed  via  these  methods  include  pulmonary  wedge  resection,  pulmonary 
lobectomy,  thymectomy,  mediastinal  mass  excision,  and  esophagectomy.  Many  thoracic  procedures  remain  open 
procedures. Surgeons have reported that the use of robotic-assisted surgery with a da Vinci surgical system in thoracic 
surgery has enabled them to offer MIS approaches to a broader range of thoracic surgery patients and improved clinical 
outcomes  compared  to  open  and  video-assisted  thoracic  surgery  in  published  single-center,  multi-center,  and  national 
database clinical studies. Also, we believe the EndoWrist Stapler 30 and the SureForm Stapler 30 may have particular 
utility in thoracic procedures.

Head and Neck Surgery

Transoral  Surgery.    Head  and  neck  cancers  are  typically  treated  by  either  surgical  resection  or  chemo-radiation,  or  a 
combination of both. Surgical resection performed by an open approach may require a “jaw-splitting” mandibulotomy. 
This procedure, while effective in treating cancer, is potentially traumatic and disfiguring to the patient. MIS approaches 
via the mouth (transoral surgery) are challenged by line-of-sight limitations dictated by conventional endoscopic tools. 
Chemo-radiation as a primary therapy does allow patients to avoid traumatic surgical incisions; however, the literature 
suggests that this modality diminishes patients’ ability to speak and swallow normally. Surgeons have reported that da 
Vinci transoral surgery allows them to operate on tumors occurring in the oropharynx (i.e., tonsil and base of tongue) and 
larynx via the mouth and to overcome some of the line-of-sight limitations of conventional transoral surgery.

Da Vinci Procedure Mix

Our da Vinci procedure business is broadly split into two categories: (1) cancer procedures and (2) procedures for benign 
conditions. Cancer and other highly complex procedures tend to be reimbursed at higher rates than less complex procedures for 
benign conditions. Thus, hospitals are more sensitive to the costs associated with treating less complex, benign conditions. Our 
strategy is to provide hospitals with attractive clinical and economical solutions across the spectrum of procedure complexity. 
Our fully featured da Vinci Xi surgical system with advanced instruments, including the da Vinci Energy and EndoWrist and 
SureForm  Stapler  products,  and  our  Integrated  Table  Motion  product,  targets  the  more  complex  procedure  segment.  Our  da 
Vinci  X  surgical  system  is  targeted  toward  price-sensitive  markets  and  procedures.  Our  da  Vinci  SP  surgical  system 
complements the da Vinci Xi and X surgical systems by enabling surgeons to access narrow workspaces.

Clinical Summary

There are over 70 representative clinical uses for da Vinci surgical systems. We believe that there are numerous additional 
applications that can be addressed with the da Vinci surgical system, and we work closely with our surgeon customers to refine 
and  explore  new  techniques  in  which  a  da  Vinci  surgical  system  may  bring  value.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  had  an 
installed base of 8,606 da Vinci surgical systems, including 5,111 in the U.S., 1,617 in Europe, 1,484 in Asia, and 394 in the 
rest of the world. We estimate that surgeons using our technology completed approximately 2,286,000 surgical procedures of 
various types in hospitals throughout the world during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Additionally,  over  time,  we  believe  that  there  are  numerous  additional  applications  that  can  be  addressed  with  the  Ion 
endoluminal system. As of December 31, 2023, we had an installed base of 534 Ion systems, 531 of which are located in the 
U.S.  We  plan  to  seek  additional  clearances,  certifications,  or  approvals  for  Ion  in  markets  outside  of  the  U.S.  (“OUS”)  over 
time.

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Sales and Customer Support

Sales Model

We provide our products through direct sales organizations in the U.S., Europe (excluding Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, 
and Eastern European countries), China, Japan, South Korea, India, Taiwan and, since June 2022, Canada. We provide products 
and services in China through our majority-owned joint venture (“Joint Venture”) with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) 
Co., Ltd. (“Fosun Pharma”) and its affiliates. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations” for further details on the Joint Venture. In the remainder of our markets outside of the U.S., we provide 
our products through distributors. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, domestic revenue accounted for 
66%, 67%, and 67%, respectively, of total revenue, while revenue from our OUS markets accounted for 34%, 33%, and 33%, 
respectively, of total revenue.

Our direct sales organization is composed of a capital sales team, responsible for selling systems, and a clinical sales team, 
responsible  for  supporting  the  systems  used  in  procedures  performed  at  our  hospital  accounts.  Our  hospital  accounts  include 
both  individual  hospitals  and  healthcare  facilities  as  well  as  hospitals  and  healthcare  facilities  that  are  part  of  an  integrated 
delivery  network  (“IDN  groups”).  The  initial  system  sale  into  an  account  is  a  major  capital  equipment  purchase  by  our 
customers and typically has a lengthy sales cycle that can be affected by macroeconomic factors, capital spending prioritization, 
the timing of budgeting cycles, and the evaluation of alternative products. Capital sales activities include educating surgeons or 
physicians  and  hospital  staff  across  multiple  specialties  on  the  benefits  of  robotic-assisted  surgery  with  a  da  Vinci  surgical 
system or robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with an Ion endoluminal system, total treatment costs, and the clinical applications that 
our  technology  enables.  We  also  train  our  sales  organization  to  educate  hospital  management  on  the  potential  benefits  of 
adopting our technology, including the clinical benefits of robotic-assisted surgery with a da Vinci surgical system or robotic-
assisted bronchoscopy with an Ion endoluminal system, in support of their Quadruple Aim objectives.

Our  clinical  sales  team  works  on  site  at  hospitals,  interacting  with  surgeons  or  physicians,  operating  room  staff,  and 
hospital  administrators  to  develop  and  sustain  successful  robotic-assisted  surgery  or  bronchoscopy  programs.  They  assist  the 
hospital  in  identifying  surgeons  or  physicians  who  have  an  interest  in  robotic-assisted  surgery  or  bronchoscopy  and  the 
potential benefits provided by the da Vinci surgical system and the Ion endoluminal system. Our clinical sales team provides 
current clinical information on robotic-assisted surgery or bronchoscopy practices and new product applications to the hospital 
teams. Our clinical sales team has grown with the expanded installed bases of da Vinci surgical systems and Ion endoluminal 
systems as well as the total number of procedures performed. We expect this organization to continue to grow as our business 
expands.

Our customers place orders to replenish their supplies of instruments and accessories on a regular basis. Orders received 
are typically shipped within one business day. New direct customers who purchase a system typically place an initial stocking 
order of instruments and accessories soon after they receive their system.

Our  business  is  subject  to  seasonal  fluctuations.  Historically,  our  sales  of  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  have  tended  to  be 
heavier  in  the  fourth  quarter  and  lighter  in  the  first  quarter,  as  hospital  budgets  are  reset.  In  addition,  we  have  historically 
experienced  lower  procedure  volume  in  the  first  and  third  quarters  and  higher  procedure  volume  in  the  second  and  fourth 
quarters. More than half of da Vinci procedures performed are for benign conditions. These benign procedures and other short-
term elective procedures tend to be more seasonal than cancer procedures and surgeries for other life-threatening conditions. In 
the U.S., volumes for procedures associated with benign conditions are typically seasonally higher in the fourth quarter when 
more patients have met annual deductibles and lower in the first quarter when deductibles are reset. Seasonality outside of the 
U.S.  varies  and  is  more  pronounced  around  local  holidays  and  vacation  periods.  The  timing  of  procedures  and  changes  in 
procedure  volume  impact  the  timing  of  instruments  and  accessories  and  capital  purchases.  As  a  result  of  factors  outlined  in 
“Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations—COVID-19  Pandemic” 
below, including the past and potential future recommendations of authorities to defer elective procedures, historical procedure 
patterns have been and may continue to be disrupted.

Customer Support

We  have  a  network  of  field  service  and  technical  support  engineers  across  the  U.S.,  Europe,  and  Asia  and  maintain 
relationships  with  various  distributors  around  the  globe.  This  infrastructure  of  service  and  support  specialists,  along  with 
advanced  service  tools  and  solutions,  offers  a  full  complement  of  services  for  our  customers,  including  installation,  repair, 
maintenance, 24/7 technical support, and proactive system health monitoring. We generate service revenue by providing these 
services to our customers through comprehensive service contracts and time and material programs.

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Research and Development

We focus our research and development efforts on innovation and improvement for products and services that align with 
our mission: We believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we 
believe  that  we  can  expand  the  potential  of  physicians  to  heal  without  constraints.  We  employ  engineering  and  research  and 
development staff to focus on delivering future innovations and sustaining improvements that advance our mission. In certain 
instances,  we  complement  our  research  and  development  effort  through  collaborations  with  other  companies,  such  as  our 
Integrated Table Motion product offering developed with Hillrom (now a part of Baxter International Inc.).

Manufacturing

We manufacture our systems at our facilities in Sunnyvale, California, and Peachtree Corners, Georgia, as well as our Joint 
Venture’s facility in Shanghai, China. We manufacture our instruments at our facilities in Sunnyvale, California and Mexicali, 
Mexico. We also have manufacturing at multiple sites in Germany.

We  purchase  both  custom  and  off-the-shelf  components  from  a  large  number  of  suppliers  and  subject  them  to  stringent 
quality specifications and processes. Some of the components necessary for the assembly of our products are currently provided 
to  us  by  sole-sourced  suppliers  (the  only  recognized  supply  source  available  to  us)  or  single-sourced  suppliers  (the  only 
approved  supply  source  for  us  among  other  sources).  We  purchase  the  majority  of  our  components  and  major  assemblies 
through  purchase  orders  rather  than  long-term  supply  agreements  and  generally  do  not  maintain  large  volumes  of  finished 
goods relative to our anticipated demand.

Competition

We  face  competition  in  the  forms  of  existing  open  surgery,  conventional  MIS,  drug  therapies,  radiation  treatment,  and 
other emerging diagnostic and interventional surgical approaches. Some of these procedures are widely accepted in the medical 
community and, in many cases, have a long history of use. Our success depends on continued clinical and technical innovation, 
quality,  and  reliability,  as  well  as  educating  hospitals,  surgeons,  and  patients  on  the  demonstrated  results  associated  with 
robotic-assisted  medical  procedures  using  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  or  Ion  endoluminal  systems  and  their  value  relative  to 
other techniques. We also face competition from several companies that have introduced or are developing new approaches and 
products  for  the  MIS  market.  We  believe  that  the  entrance  or  emergence  of  competition  validates  MIS  and  robotic-assisted 
surgery or robotic-assisted bronchoscopy.

Moreover, as we add new robotically controlled products (e.g., da Vinci Stapling and da Vinci Energy) that compete with 
product offerings traditionally within the domains of open surgery and/or conventional MIS, we face greater competition from 
larger and well-established companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic plc.

Additionally, we face or expect to face competition from companies that have developed or may develop wristed, robotic- 
or  computer-assisted  medical  systems  and  products.  The  companies  that  have  introduced  products  in  the  field  of  robotic-
assisted medical procedures or have made explicit statements about their efforts to enter the field include, but are not limited to, 
the following companies: Asensus Surgical, Inc.; Beijing Surgerii Robotics Company Limited; CMR Surgical Ltd.; Johnson & 
Johnson;  Medicaroid  Corporation;  Medtronic  plc;  meerecompany  Inc.;  Noah  Medical;  Shandong  Weigao  Group  Medical 
Polymer  Company  Ltd.;  Shanghai  Microport  Medbot  (Group)  Co.,  Ltd.;  and  Shenzhen  Edge  Medical  Co.,  Ltd.  Other 
companies  with  substantial  experience  in  industrial  robotics  could  potentially  expand  into  the  field  of  medical  robotics  and 
become  a  competitor.  In  addition,  research  efforts  utilizing  computers  and  robotics  for  medical  procedures  are  underway  at 
various companies and research institutions. Our revenues may be adversely impacted as our competitors announce their intent 
to enter our markets and as our customers anticipate the availability of competing products. We may not be able to maintain or 
improve our competitive position against current or potential competitors, especially those with greater resources.

Intellectual Property

We place considerable importance on obtaining and maintaining patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret protection 

for significant new technologies, products, and processes.

We generally rely upon a combination of intellectual property laws, confidentiality procedures, and contractual provisions 
to  protect  our  proprietary  technology.  For  example,  we  have  trademarks,  both  registered  and  unregistered,  that  provide 
distinctive  identification  of  our  products  in  the  marketplace.  We  also  have  exclusive  and  non-exclusive  patent  licenses  with 
various third parties to supplement our own robust patent portfolio.

As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  owned  more  than  4,800  patents  granted  and  still  in  force  and  more  than  2,200  patents 
pending worldwide. We intend to continue filing new patent applications in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions to seek protection 
for our technology.

Patents are granted for finite terms. Upon expiration, the inventions claimed in a patent enter the public domain.

15

Government Regulation

Our products and operations are subject to regulation in the U.S. by the FDA and the State of California as well as by other 
countries and regions in which we market and promote our products. In addition, our products must meet the requirements of a 
large  and  growing  body  of  international  standards,  which  govern  the  design,  manufacture,  materials  content  and  sourcing, 
testing,  certification,  packaging,  installation,  use,  and  disposal  of  our  products.  We  must  continually  keep  abreast  of  these 
regulations, standards, and requirements and integrate our compliance into the development and regulatory documentation for 
our  products.  Failure  to  meet  these  standards  could  limit  our  ability  to  market  our  products  in  those  regions  that  require 
compliance  with  such  standards.  Examples  of  standards  to  which  we  are  subject  include  electrical  safety  standards,  such  as 
those  of  the  International  Electrotechnical  Commission  (e.g.,  IEC  60601-ss  series  of  standards),  and  composition  standards, 
such  as  the  Reduction  of  Hazardous  Substances  (“RoHS”)  and  the  Waste  Electrical  and  Electronic  Equipment  (“WEEE”) 
Directives applicable in the European Union (“EU”).

U.S. Regulation

FDA

Our products are subject to regulation as medical devices in the United States under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act  (“FFDCA”),  as  implemented  and  enforced  by  the  FDA.  The  FDA  regulates  the  development,  design,  non-clinical  and 
clinical  research,  manufacturing,  safety,  efficacy,  labeling,  packaging,  storage,  installation,  recordkeeping,  complaint  and 
adverse  event  reporting,  clearance,  approval,  certification,  promotion,  marketing,  export,  import  distribution,  and  service  of 
medical devices in the U.S. to ensure that medical devices distributed domestically are safe and effective for their intended uses.

Under the FFDCA, medical devices are classified into one of three classes—Class I, Class II, or Class III—depending on 
the degree of risk associated with each medical device and the extent of control needed to ensure safety and effectiveness. Our 
current products are Class II medical devices.

Class  II  medical  devices  are  those  that  are  subject  to  general  controls,  and  most  require  premarket  demonstration  of 
adherence to certain performance standards or other special controls, as specified by the FDA, and special controls as deemed 
necessary  by  the  FDA  to  ensure  the  safety  and  effectiveness  of  the  device.  These  special  controls  can  include  performance 
standards, post-market surveillance, patient registries, and FDA guidance documents.

Manufacturers of most Class II devices are required to submit to the FDA a premarket notification under Section 510(k) of 
the FFDCA requesting authorization to commercially distribute the device. The FDA’s authorization to commercially distribute 
a device subject to a 510(k) premarket notification is generally known as 510(k) clearance. Our current products are subject to 
premarket notification and clearance under section 510(k) of the FFDCA. To obtain 510(k) clearance, we must submit to the 
FDA  a  premarket  notification  submission  demonstrating  that  the  proposed  device  is  “substantially  equivalent”  to  a  legally 
marketed predicate device.

The  FDA  may  require  additional  information,  including  clinical  data,  to  make  a  determination  regarding  substantial 
equivalence. In addition, the FDA collects user fees for certain medical device submissions and annual fees for medical device 
establishments.

If the FDA agrees that the device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device, it will grant clearance to commercially 
market the device in the U.S. The FDA has a statutory 90-day period to respond to a 510(k) submission; however, as a practical 
matter, clearance often takes longer. The FDA may require further information, including clinical data, to make a determination 
regarding substantial equivalence. If the FDA determines that the device, or its intended use, is not “substantially equivalent,” 
the device may be designated as a Class III device. The device sponsor must then fulfill more rigorous PMA requirements or 
can  request  a  risk-based  classification  determination  for  the  device  in  accordance  with  the  de  novo  classification  pathway, 
which  is  a  route  to  market  for  novel  medical  devices  that  are  low  to  moderate  risk  and  are  not  substantially  equivalent  to  a 
predicate device.

The  PMA  process  is  more  demanding  than  the  510(k)  premarket  notification  process.  In  a  PMA  application,  the 
manufacturer must demonstrate that the device is safe and effective, and the PMA application must be supported by extensive 
data,  including  data  from  preclinical  studies  and  human  clinical  trials.  The  FDA,  by  statute  and  regulation,  has  180  days  to 
review a PMA application, although the review more often occurs over a significantly longer period of time and can take up to 
several  years.  In  approving  a  PMA  application  or  clearing  a  510(k)  submission,  the  FDA  may  also  require  some  additional 
manufacturing controls, design control activities and approvals, as well as specific post-market surveillance requirements when 
necessary to protect the public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device. In such cases, the 
manufacturer might be required to follow certain patient groups for a number of years and make periodic reports to the FDA on 
the clinical status of those patients.

Clinical trials are almost always required to support a PMA and are sometimes required to support a 510(k) submission. All 
clinical investigations designed to determine the safety and effectiveness of a medical device must be conducted in accordance 

16

with  the  FDA’s  investigational  device  exemption  (“IDE”)  regulations,  which  govern  investigational  device  labeling,  prohibit 
the promotion of the investigational device, and specify an array of recordkeeping, reporting and monitoring responsibilities of 
study sponsors and study investigators. Regardless of the degree of risk presented by the medical device, clinical studies must 
be approved by, and conducted under the oversight of, an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) for each clinical site. During a 
study,  the  sponsor  is  required  to  comply  with  the  applicable  FDA  requirements,  including,  for  example,  trial  monitoring, 
selecting clinical investigators and providing them with the investigational plan, ensuring IRB review, adverse event reporting, 
record keeping, and prohibitions on the promotion of investigational devices or on making safety or effectiveness claims for 
them. The clinical investigators in the clinical study are also subject to the FDA’s regulations and must obtain patient informed 
consent, rigorously follow the investigational plan and study protocol, control the disposition of the investigational device, and 
comply  with  all  reporting  and  recordkeeping  requirements.  Additionally,  after  a  trial  begins,  we,  the  FDA,  or  the  IRB  could 
suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the risks to study subjects outweigh 
the anticipated benefits.

After a device receives 510(k) clearance, any modification that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that 
would constitute a major change or modification in its intended use, will require a new 510(k) clearance or, depending on the 
modification, PMA approval or de novo classification. The FDA requires each manufacturer to determine whether the proposed 
change requires submission of a 510(k), de novo classification, or a PMA in the first instance, but the FDA can review any such 
decision and disagree with a manufacturer’s determination. If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturer’s determination, the FDA 
can  require  the  manufacturer  to  cease  marketing  and/or  request  the  recall  of  the  modified  device  until  510(k)  marketing 
clearance, approval of a PMA, or issuance of a de novo classification. Also, in these circumstances, the manufacturer may be 
subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties.

In  addition,  the  FDA  may  place  significant  limitations  upon  the  intended  use  of  our  products  as  a  condition  of  granting 
marketing authorization. Moreover, after a device is placed on the market, numerous FDA and other regulatory requirements 
continue  to  apply.  These  requirements  include  establishment  registration  and  device  listing  with  the  FDA;  compliance  with 
medical device reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA if their device caused or contributed, 
or may have caused or contributed, to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute 
to a death or serious injury if it were to recur; compliance with corrections and removal reporting regulations, which require that 
manufacturers report to the FDA field corrections and product recalls or removals if undertaken to reduce a risk to health posed 
by the device or to remedy a violation of the FFDCA that may present a risk to health; the FDA’s recall authority, whereby the 
agency  can  order  device  manufacturers  to  recall  from  the  market  a  product  that  is  in  violation  of  governing  laws  and 
regulations; and post-market surveillance activities and regulations, which apply when deemed by the FDA to be necessary to 
protect  the  public  health  or  to  provide  additional  safety  and  effectiveness  data  for  the  device.  In  addition,  the  FDA  and  the 
Federal Trade Commission also regulate the advertising and promotion of our products to ensure that the claims we make are 
consistent  with  our  regulatory  clearances,  that  there  is  scientific  data  to  substantiate  the  claims,  and  that  our  advertising  is 
neither  false  nor  misleading.  In  general,  we  may  not  promote  or  advertise  our  products  for  uses  not  within  the  scope  of  our 
intended use statement in our clearances or make unsupported safety and effectiveness claims. 

Our  manufacturing  processes  are  required  to  comply  with  the  Quality  System  Regulation  (“QSR”).  The  QSR  covers, 
among other things, the methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for, the design, testing, controlling, documenting, 
manufacture, packaging, labeling, storage, installation, and servicing of all medical devices intended for human use. The QSR 
also  requires  maintenance  of  extensive  records,  which  demonstrate  compliance  with  the  FDA  regulation,  the  manufacturer’s 
own  procedures,  specifications,  and  testing,  as  well  as  distribution  and  post-market  experience.  Compliance  with  the  QSR  is 
necessary for a manufacturer to be able to continue to market cleared or approved product offerings in the U.S. A company’s 
facilities,  records,  and  manufacturing  processes  are  subject  to  periodic  scheduled  or  unscheduled  inspections  by  the  FDA. 
Failure  to  maintain  compliance  with  applicable  QSR  requirements  could  result  in  the  shut-down  of,  or  restrictions  on, 
manufacturing operations and the recall or seizure of marketed products. If the FDA determines that a manufacturer has failed 
to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, it can take a variety of compliance or enforcement actions, which may result 
in any of the following sanctions:

•

•

•
•
•
•
•

warning  letters,  untitled  letters,  fines,  injunctions,  consent  decrees,  administrative  penalties,  and  civil  or  criminal 
penalties;

recalls, withdrawals, or administrative detention or seizure of our products;

operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
refusing or delaying requests for 510(k) marketing clearance or PMA approvals of new products or modified products;
withdrawing 510(k) clearances or PMA approvals that have already been granted;
refusal to grant export approvals for our products; or
criminal prosecution.

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In addition, the discovery of previously unknown problems with any marketed products, including unanticipated adverse 
events or adverse events of increasing severity or frequency, whether resulting from the use of the device within the scope of its 
clearance or off-label by a physician in the practice of medicine, could result in restrictions on the device, including the removal 
of the product from the market or voluntary or mandatory device recalls.

Products manufactured outside of the U.S. by or for us are subject to U.S. Customs and FDA inspection upon entry into the 
U.S. We must demonstrate compliance of such products with U.S. regulations and carefully document the eventual distribution 
or  re-exportation  of  such  products.  Failure  to  comply  with  all  applicable  regulations  could  prevent  us  from  having  access  to 
products or components critical to the manufacture of finished products and lead to shortages and delays.

Other Healthcare Regulatory Laws

We  are  subject  to  broadly  applicable  fraud  and  abuse  and  other  healthcare  laws  and  regulations  that  may  constrain  the 
business  or  financial  arrangements  and  relationships  through  which  we  research,  market,  sell  and  distribute  our  products. 
Restrictions under applicable federal and state healthcare laws and regulations, include the following:

•

•

•

•

•

•

the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, individuals and entities from knowingly and 
willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or 
reward, or in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good 
or service, for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal and state healthcare program such as 
Medicare and Medicaid. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to 
violate it in order to have committed a violation;

the federal criminal and civil false claims laws, including the federal False Claims Act, which can be enforced through 
civil whistleblower or qui tam actions against individuals or entities, and the Federal Civil Monetary Penalties Laws, 
which  prohibit,  among  other  things,  knowingly  presenting,  or  causing  to  be  presented,  to  the  federal  government, 
claims for payment that are false or fraudulent, knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record 
or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim, or from knowingly making a false statement to avoid, decrease or 
conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. In addition, certain marketing practices, including off-
label promotion, may also violate false claims laws. Moreover, the government may assert that a claim including items 
and services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for 
purposes of the federal False Claims Act;

the  Health  Insurance  Portability  and  Accountability  Act  (“HIPAA”),  which  imposes  criminal  and  civil  liability, 
prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud any 
healthcare benefit program, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making 
any materially false statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services; 
similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or 
specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation;

the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires certain manufacturers of covered drugs, devices, biologics and 
medical supplies that are reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with 
certain  exceptions,  to  report  annually  to  the  Centers  for  Medicare  &  Medicaid  Services  (“CMS”)  information  on 
certain  payments  and  other  transfers  of  value  to  physicians  (defined  to  include  doctors,  dentists,  optometrists, 
podiatrists and chiropractors), teaching hospitals, and certain other health care providers (such as physician assistants 
and nurse practitioners), as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family 
members; 

analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, that may apply to 
sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non-governmental 
third-party payors, including private insurers; and

certain  state  laws  that  require  medical  device  manufacturers  to  comply  with  the  industry’s  voluntary  compliance 
guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government in addition to requiring such 
manufacturers  to  report  information  related  to  payments  to  clinicians  and  other  healthcare  providers  or  marketing 
expenditures.

Violations of any of these laws may result in significant penalties, including civil, criminal and administrative penalties, 
damages,  fines,  disgorgement,  imprisonment,  the  curtailment  or  restructuring  of  operations,  loss  of  eligibility  to  obtain 
approvals  from  the  FDA,  exclusion  from  participation  in  government  contracting,  healthcare  reimbursement  or  other 
government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, integrity oversight and reporting obligations, or reputational harm.

Data Privacy and Security Laws 

Numerous state, federal, and foreign laws, regulations, and standards govern the collection, use, access to, confidentiality, 
and  security  of  health-related  and  other  personal  information  and  could  apply  now  or  in  the  future  to  our  operations  or  the 

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operations of our partners. In the U.S., numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including data breach notification laws, 
health  information  privacy  and  security  laws,  and  consumer  protection  laws  and  regulations  govern  the  collection,  use, 
disclosure, and protection of health-related and other personal information. In addition, certain foreign laws govern the privacy 
and  security  of  personal  data,  including  health-related  data.  Privacy  and  security  laws,  regulations,  and  other  obligations  are 
constantly  evolving,  may  conflict  with  each  other  to  complicate  compliance  efforts,  and  can  result  in  investigations, 
proceedings, or actions that lead to significant civil and/or criminal penalties and restrictions on data processing.

We collect, process, share, disclose, transfer, and otherwise use data, some of which contains personal information about 
identifiable individuals including, but not limited to, our employees, clinical trial participants, partners, and vendors. Therefore, 
we are subject to U.S. (federal, state, local) and international laws and regulations, including those in the European Economic 
Area (“EEA”) and the UK regarding data privacy and security and our use of such data.

We are subject to the European Union General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 and applicable national supplementing 
laws (collectively, the “EU GDPR”) and to the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 
2018 (collectively, the “UK GDPR”) (the EU GDPR and UK GDPR together referred to as the “GDPR”). The GDPR imposes 
comprehensive data privacy compliance obligations in relation to our collection, processing, sharing, disclosure, transfer, and 
other use of data relating to an identifiable living individual or “personal data,” including a principle of accountability and the 
obligation to demonstrate compliance through policies, procedures, training, and audit.

The EU GDPR and UK GDPR also regulate cross-border transfers of personal data out of the EEA and the UK. Recent 
legal  developments  in  Europe  have  created  complexity  and  uncertainty  regarding  such  transfers,  in  particular  in  relation  to 
transfers to the United States.

Foreign Regulation

In  order  for  us  to  market  our  products  in  countries  outside  the  United  States,  we  must  obtain  regulatory  approvals  or 
certifications and comply with extensive product and quality system regulations in other countries. These regulations, including 
the requirements for approvals, clearance, or certifications and the time required for regulatory review, vary from country to 
country. Some countries have regulatory review processes that are substantially longer than U.S. processes. Failure to obtain 
regulatory approval or certification in a timely manner and meet all of the local requirements, including language and specific 
safety standards, in any foreign country in which we plan to market our products could prevent us from marketing products in 
such countries or subject us to sanctions and fines.

China

China has its own regulatory agency. They require regulatory approvals and compliance with extensive safety and quality 
system regulations. Failure to obtain regulatory approval or failure to comply with any regulation may negatively impact our 
ability to generate revenue and harm our business. In addition to product registration approvals, our system sales into China are 
also dependent on obtaining importation authorizations and provincial approvals, as well as hospitals completing a tender and 
hospital listing process under the authorization. In June 2023, the China National Health Commission published the 14th five-
year plan quota for major medical equipment to be sold in China on its official website (the “2023 Quota”). Under the 2023 
Quota,  the  government  will  allow  for  the  sale  of  559  new  surgical  robots  into  China,  which  could  include  da  Vinci  surgical 
systems as well as surgical systems introduced by others. Sales of da Vinci surgical systems under the quota are uncertain, as 
they are dependent on hospitals completing a tender process and receiving associated approvals.

Japan

Most medical devices must undergo thorough safety examinations and demonstrate medical efficacy before they receive 
regulatory  approval  to  be  sold  in  Japan.  We  obtained  approval  from  the  Japanese  Ministry  of  Health,  Labor,  and  Welfare 
(“MHLW”) for our da Vinci Si surgical system in October 2012, for our da Vinci Xi surgical system in March 2015, and for 
our  da  Vinci  X  surgical  system  in  April  2018.  National  reimbursement  status  in  Japan  was  received  for  prostatectomy 
procedures in April 2012 and for da Vinci partial nephrectomy procedures in April 2016. An additional 12 da Vinci procedures 
were  granted  reimbursement  effective  April  1,  2018,  including  gastrectomy,  low  anterior  resection,  lobectomy,  and 
hysterectomy, for both malignant and benign conditions. An additional seven da Vinci procedures were granted reimbursement 
effective April 1, 2020. An additional eight da Vinci procedures were granted reimbursement effective April 1, 2022, including 
colon resection. In addition, we received higher reimbursement for da Vinci gastrectomy procedures, as compared to open and 
conventional  laparoscopic  procedure  reimbursements.  The  additional  reimbursed  procedures  have  varying  levels  of 
conventional  laparoscopic  penetration  and  will  generally  be  reimbursed  at  rates  equal  to  the  conventional  laparoscopic 
procedures.  Given  the  reimbursement  level  and  laparoscopic  penetration  for  these  additional  procedures,  there  can  be  no 
assurance that the adoption pace for these procedures will be similar to prostatectomy or partial nephrectomy, given their higher 
reimbursement,  or  any  other  da  Vinci  procedure.  If  these  procedures  are  not  adopted  and  we  are  not  successful  in  obtaining 
adequate procedure reimbursements for additional procedures, then the demand for our products in Japan could be limited. The 
process of reimbursement for new da Vinci surgical procedures in Japan is led by the surgical societies. The societies submit for 

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reimbursement or incremental reimbursement to the MHLW for their evaluation. The decision to reimburse requires in-country 
clinical  data  and  is  fixed  in  April  of  even-numbered  years.  In  September  2022,  we  received  regulatory  clearance  for  the  da 
Vinci SP surgical system in Japan for the same set of procedures as can be performed on the da Vinci Xi surgical system in 
Japan.

European Union

The  EU  has  adopted  specific  directives  and  regulations  regulating  the  design,  manufacture,  clinical  investigation, 
conformity assessment, labeling, and adverse event reporting for medical devices. In the EU, all medical devices placed on the 
EU  market  must  meet  the  essential  requirements,  including  the  requirement  that  a  medical  device  must  be  designed  and 
manufactured in such a way that it will not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients, or the safety and health of 
users  and  others.  In  addition,  the  device  must  achieve  the  performance  intended  by  the  manufacturer  and  be  designed, 
manufactured, and packaged in a suitable manner.

Until  and  including  May  25,  2021,  medical  devices  were  regulated  by  Council  Directive  93/42/EEC  (the  “EU  Medical 
Devices  Directive”  or  “MDD”),  which  has  been  repealed  and  replaced  by  Regulation  (EU)  No  2017/745  (the  “EU  Medical 
Devices Regulation” or “MDR”). Some of our current certificates have been granted under the MDD. However, as of May 26, 
2021,  some  of  the  MDR  requirements  apply  in  place  of  the  corresponding  requirements  of  the  MDD  with  regard  to  the 
registration  of  economic  operators  and  of  devices,  post-market  surveillance,  and  vigilance.  Pursuing  marketing  of  medical 
devices  in  the  EU  requires  that  our  devices  be  certified  under  the  new  regime  set  forth  in  the  MDR,  and  we  are  diligently 
pursuing our plan to be fully compliant by May 26, 2024.

Medical Devices Directive

Under  the  EU  Medical  Devices  Directive,  all  medical  devices  placed  on  the  market  in  the  EU  must  meet  the  essential 
requirements laid down in Annex I to the EU Medical Devices Directive, including the requirement that a medical device must 
be designed and manufactured in such a way that it will not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients or the safety 
and  health  of  users  and  others.  In  addition,  the  device  must  achieve  the  performance  intended  by  the  manufacturer  and  be 
designed,  manufactured,  and  packaged  in  a  suitable  manner.  The  European  Commission  has  adopted  various  standards 
applicable to medical devices. These include standards governing common requirements, such as the sterilization and safety of 
medical electrical equipment and product standards for certain types of medical devices. There are also harmonized standards 
relating  to  design  and  manufacture.  While  not  mandatory,  compliance  with  these  standards  is  viewed  as  the  easiest  way  to 
satisfy  the  essential  requirements  as  a  practical  matter,  as  it  creates  a  rebuttable  presumption  that  the  device  satisfies  the 
essential requirements.

Except for low-risk medical devices (Class I non-sterile, non-measuring devices), where the manufacturer can self-assess 
the  conformity  of  its  products  with  the  essential  requirements  (except  for  any  parts  that  relate  to  sterility  or  metrology),  a 
conformity  assessment  procedure  requires  the  intervention  of  a  notified  body.  Notified  bodies  are  independent  organizations 
designated by EU member states to assess the conformity of devices before being placed on the market. A notified body would 
typically  audit  and  examine  a  product’s  technical  dossiers  and  the  manufacturer’s  quality  system  (the  notified  body  must 
presume that quality systems that implement the relevant harmonized standards, which is ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Devices 
Quality Management Systems, conform to these requirements). If satisfied that the relevant product conforms to the relevant 
essential requirements, the notified body issues a certificate of conformity, which the manufacturer uses as a basis for its own 
declaration  of  conformity.  The  manufacturer  may  then  apply  the  Conformité  Européenne  mark  (“CE  mark”)  to  the  device, 
which allows the device to be placed on the market throughout the EU.

Throughout  the  term  of  the  certificate  of  conformity,  the  manufacturer  will  be  subject  to  periodic  surveillance  audits  to 
verify  continued  compliance  with  the  applicable  requirements.  In  particular,  there  will  be  a  new  audit  by  the  notified  body 
before it will renew the relevant certificate(s).

Medical Devices Regulation

On April 5, 2017, the MDR was adopted with the aim of ensuring better protection of public health and patient safety. The 
MDR establishes a uniform, transparent, predictable, and sustainable regulatory framework across the EU for medical devices 
and ensures a high level of safety and health while supporting innovation. Unlike directives, regulations are directly applicable 
in EU member states without the need for member states to implement into national law. This aims at increasing harmonization 
across the EU.

The  MDR  became  effective  on  May  26,  2021.  In  accordance  with  its  recently  extended  transitional  provisions,  both  (i) 
devices lawfully placed on the market pursuant to the MDD prior to May 26, 2021, and (ii) legacy devices lawfully placed on 
the  EU  market  from  May  26,  2021,  in  accordance  with  the  MDR  transitional  provisions  may  generally  continue  to  be  made 
available on the market or put into service, provided that the requirements of the transitional provisions are fulfilled. However, 
even  in  this  case,  manufacturers  must  comply  with  a  number  of  new  or  reinforced  requirements  set  forth  in  the  MDR,  in 
particular the obligations described below.

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The MDR requires that, before placing a device on the market, other than a custom-made device, manufacturers (as well as 
other  economic  operators,  such  as  authorized  representatives  and  importers)  must  register  by  submitting  identification 
information  to  the  electronic  system  (EUDAMED),  unless  they  have  already  registered.  The  information  to  be  submitted  by 
manufacturers  (and  authorized  representatives)  also  includes  the  name,  address,  and  contact  details  of  the  person  or  persons 
responsible for regulatory compliance. The new Regulation also requires that, before placing a device on the market, other than 
a custom-made device, manufacturers must assign a unique identifier to the device and provide it along with other core data to 
the unique device identifier (“UDI”) database. These new requirements aim at ensuring better identification and traceability of 
the devices. Each device – and as applicable, each package – will have a UDI composed of two parts: a device identifier (“UDI-
DI”), specific to a device, and a production identifier (“UDI-PI”) to identify the unit producing the device. Manufacturers are 
also notably responsible for entering the necessary data on EUDAMED, which includes the UDI database, and for keeping it up 
to date. The obligations for registration in EUDAMED will become applicable at a later date (as EUDAMED is not yet fully 
functional). Until EUDAMED is fully functional, the corresponding provisions of the MDD continue to apply for the purpose 
of  meeting  the  obligations  laid  down  in  the  provisions  regarding  exchange  of  information,  including,  and  in  particular, 
information regarding registration of devices and economic operators.

All  manufacturers  placing  medical  devices  on  the  market  in  the  EU  must  comply  with  the  EU  medical  device  vigilance 
system,  which  has  been  reinforced  by  the  MDR.  Under  this  system,  serious  incidents  and  Field  Safety  Corrective  Actions 
(“FSCAs”)  must  be  reported  to  the  relevant  authorities  of  the  EU  member  states.  These  reports  will  have  to  be  submitted 
through  EUDAMED  (once  functional)  and  aim  to  ensure  that,  in  addition  to  reporting  to  the  relevant  authorities  of  the  EU 
member states, other actors, such as the economic operators in the supply chain, will also be informed. Until EUDAMED is 
fully functional, the corresponding provisions of the MDD continue to apply. Manufacturers are required to take FSCAs, which 
are defined as any corrective action for technical or medical reasons to prevent or reduce a risk of a serious incident associated 
with the use of a medical device that is made available on the market. A serious incident is any malfunction or deterioration in 
the characteristics or performance of a device on the market (e.g., inadequacy in the information supplied by the manufacturer, 
undesirable side-effect, etc.), which, directly or indirectly, might lead to either the death or serious deterioration of the health of 
a patient, user, or other persons, or to a serious public health threat.

The  advertising  and  promotion  of  medical  devices  are  subject  to  some  general  principles  set  forth  in  EU  legislation. 
According to the MDR, only devices that are CE marked may be marketed and advertised in the EU in accordance with their 
intended  purpose.  Directive  2006/114/EC  concerning  misleading  and  comparative  advertising  and  Directive  2005/29/EC  on 
unfair commercial practices, while not specific to the advertising of medical devices, also apply to the advertising thereof and 
contain  general  rules,  for  example,  requiring  that  advertisements  are  evidenced,  balanced,  and  not  misleading.  Specific 
requirements  are  defined  at  a  national  level.  EU  member  states’  laws  related  to  the  advertising  and  promotion  of  medical 
devices, which vary between jurisdictions, may limit or restrict the advertising and promotion of products to the general public 
and may impose limitations on promotional activities with healthcare professionals.

Many EU member states have adopted specific anti-gift statutes that further limit commercial practices for medical devices, 
in  particular  vis-à-vis  healthcare  professionals  and  organizations.  Additionally,  there  has  been  a  recent  trend  of  increased 
regulation of payments and transfers of value provided to healthcare professionals or entities and many EU member states have 
adopted national “Sunshine Acts,” which impose reporting and transparency requirements (often on an annual basis), similar to 
the  requirements  in  the  United  States,  on  medical  device  manufacturers.  Certain  countries  also  mandate  implementation  of 
commercial compliance programs.

In  the  EU,  regulatory  authorities  have  the  power  to  carry  out  announced  and,  if  necessary,  unannounced  inspections  of 
companies,  as  well  as  suppliers  and/or  sub-contractors  and,  where  necessary,  the  facilities  of  professional  users.  Failure  to 
comply with regulatory requirements (as applicable) could require time and resources to respond to the regulatory authorities’ 
observations and to implement corrective and preventive actions, as appropriate. Regulatory authorities have broad compliance 
and  enforcement  powers  and,  if  such  issues  cannot  be  resolved  to  their  satisfaction,  can  take  a  variety  of  actions,  including 
untitled or warning letters, fines, consent decrees, injunctions, or civil or criminal penalties.

The aforementioned EU rules are generally applicable in the EEA, which consists of the 27 EU Member States as well as 

Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

Brexit

Since  January  1,  2021,  the  Medicines  and  Healthcare  Products  Regulatory  Agency  (“MHRA”)  has  been  the  sovereign 
regulatory authority responsible for the Great Britain (i.e., England, Wales, and Scotland) medical device market. Following the 
end of the Brexit transitional period on January 1, 2021, new regulations require all medical devices to be registered with the 
MHRA  before  being  placed  on  the  Great  Britain  market.  From  January  1,  2022,  non-UK  manufacturers  were  required  to 
appoint a UK Responsible Person for the purposes of registering devices placed on the Great Britain market. Under the terms of 
the  Protocol  on  Ireland/Northern  Ireland,  the  MDR  applies  to  medical  devices  placed  on  the  Northern  Ireland  market  in  the 
same way as it applies to medical devices marketed in the EU.

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On June 26, 2022, the MHRA published its response to a 10-week consultation on the future regulation of medical devices 
in the UK. Regulations implementing the new regime were originally scheduled to come into force in July 2023 but the MHRA 
has recently confirmed that it is now aiming for the core aspects of the new regime to apply from July 1, 2025. Devices bearing 
CE  marks  issued  by  EU  notified  bodies  under  the  MDR  or  MDD  are  now  subject  to  transitional  arrangements.  The  UK 
Government  has  introduced  legislation  that  provides  that  CE-marked  medical  devices  may  be  placed  on  the  Great  Britain 
market on the following timelines:

•

•

general medical devices compliant with the EU MDD or EU active implantable medical devices directive with a valid 
declaration and CE marking can be placed on the Great Britain market up until the sooner of expiry of the certificate or 
June 30, 2028; and

general  medical  devices,  including  custom-made  devices,  compliant  with  the  EU  MDR  can  be  placed  on  the  Great 
Britain market up until June 30, 2030.

Following  these  transitional  periods,  it  is  anticipated  that  all  medical  devices  will  require  a  UK  Conformity  Assessed 
(“UKCA”) mark in order to be placed on the market in Great Britain. Manufacturers may choose to use the UKCA mark on a 
voluntary  basis  prior  to  entry  of  the  new  regulations  on  July  1,  2025.  However,  from  July  2025,  products  that  do  not  have 
existing  and  valid  certification  under  the  EU  Medical  Devices  Directive  or  EU  MDR  and,  therefore,  are  not  subject  to  the 
transitional arrangements will be required to carry the UKCA mark if they are to be sold into the market in Great Britain. For 
products to be sold into the market in Northern Ireland, CE marking will continue to be recognized as a result of the Northern 
Ireland  Protocol  implemented  following  the  UK’s  exit  from  the  EU.  UKCA  marking  will  not  be  recognized  in  the  EU. 
Following the transitional period, compliance with the UK regulations will be a prerequisite to be able to affix the UKCA mark 
to our products, without which they cannot be sold or marketed in Great Britain.

In addition, the Trade Deal between the UK and the EU generally provides for cooperation and exchange of information 
between  the  parties  in  the  areas  of  product  safety  and  compliance,  including  market  surveillance,  enforcement  activities  and 
measures,  standardization-related  activities,  exchanges  of  officials,  and  coordinated  product  recalls.  As  such,  processes  for 
compliance and reporting should reflect requirements from regulatory authorities.

Other countries

Regulations in other countries, including the requirements for approvals, certification, or clearance and the time required 
for  regulatory  review,  vary  from  country  to  country.  Certain  countries,  such  as  South  Korea,  Brazil,  Australia,  India,  and 
Canada,  have  their  own  regulatory  agencies.  These  countries  typically  require  regulatory  approvals  and  compliance  with 
extensive  safety  and  quality  system  regulations  included  in  the  MDSAP  (Medical  Device  Single  Audit  Program)  that  we 
comply  with  every  year  as  part  of  our  annual  audit  program.  Failure  to  obtain  regulatory  approval  in  any  foreign  country  in 
which we plan to market our products, or failure to comply with any regulation in any foreign country in which we market our 
products may negatively impact our ability to generate revenue and harm our business.

In addition, local regulations may apply, which govern the use of our products and which could have an adverse effect on 
our product utilization if they are unfavorable. All such regulations are revised from time to time and, in general, are increasing 
in complexity and in the scope and degree of documentation and testing required. There can be no assurance that the outcomes 
from such documentation and testing will be acceptable to any particular regulatory agency or will continue to be acceptable 
over time. There are further regulations governing the importation, marketing, sale, distribution, use, and service as well as the 
removal and disposal of medical devices in the regions in which we operate and market our products. Failure to comply with 
any of these regulations could result in sanctions or fines and could prevent us from marketing our products in these regions.

Third-Party Coverage and Payment

Our customers, including physicians, hospitals, and outpatient facilities, typically bill third-party payors for the costs and 
fees associated with the procedures in which our products are used. In the U.S., in order to receive payment for the procedures 
performed using our products, our customers must report codes that describe the services or products furnished and determine 
the  medical  necessity  of  the  service  or  whether  the  service  is  included  in  the  payors’  policy.  In  the  U.S.  and  most  markets 
globally where we sell our products, payment for medical services and surgical procedures to hospitals, outpatient facilities, and 
surgeons (collectively “providers”) is determined by the government, commercial payors (insurers), or both.

In  the  U.S.,  the  CMS  and  its  fiscal  intermediaries  (Medicare  Administrative  Contractors)  and  state  Medicaid  programs 
establish reimbursement policies for medical and surgical services at the state and federal level for the Medicare and Medicaid 
programs. Third-party payors often rely upon Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own coverage 
and payment policies but also have their own methods and approval processes. Commercial payors in non-capitated contracts 
commonly establish payment to providers based on a percentage of the Medicare payment rate.

Physicians  and  outpatient  facilities  bill  for  medical  and  surgical  services  by  reporting  a  combination  of  billing  codes. 
Current Procedural Terminology (“CPT”) codes are created by the American Medical Association (“AMA”) with input from 

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CMS  and  commercial  payors  to  describe  medical  and  surgical  procedures.  CPT  codes  currently  exist  for  minimally  invasive 
surgical procedures, which may involve the da Vinci surgical system, as well as for robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, which may 
involve the Ion endoluminal system. In general, the majority of payors, including Medicare, consider robotic assistance as a tool 
used  to  perform  the  procedure  and  do  not  pay  providers  more  for  a  procedure  that  involves  robotic  assistance  using  the  da 
Vinci, Ion, or any other robotic system. Because there is often no separate payment for the use of our products, the additional 
cost associated with the use of our products can affect the profit margin of the hospital or surgery center where the procedure is 
performed. If hospitals do not obtain sufficient payment from third-party payors for procedures performed with our products or 
if governmental and private payors’ policies do not cover surgical procedures performed using our products, hospital adoption 
or  utilization  of  our  products  could  be  negatively  impacted,  and  we  may  not  be  able  to  generate  the  revenue  necessary  to 
support our business.

Hospitals bill for inpatient services by reporting ICD-10-PCS codes. CMS is primarily responsible for overseeing changes 
and  modifications  to  ICD-10-PCS  codes.  Medicare  payments  to  hospitals  for  services  provided  during  an  inpatient  stay  are 
based  on  the  Inpatient  Prospective  Payment  System  (“IPPS”).  Under  the  IPPS,  each  patient  discharge  is  categorized  into  a 
Medicare  Severity  Adjusted  Diagnosis-Related  Group  (“MS-DRG”  or  “DRG”).  Each  DRG  has  an  assigned  payment  weight 
based on the average resources used for Medicare patients in that DRG, taking into account the patient’s principal diagnosis, 
surgical  procedures,  age,  discharge  status,  and  additional  or  secondary  diagnoses,  among  other  things.  The  DRG  is  a  single, 
bundled payment intended to cover all costs associated with the inpatient admission.

The use of robotic technology does not influence the MS-DRG assignment or payment for an inpatient admission related to 
a  surgical  procedure.  CMS  annually  updates  hospital  inpatient  and  outpatient  payments  based  on  hospitals’  charge  data. 
Hospital inpatient and outpatient payments are also adjusted based on whether the hospital is a teaching hospital, its geographic 
location, and any failures to meet certain quality metrics, among other factors.

Commercial payors commonly establish inpatient facility payment for providers using published Medicare DRG rates as a 
benchmark.  In  some  uncommon  cases,  commercial  payors  pay  for  inpatient  hospital  admissions  on  a  per  diem  basis. 
Commercial payment to providers varies depending on the procedure performed, geographic location, contractual allowances, 
and other factors.

Medicare and commercial payor payments to facilities for medical and surgical services may not always fully reimburse 
providers  for  all  costs  associated  with  furnishing  these  procedures.  If  payment  is  insufficient  for  procedures  involving  our 
technology, hospitals and physicians may decide not to use our products.

In countries outside of the U.S., payment for surgical services to physicians and facilities differs considerably and varies by 
country. In some markets, there is a single public payor who provides a global annual budget to hospitals to provide all care to 
the population served in a designated geographic area. In other markets, private insurance can be purchased or is provided by 
employers  to  supplement  public  health  insurance.  In  some  countries,  patients  may  be  permitted  to  pay  directly  for  surgical 
services; however, such “co-pay” practices are not common (or allowed) in many countries. Further, in many global markets, 
access  to  procedures  and  technology  is  governed  or  heavily  influenced  by  Health  Technology  Assessment  (“HTA”) 
organizations,  which  conduct  periodic  and  extensive  evidence-based  reviews  of  the  clinical  value  and  cost  effectiveness  of  a 
new technology. To effectively conduct our business, we may need to seek OUS reimbursement approvals, and we do not know 
if these required approvals will be obtained in a timely manner or at all. In addition, in some markets, HTA organizations may 
publish reports with mixed conclusions about the clinical and economic value of our products to the population. Such reviews 
could negatively impact hospital adoption of our technology.

Healthcare Reform

In the U.S., there have been, and continue to be, legislative initiatives designed to contain healthcare costs. In March 2010, 
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (collectively, 
the  “ACA”),  was  enacted.  The  ACA  made  changes  that  have  significantly  impacted  healthcare  providers,  insurers, 
pharmaceutical  companies,  and  medical  device  manufacturers.  The  ACA  contained  provisions  designed  to  generate  the 
revenues  necessary  to  fund  health  insurance  coverage  expansion  and  appropriated  funding  to  research  the  comparative 
effectiveness of healthcare treatments and strategies. To date, this research has had a negligible effect on Medicare coverage 
and reimbursement decisions as well as influence on other third-party payor coverage and reimbursement policies.

Since its enactment, there have been judicial, executive, and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA. On 
June  17,  2021,  the  U.S.  Supreme  Court  dismissed  the  most  recent  judicial  challenge  to  the  ACA  brought  by  several  states 
without specifically ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA. Thus, the ACA remained in effect in its current form.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA became law. These changes included 
an aggregate reduction in Medicare payments, which went into effect on April 1, 2013, and will remain in effect through 2032, 
unless additional Congressional action is taken, with the exception of a temporary suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
from  May  1,  2020,  through  March  31,  2022.  On  January  2,  2013,  the  American  Taxpayer  Relief  Act  of  2012  became  law, 

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which,  among  other  things,  further  reduced  Medicare  payments  to  several  types  of  providers,  including  hospitals,  imaging 
centers, and cancer treatment centers. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, enacted on April 16, 2015 
(“MACRA”), repealed the formula by which Medicare made annual payment adjustments to physicians and replaced the former 
formula  with  fixed  annual  updates  and  a  new  system  of  incentive  payments  that  began  in  2019  and  are  based  on  various 
performance  measures  and  physicians’  participation  in  alternative  payment  models,  such  as  accountable  care  organizations. 
Individual  states  in  the  U.S.  have  also  become  increasingly  aggressive  in  passing  legislation  and  implementing  regulations 
designed to control product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints and discounts, and require marketing 
cost disclosure and transparency measures.

In the U.S. and abroad, reimbursement is dynamic and subject to change annually by public and private payors. Congress 
and government agencies may also intervene and pass legislation that is intended to reduce healthcare spending, which could 
impact market access. Such legislative interventions can vacillate significantly based on government leadership. Other federal 
or state healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business. Any 
regulatory  or  legislative  developments  in  domestic  or  foreign  markets  that  eliminate  or  reduce  reimbursement  rates  for 
procedures performed with our products could harm our ability to sell our products or cause downward pressure on the prices of 
our products, either of which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of business operations.

Similar reform measures may be adopted in foreign jurisdictions. For instance, on December 13, 2021, the EU Regulation 
No  2021/2282  on  HTA,  amending  Directive  2011/24/EU,  was  adopted.  While  the  Regulation  entered  into  force  in  January 
2022, it will only begin to apply from January 2025 onwards, with preparatory and implementation-related steps to take place in 
the  interim.  Once  applicable,  it  will  have  a  phased  implementation  depending  on  the  concerned  products.  This  Regulation 
intends  to  boost  cooperation  among  EU  member  states  in  assessing  health  technologies,  including  certain  high-risk  medical 
devices, and provide the basis for cooperation at the EU level for joint clinical assessments in these areas. It will permit EU 
member states to use common HTA tools, methodologies, and procedures across the EU, working together in four main areas, 
including  joint  clinical  assessment  of  the  innovative  health  technologies  with  the  highest  potential  impact  for  patients,  joint 
scientific  consultations  whereby  developers  can  seek  advice  from  HTA  authorities,  identification  of  emerging  health 
technologies  to  identify  promising  technologies  early,  and  continuing  voluntary  cooperation  in  other  areas.  Individual  EU 
member states will continue to be responsible for assessing non-clinical (e.g., economic, social, ethical, etc.) aspects of health 
technology and making decisions on pricing and reimbursement.

Human Capital

The future success of our company depends on our ability to attract, retain, and further develop top talent. We enable this 
by  continuously  striving  to  make  Intuitive  an  inclusive,  diverse,  and  safe  workplace  with  opportunities  for  our  employees  to 
grow  and  develop  in  their  careers.  These  objectives  are  supported  through  strong  compensation,  benefits,  programs  that 
encourage employee health and wellness, and connections between our employees and the communities in which they live and 
work.

As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  had  approximately  13,676  full-time  employees,  1,795  of  whom  were  engaged  directly  in 
research  and  development,  5,846  in  manufacturing  operations,  4,098  in  commercial  and  service  operations,  and  1,937  in 
administrative activities. During 2023, the number of employees increased by approximately 1,556. Our employees are based in 
30  different  countries  around  the  world.  Our  global  workforce  consists  of  diverse,  highly  skilled  talent  at  all  levels.  During 
2023, our turnover rate was approximately 9.1%.

Inclusion and Diversity

Intuitive’s inclusion and diversity (“I&D”) vision is to empower our employees and customers from every background to 
fully  contribute  toward  our  mission  to  expand  the  potential  of  physicians  to  heal  without  constraints.  We  work  to  build  an 
environment where every individual can belong and flourish – in our company and the communities we serve.

We believe that everyone should feel included and fairly treated, and we embrace the unique qualities that make people 
who  they  are.  This  includes  all  genders  and  gender  identities,  races,  ethnicities,  ages,  national  origins,  native  languages, 
disabilities, sexual orientations, body sizes, military backgrounds, cognitive styles, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and 
family structures. We believe in seeking the difference to propel innovation and creativity forward.

We  have  a  four-part  strategy  to  guide  our  I&D  progress:  ensuring  an  inclusive  experience,  where  employees  from  all 
backgrounds feel welcome, supported, and valued; building a diverse workforce to fuel innovation and better mirror the patients 
we serve; continuously investing in and enhancing the fairness of our people practices and sharing progress; and strengthening 
industry engagement through collaboration with the healthcare community, diversity-focused organizations, and shareholders to 
drive  positive  change.  Employee  Resource  Groups  (“ERGs”)  have  been  one  key  area  of  I&D  focus  and  growth,  providing 
support and community for traditionally marginalized groups, including women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or questioning (“LGBTQ+”) community, military veterans, and employees with disabilities. 
Details of our employee workforce composition, including a link to our Employer Information Report (“EEO-1”) submission to 

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the  U.S.  Equal  Employment  Opportunity  Commission  (“EEOC”),  are  available  on  our  website.  Although  we  reference  the 
availability  of  our  EEO-1  on  our  website  in  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  our  EEO-1  and  any  other  materials  on  our 
website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any of our other filings under the Securities 
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act. While matters discussed in such EEO-1 and other website materials may be 
significant,  any  significance  should  not  be  read  as  necessarily  rising  to  the  level  of  materiality  used  for  the  purposes  of  our 
compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, even if we use the word “material” or “materiality” in such materials.

From a governance perspective, maintaining a mix of backgrounds and experience in our Board composition is essential to 
understanding and reflecting the needs of our diverse stakeholders. Currently, five of our 12 Board members self-identify as 
women,  and  four  of  our  12  board  members  self-identify  as  individuals  from  underrepresented  communities  (defined  as  an 
individual who self-identifies as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native 
Hawaiian, or Alaska Native, or LGBTQ+).

Health, Safety, and Wellness

The health, safety, and wellness of our employees is a priority in which we continue to invest and expand. We provide our 
employees  and  their  families  with  access  to  a  variety  of  innovative,  flexible,  and  convenient  health  and  wellness  programs. 
Program benefits are intended to provide protection, peace of mind, and security, including workplace health and safety best 
practices  integrated  into  everyday  activities  and  programs  that  support  employee  time  away  from  work,  family  care,  mental 
health, or financial well-being.

We continue to evolve our programs to respond to the best interest of our changing workforce, as well as the communities 
in which we operate, in compliance with government regulations. Each Intuitive location manages overall safety with guidance 
based on regional, country, and local regulations and best practices.

In 2023, as we moved beyond the workplace disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented new work model 
expectations with employees based on their business function and role. We designed a set of four work models that will enable 
us as a company to remain focused on our mission and our most vital priorities, while also allowing for differences across our 
varied work teams. These models include fully on-site, fully remote, and two hybrid options that provide intentional in-office 
collaboration with tailored flexibility.

Compensation and Benefits

We  provide  compensation  and  benefits  programs  to  help  meet  the  needs  of  our  employees.  In  addition  to  base 
compensation, these programs, which vary by country and region, include short-term incentives in the form of annual bonuses 
and  commissions,  long-term  incentives  in  the  form  of  stock  or  cash-based  awards,  an  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan, 
retirement savings plans, healthcare, income protection benefits, paid time off, family leave, family care resources, and flexible 
work schedules, among many others.

Ensuring  fair  and  equitable  pay  is  integral  to  our  commitment  to  our  employees.  Our  executive  team  and  Board  of 
Directors strongly support this commitment. We regularly review pay for internal equity and ensure our compensation structure 
is appropriate, including with regard to race/ethnicity and gender. We also engage outside counsel to ensure compliance with 
pay equity laws. When we identify any potential differences in pay for whatever reason, we research those differences and act if 
appropriate. 

In 2023, we conducted a full pay equity audit for our full-time U.S. workforce, adjusting for job role and location among 
other factors. Our audit found that our adjusted pay gap relative to self-identified gender was women earn 99.3% of men and 
our adjusted pay gap relative to U.S. self-identified race/ethnicity was employees of color earn 100.0% of white employees. We 
are proud to have strong pay practices and policies in place that have helped us to achieve this level of pay equity.

Employees  are  encouraged  to  share  any  pay  equity  concerns  with  management,  Human  Resources,  or  confidentially 
through our reporting hotline, including anonymously. Intuitive has a non-retaliation policy for raising any workplace concerns, 
including around pay.

Talent Development

We  value  our  employees  and  the  passion,  commitment,  and  expertise  they  contribute  to  Intuitive.  To  enhance  employee 

retention and engagement, we offer ongoing learning and leadership training opportunities that support growth.

In 2023, we rolled out Inclusive Leadership training for our entire vice president and above population. We expanded our 
leadership development offerings, including a new Manager Acceleration Program that equipped more than 700 people leaders 
globally  with  fundamental  management  skills  to  accelerate  leadership  success.  For  our  individual  contributor  employee 
population,  we  offer  a  variety  of  general  and  targeted  development  opportunities,  including  technical  skills  training,  career 
learning journeys, and networking opportunities. We also provide extra support for Employee Resource Group leaders via a 1:1 
coaching program and a series of live training sessions on career development.

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We provide a robust annual global performance and compensation planning process. In 2023, we focused on increasing the 
consistency  and  rigor  of  individual  annual  goal-setting,  which  sets  the  stage  for  our  annual  performance  and  pay  cycle.  We 
support  our  employees  throughout  the  year  with  regular  performance  and  career  check-ins,  including  our  Talent  Action 
Planning program. We also provide ongoing support to our people leaders in managing the performance of their teams, which 
includes  training  them  on  conducting  effective  career  conversations  and  performance  reviews  and  making  fair  and  equitable 
compensation  recommendations.  Compensation  guidelines  are  provided  to  leaders,  which  take  into  consideration  market  pay 
data and performance, as well as job experience.

Community Programs

We  believe  that  building  connections  between  our  employees,  their  families,  and  our  communities  creates  a  more 
meaningful, fulfilling, and enjoyable workplace. Through our engagement programs, our employees can pursue their interests 
and hobbies, connect to volunteering and giving opportunities, and enjoy unique recreational experiences with family members.

The Intuitive Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2018 and funded by Intuitive. Since its founding, the 
Intuitive  Foundation  has  been  dedicated  to  promoting  health,  advancing  education,  and  reducing  human  suffering.  The 
Foundation  supports  outreach  programs  financially  while  we  provide  the  volunteers  and  mentors  from  within  our  company. 
Since its inception, we have contributed $125 million to the Intuitive Foundation to fulfill its mission.

We encourage you to review the “Our People” and “Our Community Impact” sections of our 2023 ESG Annual Report (to 
be  made  available  on  our  website)  for  more  detailed  information  regarding  our  Human  Capital  programs  and  initiatives. 
Although we reference our ESG Annual Report available on our website in this report, this report and any other materials on 
our corporate website are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report or any other filing of the Company under the 
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act. While matters discussed in such ESG Annual Report and website 
materials may be significant, any significance should not be read as necessarily rising to the level of materiality used for the 
purposes of our compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, even if we use the word “material” or “materiality” in such 
materials.

General

We make our periodic and current reports, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, 
Current  Reports  on  Form  8-K,  and  any  amendments  to  those  reports,  available  free  of  charge  on  our  website  as  soon  as 
practicable after such material is electronically filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). 
Our website address is www.intuitive.com, and the reports are filed under “SEC Filings” on the Company — Investor Relations 
portion of our website. Periodically, we webcast Company announcements, product launch events, and executive presentations, 
which can be viewed via our Investor Relations page on our website. In addition, we provide notifications of our material news, 
including SEC filings, investor events, and press releases as part of our Investor Relations page on our website. The contents of 
our website are not intended to be incorporated by reference into this report or in any other report or document we file, and any 
references to our website are intended to be inactive textual references only. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains 
reports,  proxy  and  information  statements,  and  other  information  regarding  issuers  that  file  electronically  with  the  SEC  at 
www.sec.gov.  The  contents  of  these  websites  are  not  incorporated  into  this  filing.  Further,  references  to  the  URLs  for  these 
websites are intended to be inactive textual references only.

We operate our business as one segment, as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our financial results 
for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 are discussed in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 
Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations”  and  “Item  8.  Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data”  of  this  Annual 
Report.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. was founded in 1995. We are a Delaware corporation with our principal executive offices located at 
1020  Kifer  Road,  Sunnyvale,  California  94086.  Our  telephone  number  is  (408)  523-2100,  and  our  website  address  is 
www.intuitive.com.

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ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

You should consider each of the following risk factors, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or 
future  results  of  operations.  Additional  risks  and  uncertainties  not  currently  known  to  us  or  that  we  currently  deem  to  be 
immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results of operations. In addition, the 
global economic environment and additional or unforeseen effects from COVID-19 amplify many of these risks.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS

OUR  MARKETS  ARE  HIGHLY  COMPETITIVE,  AND  CUSTOMERS  MAY  CHOOSE  TO  PURCHASE  OUR 
COMPETITORS’  PRODUCTS  OR  SERVICES  OR  MAY  NOT  ACCEPT  ROBOTIC-ASSISTED  MEDICAL 
PROCEDURES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN REDUCED REVENUE AND LOSS OF MARKET SHARE.

Robotic-assisted surgery with a da Vinci surgical system or robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with an Ion endoluminal system 
are technologies that compete with established and emerging treatment options in reconstructive medical procedures or disease 
management. These competitive treatment options include open surgery, conventional MIS, drug therapies, radiation treatment, 
and  other  emerging  diagnostic  and  interventional  surgical  approaches.  Some  of  these  procedures  are  widely  accepted  in  the 
medical community and, in many cases, have a long history of use. Technological advances could make such treatments more 
effective or less expensive than using our products, which could render our products obsolete or unmarketable. Studies could be 
published  that  show  that  other  treatment  options  are  more  beneficial  and/or  cost-effective  than  robotic-assisted  medical 
procedures. For example, in 2023, certain drugs initially approved for use in diabetes patients gained market acceptance for use 
in  weight  loss  following  FDA  approvals  for  weight  loss  indications.  The  availability  and  effectiveness  of  weight  loss  drugs 
have adversely impacted our da Vinci surgical system bariatric procedures by causing some patients to reconsider the surgical 
option. At this time, it is difficult to predict the long-term market impact of these drugs, including their long-term efficacy and 
potential drawbacks. We cannot be certain that physicians will use our products to replace or supplement established treatments 
or that our products will continue to be competitive with current or future technologies.

Additionally,  we  face  or  expect  to  face  competition  from  companies  that  develop  or  have  developed  wristed,  robotic-
assisted,  or  computer-assisted  medical  systems  and  products.  Companies  have  introduced  products  in  the  field  of  robotic 
medical  procedures  or  have  made  explicit  statements  about  their  efforts  to  enter  the  field  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the 
following  companies:  Asensus  Surgical,  Inc.;  Beijing  Surgerii  Robotics  Company  Limited;  CMR  Surgical  Ltd.;  Johnson  & 
Johnson;  Medicaroid  Corporation;  Medtronic  plc;  meerecompany  Inc.;  Noah  Medical;  Shandong  Weigao  Group  Medical 
Polymer  Company  Ltd.;  Shanghai  Microport  Medbot  (Group)  Co.,  Ltd.;  and  Shenzhen  Edge  Medical  Co.,  Ltd.  Other 
companies  with  substantial  experience  in  industrial  robotics  could  potentially  expand  into  the  field  of  medical  robotics  and 
become competitors. Our revenues may be reduced due to pricing pressure or eliminated if our competitors develop and market 
products that are more effective or less expensive than our products. If we are unable to compete successfully, our revenues will 
suffer, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or result of operations. We may not be 
able  to  maintain  or  improve  our  competitive  position  against  current  or  potential  competitors,  especially  those  with  greater 
resources.

In addition, third-party service providers that service da Vinci surgical system and Ion endoluminal system operators may 
emerge and compete with us on price or offerings. To date, substantially all of our customers have sourced services on their 
systems  from  us  through  service  contract  commitments  or  time  and  materials  contracts.  Furthermore,  there  are  third-party 
service providers offering consulting services targeted at analyzing the cost-effectiveness of hospitals’ robotic-assisted medical 
programs,  including  procedures  performed,  placement  of  systems,  and  consumption  of  instruments  and  accessories.  We 
currently provide similar services and analysis to our customers, but it is difficult to assess the impact that this may have on our 
business. If we are unable to compete successfully with any third-party service providers, our revenues may suffer.

MACROECONOMIC  CONDITIONS  COULD  MATERIALLY  ADVERSELY  AFFECT  OUR  BUSINESS, 
FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Macroeconomic  conditions,  such  as  high  inflationary  pressure,  changes  to  monetary  policy,  high  interest  rates,  volatile 
currency exchange rates, credit and sovereign debt concerns, concerns about slowed growth in China and other OUS markets, 
decreasing consumer confidence and spending, including capital spending, concerns about the stability and liquidity of certain 
financial  institutions,  the  introduction  of  or  changes  in  tariffs  or  trade  barriers,  and  global  or  local  recessions  can  adversely 
impact  demand  for  our  products,  which  could  negatively  impact  our  business,  financial  condition,  or  results  of  operations. 
Recent macroeconomic conditions have been adversely impacted by geopolitical instability and military hostilities in multiple 
geographies  (including  the  conflict  between  Ukraine  and  Russia  and  the  conflict  between  Israel  and  Hamas),  monetary  and 
financial uncertainties, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The  results  of  these  macroeconomic  conditions,  and  the  actions  taken  by  governments,  central  banks,  companies,  and 
consumers in response, have resulted in, and may continue to result in, higher inflation in the U.S. and globally, which is likely, 
in turn, to lead to an increase in costs and may cause changes in fiscal and monetary policy, including additional increases in 

27

interest  rates.  Other  adverse  impacts  of  recent  macroeconomic  conditions  have  been,  and  may  continue  to  be,  supply  chain 
constraints,  logistics  challenges,  liquidity  concerns  in  the  broader  financial  services  industry,  and  fluctuations  in  labor 
availability.

Adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties, or other third parties, or concerns or 
rumors about these events, have in the past led to, and may in the future lead to, market-wide liquidity problems. For example, 
on  March  10,  2023,  Silicon  Valley  Bank  (“SVB”)  was  closed  by  the  California  Department  of  Financial  Protection  and 
Innovation, which appointed the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as receiver. Similarly, other institutions 
have  been,  and  may  continue  to  be,  swept  into  receivership.  Uncertainty  may  remain  over  liquidity  concerns  in  the  broader 
financial services industry, and there may be unpredictable impacts to our business and our industry.

In a higher inflationary environment, we may be unable to raise the prices of our products and services sufficiently to keep 
up with the rate of inflation. Impacts from inflationary pressures could be more pronounced and materially adversely impact 
aspects of our business where revenue streams and cost commitments are linked to contractual agreements that extend further 
into the future, as we may not be able to quickly or easily adjust pricing, reduce costs, or implement countermeasures. A higher 
inflationary environment can also negatively impact raw material, component, and logistics costs that, in turn, may increase the 
costs of producing and distributing our products.

Furthermore,  hospitals  and  distributors  may  choose  to  postpone  or  reduce  spending  due  to  financial  difficulties  or 
difficulties  in  obtaining  credit  to  finance  purchases  of  our  products  due  to  increased  interest  rates  and  restraints  on  credit. 
Hospitals and distributors may also be adversely affected by the liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry, as 
described above, that could result in delayed access or loss of access to uninsured deposits or loss of their ability to draw on 
existing credit facilities involving a troubled or failed financial institution. Hospitals, in particular, are experiencing and may 
continue to experience financial and operational pressures as a result of staffing shortages, the supply chain environment, and 
high inflation, which could impact their ability to access capital markets and other funding sources, increase the cost of funding, 
or  impede  their  ability  to  comply  with  debt  covenants,  all  of  which  could  impede  their  ability  to  provide  patient  care,  defer 
elective surgeries, and impact their profitability. To the extent that hospitals face financial pressures, delayed access or loss of 
access  to  uninsured  deposits,  delayed  access  or  loss  of  ability  to  draw  on  existing  credit  facilities,  reductions  in  government 
spending, or higher interest rates, hospitals’ ability or willingness to spend on capital equipment may be adversely impacted, all 
of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Additionally, with 
economic  uncertainty,  an  increase  in  unemployment  rates,  and  increasing  health  insurance  premiums,  co-payments  and 
deductibles may result in cost-conscious consumers pursuing fewer elective surgical procedures, which, in turn, could adversely 
affect procedure volumes and system demand.

We are unable to predict the impact of efforts by central banks and federal, state, and local governments to combat elevated 
levels  of  inflation.  If  their  efforts  to  create  downward  pressure  on  inflation  are  too  aggressive,  they  may  lead  to  a  recession. 
Alternatively,  if  they  are  insufficient  or  are  not  sustained  long  enough  to  bring  inflation  to  lower,  more  acceptable  levels, 
hospitals’ ability or willingness to spend on capital equipment may be impacted for a prolonged period of time. If a recession 
occurs,  economies  weaken,  or  inflationary  trends  continue,  our  business  and  operating  results  could  be  materially  adversely 
affected.

Also,  we  have,  and  may  continue  to,  experience  supply  chain  constraints  due  to  the  current  supply  chain  environment, 
including difficulties obtaining a sufficient supply of component materials used in our products. If interest rates continue to rise, 
access  to  credit  may  become  more  difficult,  which  may  result  in  the  insolvency  of  key  suppliers,  including  single-source 
suppliers, which would exacerbate supply chain challenges. Such supply chain constraints could cause us to fail to meet product 
demand, which could result in deferred or canceled procedures.

WE ARE SUBJECT TO A VARIETY OF RISKS DUE TO OUR OPERATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.

We manufacture, perform research and development activities, and distribute our products in OUS markets. Revenue from 
OUS markets accounted for approximately 34%, 33%, and 33% of our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 
and 2021, respectively. Our OUS operations are, and will continue to be, subject to a number of risks including:

•

the  failure  to  obtain  or  maintain  the  same  degree  of  protection  against  infringement  of  our  intellectual  property 
rights due to differing intellectual property protection laws in OUS countries from those in the U.S.;

• multiple OUS regulatory requirements that are subject to change and that could impact our ability to manufacture 

and sell our products;
changes in tariffs, trade barriers, and regulatory requirements;
protectionist  laws,  policies,  and  business  practices  that  favor  local  competitors  or  lead  to  non-U.S.  customers 
favoring domestic technology solutions, which could slow our growth in OUS markets;
local or national regulations that make it difficult or impractical to market or use our products;

U.S. relations with the governments of the other countries in which we operate;

•
•

•

•

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•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

the inability or regulatory limitations on our ability to move goods across borders;

the risks associated with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

the difficulty in establishing, staffing, and managing OUS operations, including differing labor relations;

the expense of establishing facilities and operations in new foreign markets;

the  building  and  maintenance  of  an  organization  capable  of  supporting  geographically  dispersed  operations, 
including appropriate business procedures and controls;

anti-corruption laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), and other local laws prohibiting 
corrupt payments to government officials;

antitrust and anti-competition laws;

economic  weakness,  including  inflation,  or  political  instability  in  particular  foreign  economies  and  markets, 
including exposure to a higher degree of financial risk if we extend credit to customers in these economies; and

business interruptions due to natural disasters, outbreak of disease, climate change, and other events beyond our 
control.

For  example,  in  Israel,  we  have  certain  research  and  development  operations  primarily  related  to  digital  products. 
Depending on the length and extent of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, there may be adverse impacts to certain research 
and development timelines.

Also,  we  have  increased,  and  will  continue  to  increase,  our  operations  in  China.  There  is  inherent  risk,  based  on  the 
complex relationships between China and the U.S., that political, diplomatic, military, or other events could result in business 
disruptions,  including  increased  regulatory  enforcement  against  companies,  tariffs,  trade  embargoes,  or  export  restrictions. 
Tariffs increase the cost of our products and the components and raw materials that go into making them. These increased costs 
adversely  impact  the  gross  margin  that  we  earn  on  our  products.  Tariffs  can  also  make  our  products  more  expensive  for 
customers,  which  could  make  our  products  less  competitive  and  reduce  consumer  demand.  Countries  may  also  adopt  other 
measures, such as controls on imports or exports of goods, technology, or data, which could adversely impact our operations 
and  supply  chain  and  limit  our  ability  to  offer  our  products  and  services  as  designed.  These  measures  can  require  us  to  take 
various actions, including changing suppliers and restructuring business relationships. Changing our operations in accordance 
with  new  or  changed  trade  restrictions  can  be  expensive,  time-consuming,  disruptive  to  our  operations  and  distracting  to 
management.  Such  restrictions  can  be  announced  with  little  or  no  advance  notice,  and  we  may  not  be  able  to  effectively 
mitigate all adverse impacts from such measures. Political uncertainty surrounding trade and other international disputes could 
also have a negative effect on consumer confidence and spending. Any of these events could reduce customer demand, increase 
the cost of our products and services, or otherwise have a materially adverse impact on our customers’ and suppliers’ businesses 
or results of operations.

For  example,  in  2020,  the  U.S.  government  amended  the  Entity  List  rules  to  expand  the  requirement  to  obtain  a  license 
prior to the export of certain technologies. In addition, in 2020, a new U.S. regulation seeks to prohibit the U.S. government 
from  contracting  with  companies  who  use  the  products  or  services  of  certain  Chinese  companies.  We  believe  that  these 
regulations do not materially adversely impact our business at this time but cannot predict the impact that additional regulatory 
changes  may  have  on  our  business  in  the  future.  These  actions  or  similar  actions  may  result  in  policies  and  regulations  in 
response that could adversely affect our business operations in China or may otherwise limit our ability to offer our products 
and services in China and other parts of the world.

Additionally, in July 2023, the Chinese government launched a one-year anti-corruption campaign targeting the healthcare 
sector. The efforts of this campaign largely aim to curb kickbacks and corruption among individuals who have exploited their 
positions within medical institutions. As a result of this anti-corruption campaign, the medical institutions have heightened their 
scrutiny with respect to initiating tenders. Therefore, some tenders were cancelled or delayed without an updated timeline. In 
the third and fourth quarters of 2023, the effect of this anti-corruption campaign contributed to fewer systems being placed in 
China. Currently, the extent of the impact of this anti-corruption campaign on our business remains uncertain.

Following  a  national  referendum  and  enactment  of  legislation  by  the  government  of  the  UK,  the  UK  formally  withdrew 
from  the  EU  and  ratified  a  trade  and  cooperation  agreement  governing  its  relationship  with  the  EU.  The  EU–UK  Trade  and 
Cooperation Agreement (the “TCA”) was applied provisionally as of January 1, 2021, and entered into force on May 1, 2021. 
The TCA does not specifically refer to medical devices. However, as a result of Brexit, the EU Medical Devices Regulation will 
not be implemented in the UK, and previous legislation that sought to mirror the EU Medical Devices Regulation in the UK law 
has been revoked. The regulatory regime for medical devices in Great Britain continues to be based on the requirements derived 
from  previous  EU  legislation,  and  the  UK  may  choose  to  retain  regulatory  flexibility  or  align  with  the  EU  Medical  Devices 
Regulation  going  forward.  On  June  26,  2022,  the  MHRA  published  its  response  to  a  10-week  consultation  on  the  future 
regulation  of  medical  devices  in  the  UK.  Regulations  implementing  the  new  regime  were  originally  scheduled  to  come  into 
force in July 2023 but the MHRA has confirmed that it is aiming for the core aspects of the new regime to apply from July 

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2025.  Devices  which  have  valid  CE  certification  issued  by  EU  notified  bodies  under  the  EU  Medical  Devices  Regulation  or 
Medical Devices Directive are subject to transitional arrangements. 

The  Government  has  confirmed  that  general  medical  devices  compliant  with  the  EU  Medical  Devices  Directive  with  a 
valid declaration and CE marking can be placed on the Great Britain market up until the sooner of expiry of certificate or June 
30, 2028. Medical devices, including custom-made devices, compliant with the EU Medical Devices Regulation can be placed 
on the Great Britain market up until June 30, 2030. Following these transitional periods, it is expected that all medical devices 
will require a UK Conformity Assessment mark. Manufacturers may choose to use the UKCA mark on a voluntary basis prior 
to the regulations coming into force. However, from July 2025, products that do not have existing and valid CE certification 
under  the  EU  Medical  Devices  Directive  or  EU  Medical  Devices  Regulation  and  are  therefore  not  subject  to  the  transitional 
arrangements will be required to carry the UKCA mark if they are to be sold into the market in Great Britain. UKCA marking 
will not be recognized in the EU. The rules for placing medical devices on the market in Northern Ireland, which is part of the 
UK,  differ  from  those  in  Great  Britain  (England,  Scotland  and  Wales)  and  continue  to  be  based  on  EU  law.  The  TCA  does 
provide  for  cooperation  and  exchange  of  information  in  the  area  of  product  safety  and  compliance,  including  market 
surveillance,  enforcement  activities  and  measures,  standardization-related  activities,  exchanges  of  officials,  and  coordinated 
product  recalls  (or  other  similar  actions).  For  medical  devices  that  are  locally  manufactured  but  use  components  from  other 
countries, the “rules of origin” criteria will need to be reviewed. Depending on which countries products will ultimately be sold 
in, manufacturers may start seeking alternative sources for components if this would allow them to benefit from no tariffs. The 
rules for placing medical devices on the Northern Ireland market will differ from those in Great Britain. These developments, or 
the  perception  that  any  related  developments  could  occur,  have  had  and  may  continue  to  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on 
global economic conditions and financial markets, and our business would likely be impacted and the demand for our products 
could be depressed.

In addition, the U.S. federal government has made changes to the U.S. trade policy, including entering into a successor to 
the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”), known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USMCA”), 
effective  as  of  July  1,  2020.  In  addition,  the  U.S.  federal  government  has  implemented,  or  is  considering  the  imposition  of, 
tariffs  on  certain  foreign  goods.  Such  tariffs  and,  if  enacted,  any  further  legislation  or  actions  taken  by  the  U.S.  federal 
government that restrict trade, such as additional tariffs, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures taken by 
governments in Europe, Asia, and other countries, could adversely impact our ability to sell products and services in our OUS 
markets. Tariffs could increase the cost of our products and the components and raw materials that go into making them. These 
increased  costs  could  adversely  impact  the  gross  margin  that  we  earn  on  our  products,  which  could  make  our  products  less 
competitive and reduce consumer demand. Countries may also adopt other protectionist measures that could limit our ability to 
offer our products and services.

Furthermore, in certain markets, our OUS sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. As a result, an increase in the value of the 
U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could make our products less competitive and/or less affordable in those OUS markets.

If we are unable to meet and manage these risks, our OUS operations may not be successful, which would limit the growth 

of our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or result of operations.

WE ARE SUBJECT TO LITIGATION, INVESTIGATIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO 
OUR  PRODUCTS,  CUSTOMERS,  COMPETITORS,  AND  GOVERNMENT  REGULATORS  THAT  COULD 
MATERIALLY  ADVERSELY  AFFECT  OUR  FINANCIAL  CONDITION,  DIVERT  MANAGEMENT’S 
ATTENTION, AND HARM OUR BUSINESS.

We are, and may become, subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in or outside the ordinary course of 
business. Certain current lawsuits and pending proceedings to which we are party, including purported class actions, product 
liability litigation, and patent litigation, are described in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, 
Item 8.

In particular, our business exposes us to significant risks of patent claims, product liability claims, and competition claims 
(including antitrust claims), many of which are common in the medical device industry. For example, product liability claims 
have been brought against us by, or on behalf of, individuals alleging that they have sustained personal injuries and/or death as 
a  result  of  purported  product  defects,  the  alleged  failure  to  warn,  and/or  the  alleged  inadequate  training  by  us  of  physicians 
regarding the use of the da Vinci surgical system. The individuals who have brought the product liability claims seek recovery 
for  their  alleged  personal  injuries  and,  in  many  cases,  punitive  damages.  Current  product  liability  claims  have  resulted  in 
negative publicity regarding our Company, and these and any other product liability or negligence claims or product recalls also 
could harm our reputation. Refer to our risk factor titled “Negative publicity, whether accurate or inaccurate, concerning our 
products or our company could reduce market acceptance of our products and could result in decreased product demand and 
reduced  revenues”  for  additional  risks  related  to  the  potential  effects  of  negative  publicity  on  our  business.  Also,  antitrust 
claims have been brought against us by third parties looking to compete in the instruments or servicing space and by certain 
customers.

30

The outcome of these product liability claims and other legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. We purchase 
and maintain business insurance for certain liabilities and self-insure our product liability claims through a fronting policy. We 
cannot  determine  whether  our  existing  business  insurance  program  would  be  sufficient  to  cover  the  costs  or  potential  losses 
related to these lawsuits and proceedings or otherwise be excluded under the terms of any insurance policy. Regardless of merit, 
litigation  may  be  time-consuming  and  disruptive  to  our  operations  and  cause  significant  legal  costs  (including  settlements, 
judgments, legal fees, and other related defense costs) and diversion of management attention. If we do not prevail in these legal 
proceedings,  we  may  be  faced  with  significant  monetary  damages  or  injunctive  relief  against  us  that  could  have  a  material 
adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  or  results  of  operations.  We  could  also  be  subject  to  governmental 
investigations in connection with many of these claims.

OUR  RELIANCE  ON  SOLE-  AND  SINGLE-SOURCED  SUPPLIERS  AND  ABILITY  TO  PURCHASE  AT 
ACCEPTABLE  PRICES  A  SUFFICIENT  SUPPLY  OF  MATERIALS  COULD  HARM  OUR  ABILITY  TO  MEET 
PRODUCT DEMAND IN A TIMELY MANNER OR WITHIN BUDGET.

Some of the components necessary for the assembly of our products are currently provided to us by sole-sourced suppliers 
or  single-sourced  suppliers.  We  generally  purchase  components  through  purchase  orders  rather  than  long-term  supply 
agreements and generally do not maintain large volumes of inventory. While alternative suppliers exist and could be identified 
for single-sourced components, the disruption or termination of the supply of components, or inflationary pressure in our supply 
chain, could cause a significant increase in the costs of these components, which could affect our operating results. Certain of 
our sole-sourced suppliers or single-sourced suppliers could be adversely affected by the macroeconomic conditions, such as 
liquidity  concerns  in  the  broader  financial  services  industry,  that  could  result  in  delayed  access  or  loss  of  access  to  their 
uninsured deposits or loss of their ability to draw on existing credit facilities involving a troubled or failed financial institution. 
A  disruption  or  termination  in  the  supply  of  components  could  also  result  in  our  inability  to  meet  demand  for  our  products, 
which could harm our ability to generate revenues, lead to customer dissatisfaction, and damage our reputation and our brand. 
Furthermore, if we are required to change the manufacturer of a key component of our products, we may be required to verify 
that  the  new  manufacturer  maintains  facilities  and  procedures  that  comply  with  quality  standards  and  with  all  applicable 
regulations  and  guidelines.  The  time  and  processes  associated  with  the  verification  of  a  new  manufacturer  could  delay  our 
ability to manufacture our products on schedule or within budget, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, 
financial condition, or results of operations.

In addition, our ability to meet customers’ demands depends, in part, on our ability to timely obtain an adequate delivery of 
quality  materials,  parts,  and  components  from  our  suppliers.  An  information  technology  systems  interruption,  including 
cyberattacks, could adversely affect the ordering, distribution, and manufacturing processes of our suppliers. Difficulties remain 
in obtaining a sufficient supply of semiconductor and other component materials, and we expect such difficulties to persist in 
the  foreseeable  future.  Prices  of  such  materials  have  also  increased,  and  global  supply  has  become  constrained  due  to  the 
increased  demand  for  materials,  including  semiconductors,  to  support  expansion  of  server  and  cloud  networks  as  a  greater 
proportion of the global population worked remotely, the introduction of 5G, and the continued electrification of vehicles. We 
engage  in  activities  to  seek  to  mitigate  such  supply  disruptions  by,  for  example,  increasing  our  communications  with  our 
suppliers  and  modifying  our  purchase  order  coverage  and  inventory  levels.  Such  global  shortages  in  important  components 
have resulted in, and will continue to cause, inflationary pressure in our supply chain, which would impact our profits and profit 
margin. If shortages and price increases in important supply-chain materials in the semiconductor or other markets continue, we 
could  also  fail  to  meet  product  demand,  which  would  adversely  impact  our  business,  financial  condition,  or  results  of 
operations.

NEW  PRODUCT  DEVELOPMENTS  AND  INTRODUCTIONS  MAY  ADVERSELY  AFFECT  OUR  BUSINESS, 
FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

We  develop  and  introduce  new  products  with  enhanced  features  and  extended  capabilities  from  time  to  time.  We  may 
introduce  new  products  that  target  different  markets  than  what  our  existing  products  target.  The  success  of  new  product 
introductions  depends  on  a  number  of  factors  including,  but  not  limited  to,  timely  and  successful  research  and  development, 
regulatory  clearances,  approvals,  or  certifications,  establishment  or  maintenance  of  intellectual  property  rights,  pricing, 
competition, market and consumer acceptance, the effective forecasting and management of product demand, inventory levels, 
the  management  of  manufacturing  costs  and  capacity,  the  management  of  supply  costs,  including  mitigation  of  unforeseen 
supply chain disruptions for materials and components, and the risk that new products may have quality or other defects in the 
early stages of introduction.

We  invest  substantially  in  various  research  and  development  projects  to  expand  our  product  offerings.  Our  research  and 
development efforts are critical to our success, and our research and development projects may not be successful. We may be 
unable to develop and market new products successfully, and the products we invest in and develop may not be well-received 
by  customers  or  meet  our  expectations.  Our  research  and  development  investments  may  not  generate  significant  operating 
income or contribute to our future operating results for several years, and such contributions may not meet our expectations or 
even  cover  the  costs  of  such  investments.  In  addition,  the  introduction  or  announcement  of  new  products  or  product 

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enhancements may shorten the life cycle of our existing products or reduce demand for our current products, thereby offsetting 
any  benefits  of  successful  product  introductions  and  potentially  leading  to  challenges  in  managing  inventory  of  existing 
products.

Our  products  are  subject  to  various  regulatory  processes,  and  we  must  obtain  and  maintain  regulatory  approvals  and 
certifications in order to sell our new products. If a potential purchaser believes that we plan to introduce a new product in the 
near future or is located in a country where a new product that we have introduced has not yet received regulatory clearance or 
certification,  planned  purchases  may  be  deferred  or  delayed.  In  the  past,  we  have  experienced  a  slowdown  in  demand  for 
existing products in advance of new product introductions, and we may experience a slowdown in demand in the future as well. 
It  is  also  possible  that  a  new  product  introduction  could  cause  downward  pressure  on  the  prices  of  our  existing  products  or 
require us to change how we sell our products, either of which could have material adverse effects on our revenues.

If we fail to effectively develop new products and manage new product introductions in the future, our business, financial 

condition, or results of operations could be adversely impacted.

WE  MAY  ENCOUNTER  MANUFACTURING  PROBLEMS  OR  DELAYS  THAT  COULD  RESULT  IN  LOST 
REVENUE.

Manufacturing our products is a complex process. We (or our critical suppliers) may encounter difficulties in scaling up or 

maintaining production of our products, including:

•

•
•

•

•

•

problems involving production yields;

quality control and assurance;
component supply shortages;

import or export restrictions on components, materials, or technology;

shortages of qualified personnel; and

compliance with state, federal, and foreign regulations.

If  demand  for  our  products  exceeds  our  manufacturing  capacity,  we  could  develop  a  substantial  backlog  of  customer 
orders. If we are unable to develop or maintain larger-scale manufacturing capabilities or build new manufacturing capabilities 
or  facilities  on  schedule  or  within  budget,  our  ability  to  generate  revenue  and  maintain  profit  margins  as  expected  will  be 
limited  and  our  reputation  in  the  marketplace  could  be  damaged,  all  of  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our 
business, financial condition, or results of operations.

In  addition,  as  we  build  new  facilities  for  manufacturing  capacity,  the  development  of  these  facilities  is  subject  to  risks 
relating to our ability to complete our projects on schedule or within budget. Refer to our risk factor titled “We are subject to 
risks associated with real estate construction and development” for additional risks related to building our new manufacturing 
facilities.

Also,  after  new  manufacturing  facilities  are  completed,  we  may  encounter  difficulties  transferring  our  production  lines 
from our existing facilities to the new facilities, which require qualification, validation, and regulatory approval and is subject to 
all of the risks highlighted above. Moreover, certain new manufacturing facilities are in foreign countries and in locations where 
we have not previously had manufacturing sites, both of which could increase the risks related to transferring our production 
lines. The facility transfers may require an increase in safety stock inventory to support the production line transfers, create a 
substantial backlog of customer orders, or increase costs while the production lines mature, all of which may have a material 
adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

WE  EXPECT  GROSS  PROFIT  MARGINS  TO  VARY  OVER  TIME,  AND  CHANGES  IN  OUR  GROSS  PROFIT 
MARGINS  COULD  ADVERSELY  AFFECT  OUR  BUSINESS,  FINANCIAL  CONDITION,  OR  RESULTS  OF 
OPERATIONS.

Our gross profit margins have fluctuated from period to period, and we expect that they will continue to fluctuate in the 

future. Our gross profit margins may be adversely affected by numerous factors, including:

•

•

•
•
•
•
•

changes in customer, geographic, or product mix, including the mix of system models sold or leased;

changes in the portion of sales involving a trade-in of another system and the amount of trade-in credits given;

our introduction of new products, which may have lower margins than our existing products;
our inability to maintain or reduce production costs;
changes in our pricing strategy;
competition;
changes in production volume driven by demand for our products;

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•

•

•

•

changes  in  material,  labor,  or  other  manufacturing-related  costs,  including  the  impact  of  foreign  exchange  rate 
fluctuations for foreign currency-denominated costs;

changes  to  U.S.  and  foreign  trade  policies,  such  as  the  enactment  of  tariffs  on  goods  imported  into  the  U.S. 
including, but not limited to, goods imported from Mexico where we manufacture a majority of our instruments 
that we sell;

inventory obsolescence, which may result from maintaining significant inventories of raw materials, components, 
and finished goods;

product recall charges; and

• market conditions.

If we are unable to offset the unfavorable impact of the factors noted above by increasing the volume of products shipped, 
reducing product manufacturing costs, or otherwise, our business, financial condition, or results of operations may be adversely 
affected.

IF OUR PRODUCTS DO NOT ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN MARKET ACCEPTANCE, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE 
TO GENERATE THE REVENUE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS.

The  da  Vinci  surgical  system  and  our  other  products  represent  a  fundamentally  new  way  of  performing  medical 
procedures.  Achieving  and  maintaining  physician,  patient,  and  third-party  payor  acceptance  of  robotic-assisted  medical 
procedures  as  a  preferred  method  of  performing  these  procedures  is  crucial  to  our  success.  If  our  products  fail  to  achieve  or 
maintain  market  acceptance,  customers  will  not  purchase  our  products,  and  we  will  not  be  able  to  generate  the  revenue 
necessary to support our business. We believe that physicians’ and third-party payors’ acceptance of the benefits of procedures 
performed using our products will be essential for acceptance of our products by patients. Physicians will not recommend the 
use of our products unless we can demonstrate that they produce results comparable or superior to existing techniques. Even if 
we can prove the effectiveness of our products through clinical studies, physicians may elect not to use our products for any 
number  of  other  reasons.  For  example,  cardiologists  may  continue  to  recommend  conventional  heart  surgery  simply  because 
such surgery is already widely accepted. In addition, physicians may be slow to adopt our products because of the perceived 
liability risks arising from the use of new products and the uncertainty of reimbursement from third-party payors, particularly in 
light of ongoing healthcare reform initiatives and the evolving U.S. healthcare environment.

We expect that there will continue to be a learning process involved for patient care teams to become proficient in the use 
of our products. Broad use of our products requires training of patient care teams. Market acceptance could be delayed by the 
time required to complete this training. We may not be able to rapidly train patient care teams in numbers sufficient to generate 
adequate demand for our products.

IF HOSPITALS ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN COVERAGE AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROCEDURES USING 
OUR  PRODUCTS,  IF  REIMBURSEMENT  IS  INSUFFICIENT  TO  COVER  THE  COSTS  OF  PURCHASING  OUR 
PRODUCTS, OR IF LIMITATIONS ARE IMPOSED BY GOVERNMENTS ON THE AMOUNT HOSPITALS CAN 
CHARGE  FOR  CERTAIN  PROCEDURES,  WE  MAY  BE  UNABLE  TO  GENERATE  SUFFICIENT  SALES  TO 
SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS.

In  the  U.S.,  hospitals  generally  bill  for  the  services  performed  with  our  products  to  various  third-party  payors,  such  as 
Medicare,  Medicaid,  other  government  programs,  and  private  insurance  plans.  If  hospitals  do  not  obtain  sufficient 
reimbursement  from  third-party  payors  for  procedures  performed  with  our  products,  or  if  government  and  private  payors’ 
policies do not cover surgical procedures performed using our products, we may not be able to generate the revenues necessary 
to support our business. In addition, to the extent that there is a shift from an inpatient setting to outpatient settings, we may 
experience pricing pressure and a reduction in the number of procedures performed. Our success in OUS markets also depends 
on the eligibility of our products for coverage and reimbursement through government-sponsored healthcare payment systems 
and third-party payors. Reimbursement practices vary significantly by country. Many OUS markets have government-managed 
healthcare  systems  that  control  reimbursement  for  new  products  and  procedures.  Other  foreign  markets  have  both  private 
insurance  systems  and  government-managed  systems  that  control  reimbursement  for  new  products  and  procedures.  Market 
acceptance  of  our  products  may  depend  on  the  availability  and  level  of  coverage  and  reimbursement  in  a  country  within  a 
particular time. In addition, healthcare cost containment efforts similar to those in the U.S. are prevalent in many of the other 
countries in which we sell, and intend to sell, our products, and these efforts are expected to continue. Refer to our risk factor 
titled  “Changes  in  Healthcare  Legislation  and  Policy  May  Have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Our  Business,  Financial 
Condition, or Results of Operations” for additional risks related to the ability of hospitals to obtain reimbursements.

In  China,  since  2022,  several  provinces,  including  the  Hunan  Provincial  Healthcare  Security  Administration,  have 
implemented significant limits on what hospitals can charge patients for surgeries using robotic surgical technology, including 
soft  tissue  surgery  and  orthopedics.  These  limits  have  significantly  impacted  the  number  of  procedures  performed  and  have 
impacted  our  instruments  and  accessories  revenue  in  those  provinces.  Companies  providing  robotic  surgical  technology, 

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including  our  joint  venture  in  China,  have  been  meeting  with  Chinese  government  healthcare  agencies  to  discuss  these 
developments  and  to  provide  feedback.  We  cannot  assure  you  that  additional  provincial  or  national  healthcare  agencies  and 
administrations will not impose similar limits, and we expect to continue to face increased pricing pressure, both of which could 
further impact the number of procedures performed and our instruments and accessories revenue in China.

IF OUR PRODUCTS CONTAIN DEFECTS OR ENCOUNTER PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS, WE MAY HAVE TO 
RECALL OUR PRODUCTS AND OUR REPUTATION MAY SUFFER.

Our  success  depends  on  the  quality  and  reliability  of  our  products.  While  we  subject  components  sourced  and  products 
manufactured  to  stringent  quality  specifications  and  processes,  our  products  incorporate  mechanical  parts,  electrical 
components, optical components, and computer software, any of which may contain errors or exhibit failures, especially when 
products  are  first  introduced.  Component  failures,  manufacturing  flaws,  design  defects,  or  inadequate  disclosure  of  product-
related risks with respect to our products could result in an unsafe condition or injury to, or death of, the patient. In addition, 
new  products  or  enhancements  may  contain  undetected  errors  or  performance  problems  that,  despite  testing,  are  discovered 
only after commercial shipment. Because our products are designed to be used to perform complex surgical procedures, due to 
the serious and costly consequences of product failure, we and our customers have an increased sensitivity to such defects. In 
the  past,  we  have  voluntarily  recalled  certain  products.  Although  our  products  are  subject  to  stringent  quality  processes  and 
controls, we cannot provide assurance that our products will not experience component aging, errors, or performance problems. 
If we experience product flaws or performance problems, any or all of the following could occur:

•

•
•

•

•

•

•

•

•

delays in product shipments;

loss of revenue;
delay in market acceptance;

diversion of our resources;

damage to our reputation;

product recalls, including, but not be limited to, product withdrawals from the market, labeling changes, design 
changes, customer notifications, and notifications to global regulatory bodies;

regulatory actions;

increased service or warranty costs; or

product liability claims.

Costs  associated  with  defects  or  performance  problems  of  our  products  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our 

business, financial condition, or results of operations.

WE  UTILIZE  DISTRIBUTORS  FOR  A  PORTION  OF  OUR  SALES  AND  SERVICE  OF  OUR  PRODUCTS  IN 
CERTAIN  COUNTRIES,  WHICH  SUBJECTS  US  TO  A  NUMBER  OF  RISKS  THAT  COULD  HARM  OUR 
BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

We  have  strategic  relationships  with  a  number  of  key  distributors  for  the  sale  and  service  of  our  products  in  certain 
countries.  If  these  strategic  relationships  are  terminated  and  not  replaced,  our  revenues  and/or  ability  to  sell  or  service  our 
products in the markets serviced by these distributors could be adversely affected. In addition, we may be named as a defendant 
in lawsuits against our distributors related to sales or service of our products performed by them. Refer to our risk factor titled 
“We are subject to litigation, investigations, and other legal proceedings relating to our products, customers, competitors, and 
government regulators that could materially adversely affect our financial condition, divert management’s attention, and harm 
our  business.”  Our  distributors  may  affect  our  ability  to  effectively  market  our  products  in  certain  countries  or  regulatory 
jurisdictions  if  a  distributor  holds  the  regulatory  authorization  or  certification  in  such  countries  or  within  such  regions  and 
causes, by action or inaction, the suspension of such marketing authorization or certification or sanctions for non-compliance. It 
may be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming for us to re-establish market access or regulatory compliance in such cases.

PUBLIC  HEALTH  CRISES  OR  EPIDEMIC  DISEASES,  OR  THE  PERCEPTION  OF  THEIR  EFFECTS,  COULD 
MATERIALLY  ADVERSELY  AFFECT  OUR  BUSINESS,  FINANCIAL  CONDITION,  OR  RESULTS  OF 
OPERATIONS.

Our  global  operations  expose  us  to  risks  associated  with  public  health  crises  and  outbreaks  of  epidemic,  pandemic,  or 
contagious diseases, such as the current outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19). To date, COVID-19 has had, 
and may continue to have, an adverse impact on our operations, our supply chains and distribution systems, and our expenses, 
including as a result of preventive and precautionary measures that we, other businesses, and governments have taken and may 
continue to take. In addition, hospitals are experiencing staffing shortages and supply chain issues that could impact their ability 
to provide patient care. Due to these impacts and measures, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, significant 
and  unpredictable  reductions  in  the  demand  for  our  products  as  healthcare  customers  divert  medical  resources  and  priorities 
towards the treatment of that disease. Also, our customers have delayed, cancelled, or redirected and, in the future, may delay, 

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cancel, or redirect, planned capital expenditures in order to focus resources on COVID-19 or in response to economic disruption 
related to COVID-19. For example, as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, in the first half of 2020, we experienced a 
significant decline in procedure volume in the U.S. and Western Europe, as healthcare systems diverted resources to meet the 
increasing demands of managing COVID-19. In addition, U.S. and global public health bodies have, at times, recommended 
delaying elective surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may continue to negatively impact the usage of our products 
and the number of da Vinci procedures performed. These delays in elective surgeries may create a patient backlog. The patients 
in this backlog may or may not use our products when their surgeries are ultimately performed. Also, as we are conducting IDE 
studies  to  support  510(k)  submission  for  da  Vinci  platforms  and  for  seeking  new  indications,  we  may  experience  delays  in 
obtaining new product approvals, clearances from the FDA, or approvals or certifications from foreign authorities or notified 
bodies, or we may experience delays in recruiting patients in our ongoing and planned clinical studies.

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, we experienced significant business disruptions, including restrictions on our ability 
to travel as well as distribute and service our products, temporary closures of our facilities and the facilities of our suppliers and 
their contract manufacturers, and a reduction in access to our customers due to diverted resources and priorities and the business 
hours  of  hospitals,  as  governments  institute  prolonged  shelter-in-place  and/or  self-quarantine  mandates.  For  example,  our 
corporate headquarters and many of our operations, including certain of our manufacturing facilities, are located in California, 
which previously instituted risk reduction orders applicable to our employees in that region, significantly impacting the ability 
of  our  employees  to  get  to  their  places  of  work  to  produce  products  and  hampering  our  products  from  moving  through  the 
supply  chain.  These  unprecedented  measures  to  slow  the  spread  of  the  virus  taken  by  local  governments  and  healthcare 
authorities  globally,  including  the  deferral  of  elective  medical  procedures  and  social  distancing  measures,  had,  and  may 
continue to have, a negative impact on our operations and financial results. Furthermore, our future ways of working changes, 
including working from home, fully on-site, or in a hybrid fashion, may present additional risks, uncertainties, and costs that 
could  affect  our  performance,  including  increased  operational  risk,  uncertainty  regarding  office  space  needs,  heightened 
vulnerability to cyberattacks due to remote work, potential reduced productivity, changes to our company culture, and increased 
costs to ensure our offices are safe and functional as hybrid offices that enable effective collaboration of both remote and in-
person colleagues.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the economies and financial 
markets  of  many  countries,  which  may  result  in  a  period  of  regional,  national,  and  global  economic  slowdown  or  regional, 
national, or global recessions that could curtail or delay spending by hospitals and affect demand for our products as well as 
increased  risk  of  customer  defaults  or  delays  in  payments.  Our  customers  may  terminate  or  amend  their  agreements  for  the 
purchase, lease, or service of our products due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, lack of funding, operational failures, or other 
reasons.  COVID-19  and  the  current  financial,  economic,  and  capital  markets  environment,  and  future  developments  in  these 
and other areas, present material uncertainty and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition, volume of business, 
or results of operations.

Outbreaks  of  other  epidemic,  pandemic,  or  contagious  diseases,  such  as,  historically,  the  Ebola  virus,  Middle  East 
Respiratory  Syndrome,  Severe  Acute  Respiratory  Syndrome,  or  the  H1N1  virus,  could  also  divert  medical  resources  and 
priorities  towards  the  treatment  of  that  disease.  An  outbreak  of  other  contagious  diseases  could  negatively  affect  hospital 
admission  rates  or  disrupt  our  business  similar  to  the  impact  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  highlighted  above.  Any  of  these 
outbreaks  could  negatively  impact  the  number  of  procedures  performed  and  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business, 
financial condition, or results of operations.

WE  COULD  BE  SUBJECT  TO  SIGNIFICANT,  UNINSURED  LOSSES,  WHICH  MAY  HAVE  A  MATERIAL 
ADVERSE IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

For certain risks, we do not maintain insurance coverage due to cost and/or availability. For example, we self-insure our 
product liability risks, and we indemnify our directors and officers for third-party claims and do not carry insurance to cover 
that  indemnity  or  the  related  underlying  potential  losses.  Also,  we  do  not  carry,  among  other  types  of  coverage,  earthquake 
insurance. In addition, in the future, we may not continue to maintain certain existing insurance coverage or adequate levels of 
coverage.  Premiums  for  many  types  of  insurance  have  increased  significantly  in  recent  years  and,  depending  on  market 
conditions and our circumstances, certain types of insurance, such as directors’ and officers’ insurance, may not be available in 
the  future  on  acceptable  terms  or  at  all.  Because  we  retain  some  portion  of  our  insurable  risks  and,  in  some  cases,  we  are 
entirely  self-insured,  unforeseen  or  catastrophic  losses  in  excess  of  insurance  coverage  could  require  us  to  pay  substantial 
amounts, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  SYSTEM  FAILURES,  CYBERATTACKS,  OR  DEFICIENCIES  IN  OUR 
CYBERSECURITY  COULD  HARM  OUR  BUSINESS,  CUSTOMER  RELATIONS,  FINANCIAL  CONDITION,  OR 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Our information technology systems are critical to the success of our products, help us operate effectively and efficiently, 
interface with customers, maintain our supply chain and manufacturing operations, maintain financial accuracy and efficiency, 

35

and  help  us  produce  our  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  If  we  do  not  allocate  and  effectively  manage  the  resources 
necessary  to  build  and  sustain  the  proper  information  technology  infrastructure,  we  could  be  subject  to  transaction  errors, 
processing  inefficiencies,  the  loss  of  existing  customers,  difficulty  attracting  new  customers,  business  operation  disruptions, 
diversion  of  the  attention  of  management  and  key  information  technology  resources,  security  breaches,  or  the  unauthorized 
access  to,  loss  of,  or  damage  to  intellectual  property,  confidential  information,  or  personal  information.  Our  information 
technology systems and those of our third-party service providers, strategic partners, and other contractors or consultants are 
vulnerable to attack, damage, or interruption from a variety of sources. These sources include computer viruses and malware 
(e.g.,  ransomware),  malicious  code,  natural  disasters,  terrorism,  war,  telecommunication  and  electrical  failures,  hacking, 
cyberattacks, phishing attacks and other social engineering schemes, employee theft or misuse, human error, fraud, denial or 
degradation  of  service  attacks,  sophisticated  nation-state  and  nation-state-supported  actors,  or  unauthorized  access  or  use  by 
persons inside our organization, or persons with access to systems inside our organization. The risk of a security breach or a 
disruption  has  generally  increased  in  number,  intensity,  and  sophistication.  Techniques  used  to  compromise  or  sabotage 
systems, including the use of advanced technologies, such as machine learning or artificial intelligence, change frequently, may 
originate from less regulated and remote areas of the world, may be difficult to detect, and generally are not recognized until 
after they are launched against a target. As a result, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate 
preventative measures. If our information technology systems, or those of our critical third-party vendors, do not effectively and 
securely  collect,  store,  process,  and  report  relevant  data  for  the  operation  of  our  business,  our  ability  to  effectively  plan, 
forecast,  and  execute  our  business  plan  and  comply  with  applicable  laws  and  regulations  could  be  impaired.  Any  such 
impairment could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and the timeliness with which 
we report our internal and external operating results.

Our business requires us to use and store customer, employee, and business partner personal information. This may include 
names,  addresses,  phone  numbers,  email  addresses,  contact  preferences,  tax  identification  numbers,  and  payment  account 
information.  We  have  implemented,  and  our  critical  third-party  vendors  may  implement,  various  controls,  systems,  and 
processes intended to secure our information technology systems and the information on it. For example, we require usernames 
and  passwords  in  order  to  access  our  information  technology  systems  and  use  encryption  and  authentication  technologies  to 
secure  the  transmission  and  storage  of  data.  We  also  have  programs  in  place  to  detect,  contain,  and  respond  to  data  security 
incidents,  and  we  make  ongoing  improvements  to  our  information-sharing  products  in  order  to  minimize  vulnerabilities,  in 
accordance with industry and regulatory standards. However, we cannot guarantee that these measures will be effective or that 
attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging. These security measures may be compromised 
as a result of security breaches by unauthorized persons, employee error, malfeasance, faulty password management, or other 
irregularity  and  result  in  persons  obtaining  unauthorized  access  to  our  data  or  accounts.  Third  parties  may  attempt  to 
fraudulently induce employees or customers into disclosing usernames, passwords, or other sensitive information or otherwise 
attempt  to  hack  into  our  information  technology  systems  to  obtain  personal  data  relating  to  patients  or  employees,  our 
confidential  or  proprietary  information,  or  confidential  information  we  hold  on  behalf  of  third  parties.  In  addition,  with  the 
prolific  use  of  artificial  intelligence  technologies,  there  is  an  increased  risk  of  unauthorized  or  accidental  disclosure.  For 
example,  our  employees,  third-party  service  providers,  strategic  partners,  or  other  contractors  or  consultants  may  input 
inappropriate or confidential information into an artificial intelligence system (in particular, a system that is managed, owned, 
or controlled by a third party), thereby compromising our business operations. Even if the vulnerabilities that may lead to the 
foregoing are identified, we may be unable to adequately investigate or remediate due to attackers increasingly using tools and 
techniques  that  are  designed  to  circumvent  controls,  avoid  detection,  and  remove  or  obfuscate  forensic  evidence.  The 
occurrence of any of these events may cause business operation disruptions, diversion of the attention of management and key 
information  technology  resources,  and  possibly  lead  to  security  breaches  of,  or  the  unauthorized  access  to,  our  confidential 
information or other business data. If the unauthorized persons successfully hack into or interfere with our connected products 
or services, they may create issues with product functionality that could pose a risk of the loss of data, a risk to patient safety, 
and  a  risk  of  product  recall  or  field  action,  which  could  adversely  impact  our  business  and  reputation.  We  may  also  face 
increased  cybersecurity  risks  due  to  our  reliance  on  internet  technology  and  the  number  of  our  employees  who  are  working 
remotely,  a  situation  that  has  persisted  since  the  beginning  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  which  may  create  additional 
opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.

As  described  above,  we  also  rely  on  external  vendors  to  supply  and/or  support  certain  aspects  of  our  information 
technology systems. The systems of these external vendors may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that 
could unexpectedly compromise the security of our own information technology systems, and we are dependent on these third 
parties  to  deploy  appropriate  security  programs  to  protect  their  systems.  In  addition  to  potential  exposure  to  data  breaches, 
security and cybersecurity incidents, or other actions that may compromise the security of or interfere with the function of our 
systems,  defects  or  vulnerabilities  in  the  software  or  systems  of  our  external  vendors  may  expose  failures  in  our  internal 
controls and risk management processes, which may adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations 
and may also harm our reputation, brand, and customer relationships.

36

While  we  devote  significant  resources  to  network  security,  data  encryption,  and  other  security  measures  to  protect  our 
systems and data, these security measures cannot provide absolute security. We and certain of our service providers are, from 
time to time, subject to cyberattacks and security breaches and incidents. We consider such cyberattacks or security breaches 
and incidents to be in the ordinary course of business for a company of our size in our industry. While we do not believe that we 
have experienced any significant system failure, accident, or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur, it could 
impair our ability to attract and retain customers for our products, impact the price of our stock, materially damage commercial 
relationships,  and  expose  us  to  litigation  or  government  investigations,  which  could  result  in  penalties,  fines,  or  judgments 
against  us.  The  costs  to  us  to  eliminate  or  alleviate  network  security  problems,  bugs,  viruses,  worms,  ransomware  and  other 
malicious software programs, and security vulnerabilities could be significant. Our efforts to address these problems may not be 
successful  and  could  result  in  unexpected  interruptions,  delays,  cessation  of  service,  and  harm  to  our  business  operations. 
Moreover, if a security breach affects our systems or results in the unauthorized release of personal information, our reputation 
and brand could be materially damaged, and use of our products and services could decrease. We would also be exposed to a 
risk  of  loss,  litigation  and  potential  liability,  and  regulatory  scrutiny,  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our 
business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Furthermore,  we  may  implement  changes  to  information  technology  systems  that  could  have  significant  impacts  on  our 
manufacturing, sales, and finance functions, among other teams. These impacts may include (i) operational disruptions resulting 
from  the  slow  adaptation  of  the  new  information  technology  systems  by  employees,  whether  due  to  inadequate  training  or 
resistance to change, or data loss during the transition to the updated information technology system, including critical customer 
data,  or  improper  planning  leading  to  the  loss  of  essential  software  features  needed  for  specific  business  requirements;  (ii) 
inaccurate financial reporting due to inaccurate data transfer or technical issues; (iii) financial losses due to system failures or 
cost  overruns;  (iv)  security  risks  involving  potential  data  breaches,  unauthorized  access,  or  loss  of  sensitive  information;  (v) 
compliance  risks  arising  should  the  updated  technology  fail  to  meet  regulatory  requirements  or  industry  standards;  and  (vi) 
strategic risks if the technology implementation fails to deliver the expected benefits.

While we maintain cyber insurance coverage that is intended to address data security risks, such insurance coverage may 

be insufficient to cover all losses or claims that may arise.

THE FAILURE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN KEY PERSONNEL COULD HARM OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE, 
AND CHANGES IN OUR EXISTING LABOR RELATIONSHIPS COULD MATERIALLY ADVERSELY IMPACT 
OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

We  are  highly  dependent  on  the  principal  members  of  our  management  and  scientific  staff.  For  example,  our  product 
development plans depend, in part, on our ability to attract and retain software, mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineers. 
Attracting  and  retaining  qualified  personnel  is  critical  to  our  success,  and  competition  for  qualified  personnel  is  intense.  We 
may not be able to attract and retain personnel on acceptable terms given the constrained labor market and competition for such 
personnel.  Additionally,  as  a  result  of  the  volatility  in  our  stock  price,  certain  long-term  incentive  benefits,  such  as  equity 
grants, may be viewed as having less value and, accordingly, could lead to higher attrition. Moreover, we may also encounter 
higher  costs  of  labor  through  recruiting  expenses,  wage  rates,  retention  benefits,  or  the  potential  existence  of  different 
employee/employer relationships, such as work councils and/or labor unions.

Fluctuations in labor availability globally, including labor shortages and staff burnout and attrition, may also impact our 
ability to hire and retain personnel critical to our manufacturing, logistics, and commercial operations. The extent and duration 
of  the  impact  of  labor  market  challenges  are  subject  to  numerous  factors,  including  the  remaining  impact  of  COVID-19, 
availability  of  qualified  and  highly  skilled  persons  in  the  markets  where  we  operate  and  unemployment  levels  within  these 
markets,  behavioral  changes,  such  as  fully  engaging  employees,  including  those  working  from  home  or  in  a  hybrid  fashion, 
prevailing wage rates, health and other insurance and benefit costs, inflation, adoption of new or revised employment and labor 
laws and regulations or government programs, safety levels of our operations, and our reputation within the labor market. The 
loss of any of our qualified personnel or our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel could harm our business and our 
ability to compete, and related expenses could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Moreover, if we fail to attract, motivate, or retain personnel, or relax our standards in order to meet the demands of our 
growth,  our  corporate  culture,  our  ability  to  achieve  our  strategic  objectives,  and  our  compliance  with  obligations  under  our 
internal  controls  and  other  requirements  may  be  harmed.  We  believe  that  a  critical  contributor  to  our  success  has  been  our 
corporate  culture,  which  we  believe  fosters  innovation,  teamwork,  and  a  focus  on  execution,  as  well  as  facilitates  critical 
knowledge  transfer  and  knowledge  sharing.  We  could  also  be  subject  to  union  or  council  efforts  to  organize  our  employees. 
These organizational efforts, if successful, decrease operational flexibility and could adversely affect our operating efficiency. 
In addition, our response to any organizational efforts could be perceived negatively and harm our business and reputation.

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NEGATIVE  PUBLICITY,  WHETHER  ACCURATE  OR  INACCURATE,  CONCERNING  OUR  PRODUCTS  OR 
OUR  COMPANY  COULD  REDUCE  MARKET  ACCEPTANCE  OF  OUR  PRODUCTS  AND  COULD  RESULT  IN 
DECREASED PRODUCT DEMAND AND REDUCED REVENUES.

There  have  been  reports  and  articles  published  questioning  patient  safety  and  efficacy  associated  with  robotic-assisted 
surgery with the da Vinci surgical system, its cost relative to other disease management methods, and the adequacy of surgeon 
training.  Negative  publicity,  including  statements  made  by  public  officials,  whether  accurate  or  inaccurate,  concerning  our 
products or our Company could reduce market acceptance of our products and could result in decreased product demand and a 
decline in revenues. In addition, significant negative publicity could result in an increased number of product liability claims, 
regardless of whether these claims are meritorious. The number of claims could be further increased by plaintiffs’ law firms that 
use a wide variety of media to advertise their services and solicit clients for product liability cases against us.

WE EXPERIENCE LONG AND VARIABLE CAPITAL SALES CYCLES AND SEASONALITY IN OUR BUSINESS, 
WHICH MAY CAUSE FLUCTUATIONS IN OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS.

The  sales  and  purchase  order  cycle  of  our  systems  is  lengthy,  because  the  systems  are  major  capital  items  and  their 
purchase generally requires the approval of senior management of hospitals, their parent organizations, purchasing groups, and 
government  bodies,  as  applicable.  In  addition,  sales  to  some  of  our  customers  are  subject  to  competitive  bidding  or  public 
tender processes. These approval and bidding processes can be lengthy. As a result, hospitals may delay or accelerate system 
purchases in conjunction with the timing of their capital budget timelines. Further, IDN groups are creating larger networks of 
system  users  with  increasing  purchasing  power  and  are  increasingly  evaluating  their  robotic-assisted  surgery  programs  to 
optimize the efficiency of surgeries using da Vinci surgical systems. Further, the introduction of new products could adversely 
impact  our  sales  cycle  as  customers  take  additional  time  to  assess  the  benefits  and  costs  of  such  products.  As  a  result,  it  is 
difficult for us to predict the length of capital sales cycles and, therefore, the exact timing of capital sales. Historically, our sales 
of da Vinci surgical systems have tended to be heavier in the fourth quarter and lighter in the first quarter, as hospital budgets 
are reset.

We  have  experienced  procedure  growth  for  a  number  of  benign  conditions,  including  hernia  repairs,  hysterectomies, 
cholecystectomies, bariatrics, and certain other surgeries. Many of these types of surgeries may be postponed in the short term 
by patients to avoid vacation periods and for other personal scheduling reasons. Patients may also accelerate procedures to take 
advantage of insurance funding cut-off dates. Historically, we have experienced lower procedure volume in the first and third 
quarters of the year and higher procedure volume in the second and fourth quarters of the year. The timing of procedures and 
changes in procedure growth directly affect the timing of instruments and accessories and capital purchases by customers.

The  above  factors  may  contribute  to  substantial  fluctuations  in  our  quarterly  operating  results.  Because  of  these 
fluctuations, it is possible that, in future periods, our operating results will fall below the expectations of securities analysts or 
investors.  If  that  happens,  the  market  price  of  our  stock  would  likely  decrease.  These  fluctuations,  among  other  factors,  also 
mean that our operating results in any particular period may not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.

WE OFFER ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL ACQUISITION APPROACHES AND, AS A RESULT, WE ARE EXPOSED 
TO THE CREDIT RISK OF SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE RISK OF LOSSES OF REVENUE, WHICH 
COULD RESULT IN MATERIAL LOSSES.

We  believe  customer  financing  through  leasing  is  an  important  consideration  for  some  of  our  customers  and  have 
experienced an increase in demand for customer financing. Lease financing arrangements have the effect of reducing cash flows 
at lease commencement and, instead, spread them over the life of the lease term, which increases the time taken to recover our 
product costs and can impact our liquidity. We may experience losses from a customer’s failure to make payments according to 
the contractual lease terms. Our exposure to the credit risks relating to our lease financing arrangements may increase if our 
customers  are  adversely  affected  by  changes  in  healthcare  laws,  coverage,  and  reimbursement,  economic  pressures  or 
uncertainty, or other customer-specific factors.

Although  we  have  programs  in  place  that  are  designed  to  monitor  and  mitigate  the  associated  risks,  there  can  be  no 
assurance that such programs will be effective in reducing credit risks relating to these lease financing arrangements. If the level 
of credit losses we experience in the future exceeds our expectations, such losses could have a material adverse effect on our 
financial condition or results of operations.

Certain of our leasing arrangements allow customers to cancel, return, or upgrade the systems leased prior to the end of the 
lease  term  without  incurring  a  financial  penalty.  We  also  lease  our  systems  to  certain  qualified  customers  where  the  lease 
payments are based on their usage of the systems. While leases, including usage-based arrangements, enable our customers to 
upgrade and get access to new technologies faster, it may also enable competitors to more easily induce customers to switch to 
a  competitor’s  system.  Furthermore,  depending  on  the  timing  and  terms  of  the  upgrade  transaction,  the  amount  of  revenue 
generated on the initial and upgraded lease arrangements may not, in the aggregate, generate the same amount of revenue that a 
traditional  sale  and  trade-in  transaction  would.  Also,  if  customers  do  not  perform  a  sufficient  number  of  procedures  on  our 

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systems leased under usage-based arrangements, it could impact our profitability on those transactions. Moreover, the usage of 
those  systems  could  vary  from  quarter  to  quarter,  which  could  result  in  higher  variability  in  our  revenue  under  those 
arrangements, including a significant reduction in revenue if the usage ends. Additionally, if customers return or terminate these 
arrangements prematurely, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or result of operations.

THIRD  PARTIES  MAY  OFFER  TO  SELL  TO  OUR  CUSTOMERS  REMANUFACTURED  AND/OR 
UNAUTHORIZED  INSTRUMENTS  AND  ACCESSORIES  OR  TO  SERVICE  OUR  SYSTEMS,  WHICH  COULD 
NEGATIVELY IMPACT SAFETY, OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS, AND OUR REPUTATION.

A  significant  portion  of  our  revenue  is  generated  through  our  sales  of  instruments  and  accessories.  Third  parties  have 
offered  and  may  continue  to  offer  customers  counterfeit  instruments  and  accessories  and/or  instruments  and  accessories  that 
have been remanufactured and/or are unauthorized, including instruments that have been remanufactured to support the use of 
some of our limited-use instruments beyond their labeled useful life. As of the filing date, we are unaware that the FDA or any 
other regulatory agency has granted 510(k) or equivalent market authorization for the remanufacturing of any instruments for 
use  with  a  da  Vinci  X  or  da  Vinci  Xi  surgical  system,  but  we  understand  that  the  FDA  has  granted  510(k)  clearance  to  one 
company  for  a  remanufactured  EndoWrist  instrument  used  with  our  da  Vinci  Si  surgical  system.  While  we  generally  do  not 
approve the use by our customers of unauthorized and unapproved instruments and accessories that lack FDA clearance or other 
applicable  regulatory  approval  or  certification  with  our  systems,  such  activities  could  potentially  result  in  reduced  revenue, 
increased patient safety risks, and negative publicity for us if these products cause injuries and/or do not function as intended 
when used with our systems, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results 
of  operations.  In  addition,  we  may  be  subject  to  laws  that  regulate  or  attempt  to  regulate  the  manner  in  which  third-party 
instruments  and  accessories  or  third-party  service  providers  interact  with  our  systems,  and  such  laws  could  also  negatively 
impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

OUR  BUSINESS  IS  SUBJECT  TO  COMPLEX  AND  EVOLVING  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS  REGARDING 
PRIVACY, DATA PROTECTION, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO INFORMATION COLLECTION.

There  are  numerous  state,  federal,  and  foreign  laws,  regulations,  decisions,  and  directives  regarding  data  privacy  and 
security and the collection, storage, transmission, use, disclosure, and other processing of different types of information about 
individuals  and  other  data  (including  customer  data),  the  scope  of  which  is  continually  evolving  and  subject  to  differing 
interpretations. We may be subject to significant consequences, including penalties and fines, for any failure to comply with 
such laws, regulations, and directives.

For  example,  the  GDPR,  which  is  in  effect  across  the  EEA,  imposes  several  stringent  requirements  for  controllers  and 
processors  of  data  relating  to  an  identifiable  living  individual  or  “personal  data”  including,  for  example,  imposing  strict 
standards when obtaining consent from individuals to process their personal data, requiring robust disclosures to individuals, 
providing individual data rights, imposing short timelines for data breach notifications, limiting retention periods and secondary 
use  of  information,  imposing  certain  requirements  pertaining  to  health  data  as  well  as  pseudonymized  (i.e.,  key-coded)  data, 
regulating cross-border transfers of personal data out of the EEA, as well as additional obligations when we contract third-party 
processors in connection with the processing of personal data. The GDPR also includes a principle of accountability and the 
obligation  to  demonstrate  compliance  with  the  foregoing  obligations  through  policies,  procedures,  training,  and  audits.  The 
GDPR provides that EEA member states may make their own further laws and regulations limiting the processing of genetic, 
biometric, or health data, which could limit our ability to use and share personal data or could cause our costs to increase and 
harm our business and financial condition. Failure to comply with the requirements of the GDPR and the applicable national 
data protection laws of the EEA member states may result in significant fines, regulatory investigations, reputational damage, 
orders to cease/change our data processing activities, enforcement notices, assessment notices (for a compulsory audit), and/or 
civil claims (including class actions). Compliance with data protection obligations imposed by GDPR and EEA member state 
laws may be onerous and adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Further, since 2021, we have been subject to the UK GDPR, which, together with the amended UK Data Protection Act 
2018, retains the GDPR in UK national law. The UK GDPR mirrors the obligations, monetary fines, and enforcement regime 
under  the  GDPR;  however,  the  relationship  between  the  UK  and  the  EU  in  relation  to  certain  aspects  of  data  protection  law 
remains unclear, and it is unclear how UK data protection laws and regulations will develop in the medium to longer term and 
how  data  transfers  to  and  from  the  UK  will  be  regulated  in  the  long  term.  These  changes  may  lead  to  additional  costs  and 
increase  our  overall  risk  exposure.  We  are  also  subject  to  evolving  EEA  and  UK  privacy  laws  on  cookies,  tracking 
technologies, and e-marketing, which continue to evolve and which regulators actively enforce.

In  the  United  States,  the  Health  Insurance  Portability  and  Accountability  Act  of  1996,  as  amended  by  the  Health 
Information  Technology  for  Economic  and  Clinical  Health  Act  of  2009,  and  regulations  implemented  thereunder,  imposes 
privacy,  security,  and  breach  notification  obligations  on  certain  healthcare  providers,  health  plans,  and  healthcare 
clearinghouses,  known  as  covered  entities,  as  well  as  their  business  associates  that  perform  certain  services  that  involve 
creating,  receiving,  maintaining,  or  transmitting  individually  identifiable  health  information  for  or  on  behalf  of  such  covered 

39

entities  and  their  covered  subcontractors.  Entities  that  are  found  to  be  in  violation  of  HIPAA,  as  the  result  of  a  breach  of 
unsecured personal information, a complaint about privacy practices, or an audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services  (“HHS”),  may  be  subject  to  significant  civil,  criminal,  and  administrative  fines  and  penalties  and/or  additional 
reporting and oversight obligations if they are required to enter into a resolution agreement and corrective action plan with HHS 
to settle allegations of HIPAA non-compliance.

Even when HIPAA does not apply, according to the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), violating consumers’ privacy 
rights or failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal information secure may constitute unfair and/or deceptive 
acts  or  practices  in  violation  of  Section  5(a)  of  the  FTC  Act.  The  FTC  has  authority  to  initiate  enforcement  actions  against 
entities  that  make  deceptive  statements  about  privacy  and  data  sharing  in  privacy  policies,  fail  to  limit  third-party  use  of 
personal health information, fail to implement policies to protect personal health information, or engage in other unfair practices 
that harm customers or that may violate Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. The FTC expects a company’s data security measures to 
be reasonable and appropriate in light of the sensitivity and volume of consumer information it holds, the size and complexity 
of  its  business,  and  the  cost  of  available  tools  to  improve  security  and  reduce  vulnerabilities.  Additionally,  federal  and  state 
consumer protection laws are increasingly being applied by the FTC and states’ attorneys general to regulate the collection, use, 
storage,  and  disclosure  of  personal  or  personally  identifiable  information,  through  websites  or  otherwise,  and  to  regulate  the 
presentation of website content.

Further,  the  California  Consumer  Privacy  Act,  as  amended  by  the  California  Privacy  Rights  Act  (the  “CCPA”)  gives 
California  residents  expanded  rights  to  access,  correct,  and  delete  their  personal  information,  opt  out  of  certain  personal 
information  sharing,  and  receive  detailed  information  about  how  their  personal  information  is  used.  The  CCPA  imposes 
compliance  burdens  on  many  organizations  doing  business  in  California  that  collect  personal  information  about  California 
residents. The CCPA’s definition of personal information is very broad and specifically includes biometric information (though 
information subject to HIPAA is expressly exempted). The CCPA allows for significant fines by the state attorney general, as 
well  as  a  private  right  of  action  from  individuals  in  relation  to  certain  security  breaches.  The  enactment  of  the  CCPA  has 
prompted a wave of similar legislative developments in other U.S. states, such as Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah, 
and  at  the  federal  level,  reflecting  a  trend  toward  more  stringent  privacy  legislation  in  the  U.S.  These  developments  are 
increasing our compliance burden and our risk, including risks of regulatory fines, litigation, and associated reputational harm.

In  addition,  recent  legal  developments  in  Europe  have  created  complexity  and  compliance  uncertainty  regarding  certain 
transfers  of  personal  data  from  the  EEA  or  UK  to  third  countries,  including  the  United  States.  Case  law  from  the  Court  of 
Justice of the European Union (the “CJEU”) states that the standard contractual clauses (a standard form of contract approved 
by the European Commission as an adequate personal data transfer mechanism and potential alternative to the Privacy Shield) 
alone  may  not  necessarily  be  sufficient  in  all  circumstances  and  that  transfers  must  be  assessed  on  a  case-by-case  basis.  On 
October  7,  2022,  President  Biden  signed  an  Executive  Order  on  ‘Enhancing  Safeguards  for  United  States  Intelligence 
Activities,’ which introduced new redress mechanisms and binding safeguards to address the concerns raised by the CJEU in 
relation  to  data  transfers  from  the  EEA  to  the  United  States  and  which  formed  the  basis  of  the  new  EU-US  Data  Privacy 
Framework (“DPF”), as released on December 13, 2022. The European Commission adopted its Adequacy Decision in relation 
to the DPF on July 10, 2023, rendering the DPF effective as an EU GDPR transfer mechanism to U.S. entities self-certified 
under the DPF. On October 12, 2023, the UK Extension to the DPF came into effect (as approved by the UK Government), as a 
UK GDPR data transfer mechanism to U.S. entities self-certified under the UK Extension to the DPF. However, we expect the 
existing legal complexity and uncertainty regarding international persona data transfers to continue. In particular, we expect the 
DPF Adequacy Decision to be challenged.

We rely on a mixture of mechanisms to transfer personal data from our EU business to the U.S. and are evaluating whether 
additional  mechanisms  will  be  required  to  establish  adequate  safeguards  for  personal  data.  We  expect  the  existing  legal 
complexity  and  uncertainty  regarding  international  personal  data  transfers  to  continue.  In  particular,  we  expect  the  DPF 
Adequacy Decision to be challenged and international transfers to the United States and to other jurisdictions more generally to 
continue to be subject to enhanced scrutiny by regulators. As supervisory authorities issue further guidance on personal data 
export  mechanisms,  including  circumstances  where  the  standard  contractual  clauses  cannot  be  used  and/or  start  taking 
enforcement  action,  we  could  suffer  additional  costs,  complaints,  and/or  regulatory  investigations  or  fines.  As  the  regulatory 
guidance  and  enforcement  landscape  in  relation  to  data  transfers  continues  to  develop,  we  could  suffer  additional  costs, 
complaints, and/or regulatory investigations or fines, and we may have to stop using certain tools and vendors. Moreover, if we 
are unable to transfer personal data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, it could affect the manner in 
which we provide our services. These operational changes could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of 
operations.

In  China,  we  are  also  subject  to  various  aspects  of  the  country’s  data  compliance  regime,  which  can  include  the 
Cybersecurity  Law,  the  Data  Security  Law,  and  the  Personal  Information  Protection  Law  (“PIPL”).  In  addition,  the  relevant 
government authorities of China promulgated several regulations or released a number of draft regulations for public comment 
that are designed to provide further implemental guidance in accordance with these laws. We cannot predict what impact the 

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new laws and regulations or the increased costs of compliance, if any, will have on our operations in China, in particular the 
Data Security Law or PIPL, due to their recent enactment and the limited guidance available. It is also generally unclear how 
the laws will be interpreted and enforced in practice by the relevant government authorities, as these laws are drafted broadly 
and, thus, leave great discretion to the relevant government authorities to exercise.

In  Israel,  The  Protection  of  Privacy  Law,  5741-1981  (the  “Israeli  Privacy  Law”)  regulates  the  protection  of  privacy  and 
personal  data,  along  with  several  other  specific  regulations  enacted  thereunder  and,  in  particular,  the  Privacy  Protection 
Regulations  (Data  Security),  5777-2017  (together  with  Israeli  Protection  of  Privacy  Law,  the  “Israeli  Privacy  Law  and 
Regulations”). Under the Israeli Privacy Law and Regulations, organizations are subject to various privacy and data protection 
requirements,  including  mandatory  registration  of  databases  with  the  Israeli  Registrar  of  Databases  (if  certain  conditions  are 
met), executing data processing agreements with data recipients, safeguarding the collection and processing of personal data, 
safeguarding  the  transfer  of  personal  data  (which  is  specifically  subject  to  the  requirements  of  the  Privacy  Protection 
Regulations),  personal  data  breach  notification  obligations,  and  other  requirements.  The  Privacy  Protection  Authority  (the 
“PPA”)  is  responsible  for  enforcement  of  the  Israeli  Privacy  Law  and  Regulations  and  periodically  publishes  opinions  and 
guidelines  on  privacy  matters.  In  terms  of  enforcement,  failure  to  comply  with  the  Israeli  Privacy  Law  and  Regulations  can 
result  in  PPA  investigations,  administrative  fines  or  sanctions,  and  civil  or  criminal  actions  (civil  proceedings  may  include 
statutory damages without the need to prove actual damages).

Furthermore, any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with or make effective modifications to our policies or to 
comply with any federal, state, or international privacy, data-retention, or data-protection-related laws, regulations, orders, or 
industry self-regulatory principles could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, a loss of 
customer confidence, damage to our brand and reputation, and a loss of customers, any of which could have an adverse effect 
on our business. In addition, various federal, state, and foreign legislative or regulatory bodies may enact new or additional laws 
and  regulations  concerning  privacy,  data-retention,  and  data-protection  issues,  including  laws  or  regulations  mandating 
disclosure to domestic or international law enforcement bodies, which could adversely impact our business or our reputation 
with  customers.  For  example,  some  countries  have  adopted  laws  mandating  that  some  personal  information  regarding 
customers in their country be maintained solely in their country. Having to maintain local data centers and redesign product, 
service,  and  business  operations  to  limit  personal  information  processing  to  within  individual  countries  could  increase  our 
operating costs significantly.

ONGOING AND POTENTIAL FUTURE GLOBAL CONFLICTS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS, 
FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

In February 2022, Russian military forces launched a military action in Ukraine, and sustained conflict and disruption in 
the  region  has  continued.  Russia’s  military  actions  against  Ukraine  have  led  to  substantial  expansion  of  sanction  programs 
imposed  by  the  United  States,  the  European  Union,  the  United  Kingdom,  Canada,  Switzerland,  Japan,  and  other  countries 
against  Russia,  Belarus,  the  Crimea  Region  of  Ukraine,  the  so-called  Donetsk  People’s  Republic,  and  the  so-called  Luhansk 
People’s Republic, including, among others:

•

•

•

blocking  sanctions  against  some  of  the  largest  state-owned  and  private  Russian  financial  institutions  (and  their 
subsequent  removal  from  the  Society  for  Worldwide  Interbank  Financial  Telecommunication  payment  system) 
and certain Russian businesses, some of which have significant financial and trade ties to the European Union;

blocking sanctions against Russian and Belarusian individuals, including the Russian President, other politicians, 
and those with government connections or involved in Russian military activities; and

blocking  of  Russia’s  foreign  currency  reserves  as  well  as  expansion  of  sectoral  sanctions  and  export  and  trade 
restrictions, limitations on investments and access to capital markets, and bans on various Russian imports.

In  retaliation  against  new  international  sanctions  and  as  part  of  measures  to  stabilize  and  support  the  volatile  Russian 
financial and currency markets, the Russian authorities also imposed significant currency control measures aimed at restricting 
the outflow of foreign currency and capital from Russia, imposed various restrictions on transacting with non-Russian parties, 
banned exports of various products, and imposed other economic and financial restrictions. The situation is rapidly evolving, 
and additional sanctions by Russia on the one hand, and by the other countries on the other hand, could adversely affect the 
global  economy,  financial  markets,  energy  supply  and  prices,  certain  critical  materials  and  metals,  supply  chains,  and  global 
logistics and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Separately, on October 7, 2023, Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, launched a series of coordinated attacks 
from the Gaza Strip onto Israel. On October 8, 2023, Israel formally declared war on Hamas, and the armed conflict is ongoing 
as  of  the  date  of  this  filing.  Hostilities  between  Israel  and  Hamas  could  escalate  and  involve  surrounding  countries  in  the 
Middle East. Furthermore, following Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Houthi movement, which controls parts of Yemen, launched a 
number of attacks on marine vessels in the Red Sea. The Red Sea is an important maritime route for international trade. As a 
result  of  such  disruptions,  we  may  experience  in  the  future  extended  lead  times,  delays  in  supplier  deliveries,  and  increased 
freight costs. The risk of ongoing supply disruptions may further result in delayed deliveries of our products.

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We are actively monitoring the situation in Ukraine and Russia and the conflict between Israel and Hamas and assessing 
the  impacts  on  our  business,  including  our  business  partners  and  customers.  To  date,  we  have  not  experienced  any  material 
interruptions in our infrastructure, supplies, technology systems, or networks needed to support our operations. We have no way 
to predict the progress, outcome, or consequences of the military conflict in Ukraine or its impacts in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, 
Europe, or the U.S., or of the conflict in the Israel-Gaza regions and any potential increases in hostilities in the Middle East.

The length, impact, and outcome of ongoing military conflicts is highly unpredictable and could lead to significant market 
and  other  disruptions,  including  significant  volatility  in  commodity  prices  and  supply  of  energy  resources,  instability  in 
financial  markets,  supply  chain  interruptions,  political  and  social  instability,  trade  disputes  or  trade  barriers,  changes  in 
consumer or purchaser preferences, as well as an increase in cyberattacks and espionage. The extent and duration of the military 
action, sanctions, other consequences, such as restrictions on transactions or banning the export of energy products, including 
natural gas, and the resulting market disruptions could be significant and could potentially have substantial impact on the global 
economy  and  our  business  for  an  unknown  period  of  time.  Impacts  to  our  business  may  include,  but  are  not  limited  to, 
procedures performed, demand for our products, and ability to spend on capital equipment and healthcare in general. Any such 
disruption may also magnify the impact of other risks described.

INCORPORATING  ARTIFICIAL  INTELLIGENCE  INTO  OUR  PRODUCTS,  SERVICES,  AND  OPERATIONS 
MAY  RESULT  IN  LEGAL  AND  REGULATORY  RISKS  OR  REPUTATIONAL  HARM  OR  HAVE  OTHER 
ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES TO OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Our current operations, products, and services use artificial intelligence (“AI”), including machine learning. Examples of 
our current uses of machine learning include (i) using algorithms to process video and system data to identify surgical activities 
and  surgical  performance  indicators  to  support  learning,  teaching,  and  practice  management,  and  (ii)  using  algorithms  to 
support surgical planning and navigation. Future innovations in our products and services will likely continue to incorporate AI, 
and these applications may become important in our operations over time, for example, our development of machine learning-
enabled medical devices (“MLMDs”).

As with many technological innovations, there are significant risks and challenges involved in maintaining and deploying 
these technologies, and there can be no assurance that the usage of such technologies will enhance our products or services or 
be beneficial to our business, including our efficiency or profitability.

Our ability to continue to maintain or use such technologies may be dependent on access to specific third-party software 
and infrastructure, such as processing hardware, and we cannot control the availability or pricing of such third-party software 
and infrastructure, especially in a highly competitive environment. Our products and services may not compete effectively with 
alternative products and services if we are not able to source and integrate the latest technologies into our products and services. 
In addition, a number of aspects of intellectual property protection in the field of AI are currently under development, and there 
is  uncertainty  and  ongoing  litigation  in  different  jurisdictions  as  to  the  degree  and  extent  of  protection  warranted  for  AI 
technologies and relevant system input and outputs. If we fail to obtain protection for the intellectual property rights concerning 
our AI technologies, or later have our intellectual property rights invalidated or otherwise diminished, our competitors may be 
able to take advantage of our research and development efforts to develop competing products, which could adversely affect 
our business, reputation, financial condition, or results of operations. Refer to our risk factor titled “If we are unable to fully 
protect and successfully defend our intellectual property from use by third parties, our ability to compete in the market may be 
harmed” for additional risks related to intellectual property.

The regulatory landscape surrounding AI is also evolving, and the use of machine learning technologies may expose us to 
an  increased  risk  of  regulatory  enforcement  and  litigation.  For  example,  in  October  2023,  the  FDA,  Health  Canada,  and  the 
U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency jointly published the “Predetermined Change Control Plans for 
Machine  Learning-Enabled  Medical  Devices:  Guiding  Principles.”  These  principles  may  require  significant  regulatory 
oversight, such as additional premarket review, and ongoing regulation through monitoring, maintenance, and improving device 
performance to ensure safety and effectiveness.

In the U.S., an executive order was issued in October 2023 on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of 
AI,  emphasizing  the  need  for  transparency,  accountability,  and  fairness  in  the  development  and  use  of  AI,  including  in  the 
healthcare industry. The order seeks to balance fostering innovation with addressing risks associated with AI by providing eight 
guiding principles and priorities, such as ensuring that consumers are protected from fraud, discrimination, and privacy risks 
related to AI. The order also calls for future regulations from various agencies, such as the Department of Commerce (to draft 
guidance for detecting and authenticating AI content) and the Federal Trade Commission (to ensure fair competition and reduce 
consumer harm). In alignment with the order, other agencies have published guidance. 

Apart from the U.S., policymakers in key jurisdictions, such as the EU, are actively working on legislation and regulations 
to  encourage  the  development  and  use  of  ethical  and  safe  AI  technologies.  For  example,  on  April  21,  2021,  the  European 
Commission proposed a regulation seeking to establish a comprehensive, risk-based governance framework for AI in the EU 
market  (“EU  AI  Act”).  The  proposal  is  intended  to  apply  to  companies  that  develop,  use,  and/or  provide  AI  in  the  EU  and 

42

includes  requirements  around  transparency,  conformity  assessments  and  monitoring,  risk  assessments,  human  oversight, 
security,  and  accuracy.  In  addition,  on  September  28,  2022,  the  European  Commission  proposed  two  Directives  seeking  to 
establish a harmonized civil liability regime for AI in the EU. These regulatory proposals are at varying stages of the legislative 
process and are not yet finalized; the EU AI Act is at an advanced stage and the text is currently expected to be finalized by the 
end of 2023. Once finalized and in force, this regulatory framework is expected to have a material impact on the way that AI is 
regulated  in  the  EU  and,  together  with  developing  guidance  and/or  decisions  in  this  area,  may  affect  our  use  of  AI  and  our 
ability  to  provide,  improve,  or  commercialize  our  services,  require  additional  compliance  measures  and  changes  to  our 
operations  and  processes,  result  in  increased  compliance  costs  and  potential  increases  in  civil  claims  against  us,  and  could 
adversely affect our business, operations, and financial condition.

Other jurisdictions where we operate have already or are also expected to introduce guidelines and regulations around the 
use  of  AI  within  the  next  few  years.  The  regulations  may  impose  onerous  obligations  and  may  require  us  to  rework  or 
reevaluate improvements to be compliant, potentially increasing costs. 

Moreover, some of the AI features of our products involve, or may involve, the processing of personal data and may be 
subject to laws, policies, legal obligations, and codes of conduct related to privacy and data protection, each of which may be 
interpreted in ways that may affect the way in which we engage with machine learning and require us to make changes to our 
business  practices  and  products  to  comply  with  such  obligations.  Our  use  of  AI  technologies  may  involve  the  storage  and 
transmission of confidential or sensitive information, including personal information of employees, customers, and others, as 
well as protected health information of clients’ patients. In addition, due to the sensitive nature of the information, the security 
features of our computers and systems, network, and communications systems infrastructure are critical to the success of our 
business. A breach or failure in our security measures could occur from a variety of circumstances and events, including third-
party  action,  employee  negligence  or  error,  malfeasance,  computer  viruses,  cyber-attacks,  or  ransom-related  attacks  by 
computer  hackers,  failures  during  the  process  of  upgrading  or  replacing  software  and  databases,  power  outages,  hardware 
failures, telecommunication failures, user errors, or catastrophic events, and any of the foregoing events could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. For more information on risks associated with the 
processing of confidential and sensitive information, including personal information, refer to our risk factor titled “Information 
technology  system  failures,  cyberattacks,  or  deficiencies  in  our  cybersecurity  could  harm  our  business,  customer  relations, 
financial condition, or results of operations.”

Though  we  have  taken  steps  to  be  thoughtful  in  our  development,  training,  and  implementation  of  machine  learning, 
including  taking  steps  to  comply  with  the  laws  and  frameworks  discussed  above  that  are  currently  in  effect,  our  machine 
learning-related processing could pose certain risks to our customers, including patients, clinicians, and healthcare institutions, 
and it is not guaranteed that regulators will agree with our approach to limiting these risks or to our compliance more generally. 
Risks  can  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  the  potential  for  errors  or  inaccuracies  in  the  algorithms  or  models  used  by  the 
MLMDs, the potential for bias or inaccuracies in the data used to train the MLMDs, the potential for improper processing of 
personal information that could lead to deprecation of our algorithms, and the potential for cybersecurity breaches that could 
compromise patient data or device functionality. Such risks could negatively affect the performance of our products, services, 
and business, as well as our reputation and the reputations of our customers, and we could incur liability through the violation 
of laws or contracts to which we are a party or civil claims.

WE  MAY  INCUR  LOSSES  ASSOCIATED  WITH  CURRENCY  FLUCTUATIONS  AND  MAY  NOT  BE  ABLE  TO 
EFFECTIVELY HEDGE OUR EXPOSURE.

Our operating results are subject to volatility due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Our primary exposure 
to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relates to revenue and operating expenses denominated in currencies other 
than  the  U.S.  dollar.  The  weakening  of  foreign  currencies  relative  to  the  U.S.  dollar  adversely  affects  our  foreign  currency-
denominated revenue. Margins on OUS revenue could also be materially adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate 
fluctuations,  as  we  may  not  be  able  to  raise  local  prices  to  fully  offset  the  strengthening  of  the  U.S.  dollar.  Conversely,  the 
strengthening of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, while generally beneficial to our foreign currency-denominated 
revenue and earnings, may cause us to reduce pricing on our products in our OUS markets and may cause us to incur losses on 
our foreign currency hedging instruments, thereby limiting the benefit that strengthened foreign currencies could have on our 
results of operations.

We attempt to mitigate a portion of these risks through foreign currency hedging, based on our judgment of the appropriate 
trade-offs  among  risk,  opportunity,  and  expense.  Although  we  have  established  a  hedging  program  to  partially  hedge  our 
exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, primarily related to transactions denominated in the Euro, the British 
Pound, the Japanese Yen, the Korean Won, the New Taiwan Dollar, and the Swiss Franc, and we regularly review our hedging 
program and make adjustments as necessary, our hedging activities may not offset more than a portion of the adverse financial 
impact  caused  by  unfavorable  movement  in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates,  which  could  materially  adversely  affect  our 
financial  condition  or  results  of  operations.  See  “Item  7A.  Quantitative  and  Qualitative  Disclosures  About  Market  Risk”  for 
additional discussion on the impact of foreign exchange risk.

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IF  WE  DO  NOT  SUCCESSFULLY  MANAGE  OUR  COLLABORATION,  LICENSING,  JOINT  VENTURE, 
STRATEGIC  ALLIANCE,  OR  PARTNERSHIP  ARRANGEMENTS  WITH  THIRD  PARTIES,  WE  MAY  NOT 
REALIZE  THE  EXPECTED  BENEFITS  FROM  SUCH  ARRANGEMENTS,  WHICH  MAY  HAVE  A  MATERIAL 
ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

From  time  to  time,  we  enter  into  collaborations,  in-licensing  arrangements,  joint  ventures,  strategic  alliances,  or 
partnerships to complement or augment our research and development, product development, training, procedure development, 
and marketing efforts. For example, in 2016, we entered into an agreement to form the Joint Venture. In January 2019, the Joint 
Venture  acquired  certain  assets  related  to  the  da  Vinci  distribution  business  of  Chindex,  a  subsidiary  of  Fosun  Pharma, 
following which the Joint Venture began direct distribution operations for da Vinci products and services in China. There can 
be  no  assurance  that  we  and  the  Joint  Venture  can  successfully  complete  development  of  robotic-assisted,  catheter-based 
medical  devices,  or  that  we  and  the  Joint  Venture  will  successfully  commercialize  such  products.  There  can  also  be  no 
assurance that the Joint Venture will not require additional contributions to fund its business, that the Joint Venture will become 
profitable, or that the expected benefits of the acquisition of certain assets of Chindex will be realized. Proposing, negotiating, 
and implementing collaborations, in-licensing agreements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, or partnerships may be a lengthy 
and  complex  process.  In  addition,  other  companies,  including  those  with  substantially  greater  financial,  marketing,  sales, 
technology, or other business resources, may compete with us for these opportunities or arrangements. As a result, we may not 
identify,  secure,  or  complete  any  such  arrangements  in  a  timely  manner,  on  a  cost-effective  basis,  or  on  otherwise  favorable 
terms, if it all.

There can be no assurance that we will realize the expected benefits from these alliances. In addition, we may not be in a 
position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding any collaboration or other arrangement, which could create the 
potential risk of creating impasses on decisions, and our alliances may have economic or business interests that are, or that may 
become, inconsistent with our interests. It is possible that conflicts may arise in these relationships, such as conflicts concerning 
the achievement of performance milestones or the interpretation of significant terms under any agreement, such as those related 
to  financial  obligations,  termination  rights,  or  the  ownership  or  control  of  intellectual  property  developed  during  the 
collaboration. These alliances can be difficult to manage, given the potentially different interests of the parties involved, and we 
could suffer delays in product development or other operational difficulties.

There can be no assurance that we will realize a return on our strategic investments. Further, if we acquire privately held 
companies,  valuations  of  such  companies  are  inherently  complex  due  to  the  lack  of  readily  available  market  data.  If  we 
determine that our investments in privately held companies have experienced a decline in value, we may be required to record 
impairments, which could be material and have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

These  alliances  may  also  involve  significant  costs  and  divert  the  focus  and  attention  of  our  management  and  other  key 
personnel. Any of these relationships may require us to incur non-recurring and other charges, increase our near- and long-term 
expenditures,  or  disrupt  our  ordinary  business  activities.  Such  arrangements  may  also  expose  us  to  numerous  known  and 
unknown  risks,  including  unique  risks  with  respect  to  the  economic,  political,  and  regulatory  environment  of  any  foreign 
entities  with  whom  we  partner,  including  Fosun  Pharma.  Any  of  the  foregoing  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our 
business, financial condition, or results of operations.

IF  WE  FAIL  TO  SUCCESSFULLY  ACQUIRE  OR  INTEGRATE  NEW  BUSINESSES,  PRODUCTS,  AND 
TECHNOLOGY, WE MAY NOT REALIZE EXPECTED BENEFITS, OR OUR BUSINESS MAY BE HARMED.

We need to grow our businesses in response to changing technologies, customer demands, and competitive pressures. In 
some circumstances, we may decide to grow our business through the acquisition of complementary businesses, products, or 
technologies rather than through internal development.

Identifying suitable acquisition candidates can be difficult, time-consuming, and costly, and we may not be able to identify 
suitable  candidates  or  successfully  complete  identified  acquisitions.  In  addition,  completing  an  acquisition  can  divert  our 
management and key personnel from our business operations, which could harm our business and affect our financial results. 
Even  if  we  complete  an  acquisition,  we  may  not  be  able  to  successfully  integrate  newly  acquired  organizations,  products, 
technologies, or employees into our operations or may not fully realize some of the expected synergies. An acquired company 
may  have  deficiencies  in  product  quality,  regulatory  marketing  authorizations  or  certifications,  or  intellectual  property 
protections, which are not detected during due diligence activities or which are unasserted at the time of acquisition. It may be 
difficult, expensive, and time-consuming for us to re-establish market access, regulatory compliance, or cure such deficiencies 
in product quality or intellectual property protection in such cases, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, 
financial condition, or results of operations.

Integrating  an  acquisition  can  also  be  expensive  and  time-consuming  and  may  strain  our  resources.  In  many  instances, 
integrating a new business will also involve implementing or improving internal controls appropriate for a public company at a 
business  that  lacks  them.  In  addition,  we  may  be  unable  to  retain  the  employees  of  acquired  companies  or  the  acquired 
company’s customers, suppliers, distributors, or other partners for a variety of reasons, including that these entities may be our 

44

competitors or may have close relationships with our competitors. Furthermore, acquired companies may have less mature or 
less sophisticated information systems, securities practices, or training, which may result in an increased risk of security and 
cybersecurity incidents when such companies are integrated. For example, in 2020, we acquired Orpheus Medical Ltd. and its 
wholly owned subsidiaries (“Orpheus Medical”) to deepen and expand our integrated informatics platform. The integration of 
this acquisition involved complex operations across different geographic locations and new products, distribution networks, and 
legal  jurisdictions.  Failure  to  successfully  integrate  our  acquisitions  may  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our  business, 
financial condition, or results of operations.

WE  ARE  EXPOSED  TO  CREDIT  RISK  AND  FLUCTUATIONS  IN  THE  MARKET  VALUE  OF  OUR 
INVESTMENTS.

Our  investment  portfolio  includes  both  domestic  and  international  investments.  The  credit  ratings  and  pricing  of  our 
investments can be negatively affected by liquidity concerns, credit deterioration, financial results, economic risk, political risk, 
or  other  factors.  As  a  result,  the  value  and  liquidity  of  our  cash  equivalents  and  marketable  securities  could  fluctuate 
substantially. Our other income and expense could also vary materially from expectations depending on gains or losses realized 
on the sale or exchange of investments, impairment charges resulting from revaluations of debt and equity securities and other 
investments, changes in interest rates, increases or decreases in cash balances, volatility in foreign exchange rates, and changes 
in the fair value of derivative instruments. Increased volatility in the financial markets and overall economic uncertainty could 
increase the risk that actual amounts realized on our investments may differ significantly from the fair values currently assigned 
to them.

The  value  of  our  investments  may  also  decline  due  to  instability  in  the  global  financial  markets,  which  may  reduce  the 
liquidity  of  securities  included  in  our  portfolio.  The  closure  of  SVB  and  other  institutions  swept  into  receivership  and  the 
appointment of the FDIC as receiver in 2023 created bank-specific and broader financial institution liquidity risk and concerns. 
Although the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC jointly released a statement that depositors at 
SVB and other banks that have been similarly swept into receivership would have access to their funds, even those in excess of 
the  standard  FDIC  insurance  limits,  under  a  systemic  risk  exception,  future  adverse  developments  with  respect  to  specific 
financial institutions or the broader financial services industry may impair our ability to access capital needed to support near-
term working capital needs, whether from our existing investment and deposit accounts and credit facilities or otherwise, and 
may lead to market-wide liquidity shortages and create additional market and economic uncertainty. Any decline in available 
funding  or  access  to  our  cash  and  liquidity  resources  could  also  result  in  breaches  of  our  financial  and/or  contractual 
obligations.

Our Intuitive Ventures fund invests in early-stage companies, which involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These risks 
and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties inherent in research and development; uncertainties regarding the 
ability  of  Intuitive  Ventures  to  identify  investment  candidates;  uncertainties  regarding  the  success  of  Intuitive  Ventures’ 
investments;  uncertainties  and  variables  inherent  in  the  operating  and  financial  performance  in  investments  made,  including, 
among  other  things,  competitive  developments  and  general  economic,  political,  business,  industry,  regulatory  and  market 
conditions; future exchange and interest rates; and changes in tax and other laws, regulations, rates and policies.

While  we  have  not  realized  any  significant  losses  on  our  cash  equivalents,  marketable  securities,  or  other  investments, 
future  fluctuations  in  their  value  could  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  or  results  of 
operations.

CHANGES  IN  OUR  EFFECTIVE  TAX  RATE  MAY  ADVERSELY  AFFECT  OUR  BUSINESS,  FINANCIAL 
CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

We are subject to taxes in the U.S. and other jurisdictions around the world. Tax rates in these jurisdictions may be subject 
to  significant  change  due  to  economic  and/or  political  conditions.  A  number  of  other  factors  may  also  impact  our  future 
effective tax rate, including:

•

•

•

•

•
•
•
•

the jurisdictions in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed;

the resolution of issues arising from tax audits with various tax authorities;

changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;

increases in expenses not deductible for tax purposes, including write-offs of acquired intangibles and impairment 
of goodwill in connection with acquisitions;
changes in the availability of tax credits, tax holidays, and tax deductions;
changes in share-based compensation;
changes in tax laws or the interpretation of such tax laws; and
changes in generally accepted accounting principles.

45

We are unable to predict what changes to the tax laws of the U.S. and other jurisdictions may be proposed or enacted in the 
future or what effect such changes would have on our business, including changes resulting from the base erosion and profit 
shifting (“BEPS”) project undertaken by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”). As part of 
the  OECD’s  BEPS  project,  over  140  member  jurisdictions  of  the  OECD  Inclusive  Framework  have  joined  the  Two-Pillar 
Solution  to  Address  the  Tax  Challenges  of  the  Digitalization  of  the  Economy,  which  includes  a  reallocation  of  taxing  rights 
among  jurisdictions  and  a  global  minimum  tax  rate  of  15%.  On  December  15,  2022,  the  Council  of  the  European  Union 
approved its directive to implement rules regarding such a 15% global minimum tax rate. Other countries have adopted, or have 
announced plans to adopt, new tax laws to align with the global minimum tax. These changes could increase tax uncertainty and 
may  adversely  impact  our  provision  for  income  taxes.  Any  significant  increase  in  our  future  effective  tax  rate  could  have  a 
material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

DISRUPTIONS  AT  THE  FDA  AND  OTHER  GOVERNMENT  AGENCIES  OR  NOTIFIED  BODIES  COULD 
HINDER  THEIR  ABILITY  TO  HIRE,  RETAIN,  OR  DEPLOY  PERSONNEL,  OR  OTHERWISE  PREVENT 
PRODUCTS FROM BEING DEVELOPED, CLEARED, CERTIFIED, APPROVED, OR COMMERCIALIZED IN A 
TIMELY  MANNER  OR  AT  ALL,  WHICH  MAY  ADVERSELY  AFFECT  OUR  BUSINESS,  FINANCIAL 
CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Hospitals, health systems, and physicians depend on a number of government agencies and services to effectively deliver 
healthcare to their patients. A prolonged government shutdown could impact inspections, regulatory review and certifications, 
grants, or approvals or could cause other situations that could impede their ability to effectively deliver healthcare, including 
attempts  to  reduce  payments  and  other  reimbursements  to  hospitals  by  federal  healthcare  programs.  These  situations  could 
adversely  affect  our  customers’  ability  to  perform  procedures  with  our  devices  and/or  their  decisions  to  purchase  additional 
products from us.

In  addition,  the  ability  of  the  FDA,  foreign  authorities,  and  notified  bodies  to  review  and  clear,  approve,  or  certify  new 
products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key 
personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. In addition, government funding 
of  other  government  agencies  that  fund  research  and  development  activities  is  subject  to  the  political  process,  which  is 
inherently  fluid  and  unpredictable.  Disruptions  at  the  FDA  and  other  agencies  or  notified  bodies,  including  a  prolonged 
government shutdown, may cause significant regulatory delays and, therefore, delay our efforts to seek clearances, approvals, 
or  certifications  from  the  FDA,  foreign  authorities,  and  notified  bodies  and  adversely  affect  business  travel  and  import  and 
export  of  products,  all  of  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  or  results  of 
operations. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times, and certain regulatory 
agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical FDA employees and stop critical activities.

Separately, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA postponed most inspections of domestic and foreign 
manufacturing facilities at various points. Even though the FDA has since resumed standard inspection operations of domestic 
facilities  where  feasible,  any  resurgence  of  the  virus  or  emergence  of  new  variants  may  lead  to  further  inspectional  or 
administrative  delays.  If  a  prolonged  government  shutdown  occurs,  or  if  global  health  concerns  prevent  the  FDA,  other 
regulatory  authorities,  or  notified  bodies  from  conducting  their  regular  inspections,  reviews,  or  other  regulatory  activities,  it 
could significantly impact the ability of the FDA, other regulatory authorities, or notified bodies to timely review and process 
our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

For instance, in the EU, notified bodies must be officially designated to certify products and services in accordance with 
the  EU  Medical  Devices  Regulation.  Their  designation  process,  which  is  significantly  stricter  under  the  new  regulation,  has 
experienced considerable delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a recent increase in designations, the current number 
of  notified  bodies  designated  under  the  new  Regulation  remains  significantly  lower  than  the  number  of  notified  bodies 
designated under the previous regime. The current designated notified bodies are, therefore, facing a backlog of requests, and 
review times have lengthened. This situation could impact our ability to grow our business in the EU and EEA.

WE ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT.

The development of our facilities is subject to risks relating to our ability to complete our projects on schedule or within 
budget.  Factors  that  may  result  in  a  development  project  being  prevented  or  delayed  from  completion  or  exceeding  budget 
include, but are not limited to (i) construction delays due to labor challenges, poor weather, defects, or cost overruns, which 
may  increase  project  development  costs;  (ii)  cost  escalations  associated  with  materials,  including  changes  in  availability, 
proximity,  and  cost  of  materials,  such  as  steel,  cement,  concrete,  aggregates,  oil,  fuel,  and  other  construction  materials, 
including potential risks arising from geopolitical conflicts, changes in U.S. trade policies and retaliatory responses from other 
countries,  changes  in  foreign  exchange  rates,  as  well  as  cost  escalations  associated  with  subcontractors  and  labor;  (iii)  the 
discovery  of  hazardous  or  toxic  substances,  or  other  environmental,  culturally-sensitive,  or  related  issues;  (iv)  an  inability  to 
obtain,  or  a  significant  delay  in  obtaining,  zoning,  construction,  occupancy,  and  other  required  governmental  permits  and 
authorizations; (v) difficulty in complying with local, city, county, and state rules and regulations regarding permitting, zoning, 

46

subdivision, utilities, and water quality, as well as federal rules and regulations regarding air and water quality and protection of 
endangered species and their habitats; (vi) insufficient infrastructure capacity or availability (e.g., water, sewer, and roads) to 
serve  the  needs  of  our  projects;  (vii)  failure  to  achieve  or  sustain  anticipated  occupancy  levels;  (viii)  condemnation  of  all  or 
parts  of  development  or  operating  properties,  which  could  adversely  affect  the  value  or  viability  of  such  projects;  and  (ix) 
natural  disasters  and  other  extreme  weather  conditions,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  hurricanes,  tornadoes,  earthquakes, 
wildfires, or flooding.

CLIMATE  CHANGE,  NATURAL  DISASTERS,  OR  OTHER  EVENTS  BEYOND  OUR  CONTROL  COULD 
DISRUPT OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Natural  disasters,  terrorist  activities,  and  other  events  beyond  our  control  including,  but  not  limited  to,  internet  security 
threats and violence motivated by political or social causes, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results 
of operations. Moreover, global climate change could result in certain types of natural disasters occurring more frequently or 
with more intense effects. The impacts of climate change may include physical risks (such as frequency and severity of extreme 
weather conditions), social and human effects (such as population dislocations or harm to health and well-being), compliance 
costs, transition risks, shifts in market trends, and other adverse effects. Such impacts may disrupt parties in our supply chain, 
our customers, and our operations. For example, the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and their aftermath, created 
economic uncertainty and disrupted economic activities in Japan, including a reduction in hospital spending.

Physical risks associated with climate change are subject to increasing societal, regulatory, and political focus in the U.S. 
and globally. Shifts in weather patterns caused by climate change are expected to increase the frequency, severity, or duration 
of  certain  adverse  weather  conditions  and  natural  disasters,  such  as  hurricanes,  tornadoes,  earthquakes,  wildfires,  droughts, 
extreme temperatures, or flooding, which could cause more significant business and supply chain interruptions, damage to our 
products and facilities as well as the infrastructure of hospitals, medical care facilities, and other customers, reduced workforce 
availability, increased costs or reduced supply of raw materials and components, increased liabilities, and decreased revenues 
than what we have experienced in the past from such events. The geographic location of our California headquarters and many 
of our manufacturing facilities, as well as the facilities of certain of our key suppliers and service providers, subject them to 
earthquake, drought, and wildfire risks. If a major earthquake, wildfire, or other natural disaster were to damage our facilities or 
the facilities of our suppliers and service providers, or impact the ability of our employees or the employees of our suppliers and 
service  providers  to  travel  to  their  workplace,  we  may  experience  potential  impacts  ranging  from  production  and  shipping 
delays  to  lost  revenues  and  increased  costs,  which  could  harm  our  business.  Moreover,  periods  with  increased  drought  and 
annual periods of wildfire danger may increase the probability of planned power outages in the communities where we work 
and live. For example, in October 2019, Pacific Gas and Electric, the public electric utility in the Northern California region, 
used  planned  power  outages  to  avoid  and  contain  wildfires  sparked  during  strong  wind  events  by  downed  power  lines  or 
equipment  failure.  If  prolonged  or  frequent,  such  planned  blackouts  could  impact  our  operations  and  the  operations  of  our 
suppliers  and  service  providers  located  in  the  Northern  California  region.  While  this  danger  has  a  low  assessed  risk  of 
disrupting normal business operations, it has a potential impact on our employees’ abilities to commute to work or to work from 
home and stay connected effectively. We do not have multiple-site capacity for all of our operations in the event of a business 
disruption, and we are predominantly self-insured and may not be able to sufficiently cover losses or additional expenses that 
we may sustain. Furthermore, the impacts of global climate change on water resources may result in water scarcity, which could 
impact our ability to access sufficient quantities of water in certain locations and result in increased costs.

In  addition,  the  increasing  concern  over  climate  change  has  resulted  and  may  continue  to  result  in  more  legal  and 
regulatory requirements designed to mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment, including regulating greenhouse 
gas  emissions,  alternative  energy  policies,  and  sustainability  initiatives.  If  such  laws  or  regulations  are  more  stringent  than 
current  legal  or  regulatory  requirements,  we  may  experience  increased  compliance  burdens  and  costs  to  meet  our  regulatory 
obligations. Changes in requirements may adversely affect raw material sourcing from suppliers, our manufacturing operations 
and  those  of  our  suppliers,  and  the  distribution  of  our  products.  Further,  there  may  be  increasing  scrutiny  and  changing 
expectations from the market and other stakeholders with respect to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. 
Any  such  regulatory  changes  or  increased  market  expectations  could  also  have  a  significant  effect  on  our  operating  and 
financial  decisions,  including  those  involving  capital  expenditures  to  reduce  emissions  and  comply  with  other  regulatory 
requirements or stakeholder expectations.

CONTINUED CONSOLIDATION IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON 
OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The healthcare industry has been consolidating, and organizations continue to consolidate purchasing decisions for many of 
our healthcare provider customers. Numerous initiatives and reforms by legislators, regulators, and third-party payers to curb 
the rising cost of healthcare have catalyzed a consolidation of aggregate purchasing power within the markets in which we sell 
our products. As the healthcare industry consolidates, competition to provide products and services is expected to continue to 
intensify, resulting in pricing pressures and decreased average selling prices. In addition, for smaller hospitals or groups that do 
not consolidate with larger networks, these entities may face increasing cost and/or competitive pressures, which could impact 

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their  ability  to  purchase  additional  products  and  services  from  us  or  make  contractual  payments  over  time.  We  expect  that 
market  demand,  government  regulation,  third-party  payor  coverage  and  reimbursement  policies,  government  contracting 
requirements,  new  entrants,  technology,  and  societal  pressures  will  continue  to  change  the  worldwide  healthcare  industry, 
resulting in further consolidation, which may exert further downward pressure on prices of our products and services and may 
have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

WE  USE  ESTIMATES,  MAKE  JUDGMENTS,  AND  APPLY  CERTAIN  METHODS  IN  DETERMINING  OUR 
FINANCIAL  RESULTS  AND  IN  MEASURING  THE  PROGRESS  OF  OUR  BUSINESS.  AS  THESE  ESTIMATES, 
JUDGMENTS, AND METHODS CHANGE, OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE 
PROGRESS OF OUR BUSINESS COULD VARY.

The methods, estimates, and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on our results 
of  operations.  Such  methods,  estimates,  and  judgments  are,  by  their  nature,  subject  to  substantial  risks,  uncertainties,  and 
assumptions, and factors may arise over time that may lead us to change our methods, estimates, and judgments. Changes in 
any of our assumptions may adversely affect our reported financial results.

We utilize methods for determining surgical market sizes, the number and type (cancerous or benign) of certain procedures 
performed, and the installed base of our systems that involve estimates and judgments, which are, by their nature, subject to 
substantial  risks,  uncertainties,  and  assumptions.  Our  estimates  of  surgical  market  sizes,  the  number  and  type  of  procedures 
performed, or the installed base of our systems do not have an impact on our results of operations but are used to estimate the 
progress of our business. Estimates and judgments for determining surgical market sizes, the number and type of procedures, 
and the installed base of our systems and the accuracy of these estimates may be impacted over time with changes in treatment 
modalities, hospital reporting behavior, system internet connectivity, distributor reporting behavior, increases in procedures per 
field employee, and other factors. In addition, from time to time, we may change the method for determining market sizes, the 
number and type of procedures, and the installed base of our systems, causing variation in our reporting.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

COMPLYING WITH FDA AND FOREIGN REGULATIONS IS A COMPLEX PROCESS, AND OUR FAILURE TO 
FULLY COMPLY COULD SUBJECT US TO SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.

Because  our  products  are  commercially  distributed,  numerous  quality  and  post-market  regulatory  requirements  apply, 

including the following:

•

•

•

•

•

•

continued  compliance  with  the  FDA’s  QSR,  which  requires  manufacturers  to  follow  design,  testing,  control, 
documentation, and other quality assurance procedures during the development and manufacturing process;

labeling regulations;

the FDA’s general prohibition against false or misleading statements in the labeling or promotion of products for 
unapproved or “off-label” uses;

stringent complaint reporting and Medical Device Reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers keep 
detailed records of investigations or complaints against their devices and report to the FDA if their device may 
have  caused  or  contributed  to  a  death  or  serious  injury  or  malfunctioned  in  a  way  that  would  likely  cause  or 
contribute to a death or serious injury if it were to recur;

adequate  use  of  the  corrective  and  preventive  actions  process  to  identify  and  correct  or  prevent  significant, 
systemic failures of products or processes or in trends that suggest the same; and

the reporting of corrections and removals, which requires that manufacturers report to the FDA recalls and field 
corrective actions taken to reduce a risk to health or to remedy a violation of the FFDCA that may pose a risk to 
health.

We  are  subject  to  inspection  and  marketing  surveillance  by  the  FDA  to  determine  our  compliance  with  regulatory 
requirements. If the FDA finds that we have failed to comply, it can institute a wide variety of enforcement actions, ranging 
from inspectional observations (as set forth on FDA Form 483) to a public Warning Letter to more severe civil and criminal 
sanctions, including the seizure of our products and equipment or ban on the import or export of our products. The FDA has, in 
the past, issued and could, in the future, issue Warning Letters or other adverse communications to us. If we fail to satisfy or 
remediate  the  matters  discussed  in  any  such  Warning  Letters  or  communications,  the  FDA  could  take  further  enforcement 
actions, including prohibiting the sale or marketing of the affected product. Our failure to comply with applicable requirements 
could  lead  to  an  enforcement  action  that  may  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  financial  condition  or  results  of  operations.  The 
receipt of a Warning Letter could place certain limits on the ability to obtain FDA-issued Certificates to Foreign Government 
(“CFGs”) used for new and re-registration of products in certain other countries.

The  FDA  also  strictly  regulates  labeling,  advertising,  promotion,  and  other  activities  relating  to  the  marketing  of  our 
products.  Medical  devices  may  be  promoted  only  for  their  cleared  or  approved  indications  and  in  accordance  with  the 

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provisions of the cleared or approved label. It is possible that federal or state enforcement authorities might take action if they 
consider our promotional or training materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use, which could result in significant 
fines or penalties under a variety of statutory authorities, including under the FFDCA, as well as laws prohibiting false claims 
for reimbursement.

In  addition,  any  modification  or  change  of  medical  devices  cleared  for  the  market  requires  the  manufacturer  to  make  a 
determination whether the change is significant enough to require new 510(k) clearance. We have created labeling, advertising, 
and user training for the da Vinci surgical system to describe specific surgical procedures that we believe are fully within the 
scope of our existing 510(k) indications for use stated in our 510(k) clearances. Although we have relied on expert in-house and 
external staff, consultants, and advisors, some of whom were formerly employed by the FDA and are familiar with the FDA 
perspective, we cannot provide assurance that the FDA would agree that all such specific procedures are within the scope of the 
existing  general  clearance  or  that  we  have  compiled  adequate  information  to  support  the  safety  and  efficacy  of  using  the  da 
Vinci surgical system for all such specific procedures. From time to time, we modify our products, including the hardware and 
software in the da Vinci surgical system, after we obtain 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the devices in ways that we do not 
believe  require  new  510(k)  clearance.  We  cannot  provide  assurance  that  the  FDA  would  agree  in  all  cases  with  our 
determinations not to seek new 510(k) clearance for any of these changes. If the FDA disagrees with our assessments that a new 
510(k)  clearance  was  not  required  prior  to  commercializing  the  devices  with  these  changes  or  modifications,  then  the  FDA 
could impose enforcement sanctions and/or require us to obtain 510(k) clearance or other FDA marketing authorization for any 
modification to our products. We may be prohibited from marketing the modified device until such marketing authorization is 
granted.

We have a wholly owned manufacturing facility located in Mexicali, Mexico, which manufactures reusable and disposable 
surgical instruments. This facility is registered with the FDA as well as with Mexican authorities. The facility is operated under 
U.S. and international quality system regulations, including those applicable to Canada, the EU, and Japan, among others. Our 
wholly owned manufacturing facility in Mexicali, Mexico has an FDA Establishment Registration but has not been inspected 
by the FDA to date. If the FDA were to identify non-conformances in our product documentation or quality system compliance, 
it could hold indefinitely the importation of instruments at the border, which would deprive us of the ability to sell and supply 
the  majority  of  our  customers  until  the  FDA  requirements  have  been  satisfied.  Similar  supply  disruptions  could  occur  if  key 
suppliers outside of the U.S. were to encounter non-conformances with their documentation or quality system compliance.

OUR  PRODUCTS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  A  LENGTHY  AND  UNCERTAIN  DOMESTIC  REGULATORY  REVIEW 
PROCESS.  IF  WE  DO  NOT  OBTAIN  AND  MAINTAIN  THE  NECESSARY  DOMESTIC  REGULATORY 
AUTHORIZATIONS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS IN THE U.S.

Our  products  and  operations  are  subject  to  extensive  regulation  in  the  U.S.  by  the  FDA.  The  FDA  regulates  the 
development  and  clinical  testing,  manufacturing,  labeling,  storage,  record  keeping,  promotion,  sales,  distribution,  and  post-
market support and medical device reporting in the U.S. to ensure that medical products distributed domestically are safe and 
effective for their intended uses. In order for us to market products for use in the U.S., we generally must first obtain clearance 
from the FDA pursuant to Section 510(k) of the FFDCA or approval of the product through the premarket approval (“PMA”) 
pathway. Clearance under Section 510(k) requires demonstration that a new device is substantially equivalent to another device 
with 510(k) clearance or grandfathered (“pre-amendment”) status and for which a PMA is not required. If we develop products 
in the future that are not considered to be substantially equivalent to a device with 510(k) clearance or grandfathered status, we 
may be required to obtain marketing authorization through the more burdensome PMA process or alternatively through the de 
novo classification process, which is a path to market for novel devices that are low to moderate risk and for which a predicate 
device is not available. A PMA is typically a much more complex, lengthy, and burdensome application than a 510(k) or a de 
novo classification request. To support a PMA, the FDA would likely require that we conduct one or more clinical studies to 
demonstrate  that  the  device  is  safe  and  effective  for  its  intended  uses.  In  some  cases,  such  studies  may  also  be  required  to 
support a 510(k) application or a de novo classification request. The FDA may not act favorably or quickly in its review of any 
marketing  application  submissions,  or  we  may  encounter  significant  difficulties  and  costs  in  our  efforts  to  obtain  marketing 
authorization from the FDA, either of which could delay or preclude the sale of new products in the U.S. In addition, the FDA 
may  place  significant  limitations  upon  the  intended  use  of  our  products  as  a  condition  of  granting  marketing  authorization. 
Product applications can also be denied or withdrawn due to failure to comply with regulatory requirements or the occurrence 
of  unforeseen  problems  following  marketing  authorization.  Any  delays  or  failure  to  obtain  FDA  marketing  authorization  for 
new or modified products that we develop, any limitations imposed by the FDA on new product use, or the costs of obtaining 
FDA clearance or approvals could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

In addition, the FDA or other regulatory agencies may change their policies, adopt additional regulations, revise existing 
regulations, or take other actions that may prevent or delay approval or clearance of our products under development or impact 
our ability to modify our currently approved or cleared products on a timely basis. We may be found non-compliant as a result 
of future changes in, or interpretations of, regulations by the FDA or other regulatory agencies. For example, on February 23, 
2022, the FDA issued a proposed rule to amend the QSR, which establishes current good manufacturing practice requirements 

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for  medical  device  manufacturers,  to  align  more  closely  with  the  International  Organization  for  Standardization  (“ISO”) 
standards. This proposal has not yet been finalized or adopted. Accordingly, it is unclear the extent to which this or any other 
proposals,  if  adopted,  could  impose  additional  or  different  regulatory  requirements  on  us  that  could  increase  the  costs  of 
compliance or otherwise create competition that may negatively affect our business. 

Additionally, in September 2019, the FDA issued revised guidance describing an optional “safety and performance based” 
premarket review pathway for manufacturers of “certain, well-understood device types” to demonstrate substantial equivalence 
under the 510(k) clearance pathway by showing that such device meets objective safety and performance criteria established by 
the  FDA,  thereby  obviating  the  need  for  manufacturers  to  compare  the  safety  and  performance  of  their  medical  devices  to 
specific  predicate  devices  in  the  clearance  process.  The  FDA  maintains  a  list  of  device  types  appropriate  for  the  “safety  and 
performance  based”  pathway  and  continues  to  develop  product-specific  guidance  documents  that  identify  the  performance 
criteria  for  each  such  device  type,  as  well  as  the  recommended  testing  methods,  where  feasible.  The  FDA  may  establish 
performance criteria for classes of devices for which we or our competitors seek or currently have received clearance, and it is 
unclear the extent to which such performance standards, if established, could impact our ability to obtain new 510(k) clearances 
or otherwise create competition that may negatively affect our business.

In  order  to  conduct  a  clinical  investigation  involving  human  subjects  for  the  purpose  of  demonstrating  the  safety  and 
effectiveness  of  a  medical  device,  a  company  must,  among  other  things,  apply  for  and  obtain  IRB  approval  of  the  proposed 
investigation.  In  addition,  if  the  clinical  study  involves  a  “significant  risk”  (as  defined  by  the  FDA)  to  human  health,  the 
sponsor of the investigation must also submit and obtain FDA approval of an IDE application. Many of our products to date 
have been or would be considered significant risk devices requiring IDE approval prior to investigational use. We may not be 
able to obtain FDA and/or IRB approval to undertake clinical trials in the U.S. for any new devices that we intend to market in 
the U.S. in the future.

Even if we obtain such approvals, we may not be able to conduct studies that comply with the IDE and other regulations 
governing clinical investigations or the data from any such trials may not support clearance or approval of the investigational 
device.  Clinical  testing  is  difficult  to  design  and  implement,  can  take  many  years,  can  be  expensive,  and  carries  uncertain 
outcomes  and,  if  we  fail  to  complete  our  planned  or  ongoing  clinical  trials  or  if  such  clinical  trials  produce  negative  or 
inconclusive results, we may be delayed or prevented from obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals to commercialize our 
products for new or expanded indications. Additionally, we may experience delays in our ongoing clinical trials for any number 
of reasons, which could adversely affect the costs, timing, or successful completion of our clinical trials. If we fail to complete 
our planned and ongoing clinical trials or if such clinical trials produce negative or inconclusive results, we may be delayed or 
prevented from obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals to commercialize our products for new or expanded indications, 
which may limit the market for our products.

Failure to obtain such approvals or to comply with such regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, 
financial  condition,  or  results  of  operations.  Certainty  that  clinical  trials  will  meet  desired  endpoints,  produce  meaningful  or 
useful  data,  and  be  free  of  unexpected  adverse  effects  or  that  the  FDA  will  accept  the  validity  of  foreign  clinical  study  data 
cannot  be  assured,  and  such  uncertainty  could  preclude  or  delay  market  clearance  or  authorizations  resulting  in  significant 
financial costs and reduced revenue.

OUR  PRODUCTS  MAY  CAUSE  OR  CONTRIBUTE  TO  ADVERSE  MEDICAL  EVENTS  OR  BE  SUBJECT  TO 
FAILURES  OR  MALFUNCTIONS  THAT  WE  ARE  REQUIRED  TO  REPORT  TO  THE  FDA  AND  FOREIGN 
REGULATORY  AUTHORITIES  AND,  IF  WE  FAIL  TO  DO  SO,  WE  WOULD  BE  SUBJECT  TO  SANCTIONS 
THAT  COULD  HARM  OUR  REPUTATION,  BUSINESS,  FINANCIAL  CONDITION,  OR  RESULTS  OF 
OPERATIONS.

We  are  subject  to  the  FDA’s  medical  device  reporting  regulations  and  similar  foreign  regulations,  which  require  us  to 
report to the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities when we receive or become aware of information that reasonably suggests 
that one or more of our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that, if 
the malfunction were to recur, it could cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. The timing of our obligation to report is 
triggered by the date we become aware of the adverse event as well as the nature of the event. We may fail to report adverse 
events of which we become aware within the prescribed time frame. We may also fail to recognize that we have become aware 
of  a  reportable  adverse  event,  especially  if  it  is  not  reported  to  us  as  an  adverse  event  or  if  it  is  an  adverse  event  that  is 
unexpected or removed in time from the use of the product. If we fail to comply with our reporting obligations, the FDA or 
foreign  regulatory  authorities  could  take  action,  including  warning  letters,  untitled  letters,  administrative  actions,  criminal 
prosecution, imposition of civil monetary penalties, revocation of our device clearance, approval, or certification, seizure of our 
products or delay in clearance, approval, or certification of future products.

The FDA and foreign regulatory bodies have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event of 
material deficiencies or defects in the design or manufacture of a product or in the event that a product poses an unacceptable 
risk to health. The FDA’s authority to require a recall must be based on a finding that there is reasonable probability that the 

50

device  could  cause  serious  injury  or  death.  We  may  also  choose  to  voluntarily  recall  a  product  if  any  material  deficiency  is 
found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component 
failures,  malfunctions,  manufacturing  defects,  labeling  or  design  deficiencies,  packaging  defects,  or  other  deficiencies  or 
failures to comply with applicable regulations. Product defects or other errors may occur in the future.

Depending on the corrective action we take to redress a product’s deficiencies or defects, the FDA or foreign regulatory 
authorities may require, or we may decide, that we will need to obtain new clearances, approvals, or certifications for the device 
before we may market or distribute the corrected device. Seeking such clearances, approvals, or certifications may delay our 
ability to replace the recalled devices in a timely manner. Moreover, if we do not adequately address problems associated with 
our devices, we may face additional regulatory enforcement actions, including FDA or foreign regulatory authorities warning 
letters, product seizure, injunctions, administrative penalties, or civil or criminal fines.

Companies are required to maintain certain records of recalls and corrections, even if they are not reportable to the FDA or 
foreign  regulatory  authorities.  We  may  initiate  voluntary  withdrawals  or  corrections  for  our  products  in  the  future  that  we 
determine do not require notification of the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities. If the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities 
disagree with our determinations, it could require us to report those actions as recalls, and we may be subject to enforcement 
actions.  A  future  recall  announcement  could  harm  our  reputation  with  customers,  potentially  lead  to  product  liability  claims 
against  us,  and  negatively  affect  our  sales.  Any  corrective  action,  whether  voluntary  or  involuntary,  as  well  as  defending 
ourselves in a lawsuit, would require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business, 
and may harm our reputation and financial results.

IF  OUR  MANUFACTURING  FACILITIES  DO  NOT  CONTINUE  TO  MEET  FEDERAL,  STATE,  OR  OTHER 
MANUFACTURING  STANDARDS,  WE  MAY  BE  REQUIRED  TO  TEMPORARILY  CEASE  ALL  OR  PART  OF 
OUR  MANUFACTURING  OPERATIONS,  IMPORT/EXPORT  OF  OUR  PRODUCTS,  AND/OR  RECALL  SOME 
PRODUCTS,  WHICH  WOULD  RESULT  IN  SIGNIFICANT  PRODUCT  DELIVERY  DELAYS  AND  LOST 
REVENUE.

Our  manufacturing  facilities  are  subject  to  periodic  inspection  by  regulatory  authorities  and  notified  bodies,  and  our 
operations  will  continue  to  be  regulated  and  inspected  by  the  FDA  and  other  regulatory  agencies  and  notified  bodies  for 
compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements contained in the QSR and other regulatory requirements. We are 
also required to comply with ISO quality system standards as well as EU legislation and norms in order to produce products for 
sale in the EU. In addition, many countries, such as Canada and Japan, have very specific additional regulatory requirements for 
quality assurance and manufacturing. If we fail to continue to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, as well 
as  ISO  or  other  regulatory  standards,  we  may  be  required  to  cease  all  or  part  of  our  operations  until  we  comply  with  these 
regulations.

We continue to be subject to FDA and certain other inspections by other regulatory authorities and notified bodies at any 
time. Maintaining such compliance is difficult and costly. We cannot be certain that our facilities will be found to comply with 
Good Manufacturing Practice requirements or ISO standards and other regulatory requirements in future inspections and audits 
by regulatory authorities and notified bodies.

We  are  currently  participating  in  the  Medical  Device  Single  Audit  Program  (“MDSAP”),  which  allows  an  MDSAP-
recognized  auditing  organization  to  conduct  a  single  regulatory  audit  of  a  medical  device  manufacturer  that  evaluates  our 
quality system to assess compliance with the requirements of multiple regulatory jurisdictions, including the U.S., Japan, Brazil, 
Australia,  and  Canada.  The  information  collected  in  an  MDSAP  audit  is  shared  and  reviewed  amongst  all  the  regulatory 
authorities participating in the MDSAP, who may or may not determine that additional information or auditing is required.

Our  Sunnyvale,  California  facility  is  licensed  by  the  State  of  California  to  manufacture  medical  devices.  We  have  been 
subject to periodic inspections by the California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch and, if we are unable to 
maintain this license following any future inspections, we will be unable to manufacture or ship some products, which would 
have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, both our Sunnyvale, California and Mexicali, Mexico 
facilities  are  subject  to  periodic  inspections  by  other  regulatory  bodies,  including  third-party  auditors  on  behalf  of  national 
regulatory authorities. Compliance with multiple regulatory standards is complex, difficult, and costly to maintain, and material 
deficiencies could result in significant limitations on our ability to manufacture, transport, and sell our products in one or more 
countries.

OUR  PRODUCTS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  INTERNATIONAL  REGULATORY  PROCESSES  AND  APPROVAL  OR 
CERTIFICATION  REQUIREMENTS.  IF  WE  DO  NOT  OBTAIN  AND  MAINTAIN  THE  NECESSARY 
INTERNATIONAL  REGULATORY  APPROVALS  OR  CERTIFICATIONS,  WE  WILL  NOT  BE  ABLE  TO  SELL 
OUR PRODUCTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

To be able to sell our products in other countries, we must obtain regulatory approvals or certifications and comply with the 
regulations  of  those  countries,  which  may  differ  substantially  from  those  of  the  U.S.  These  regulations,  including  the 

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requirements  for  approvals  or  certifications  and  the  time  required  for  regulatory  review,  vary  from  country  to  country. 
Obtaining  and  maintaining  foreign  regulatory  approvals  or  certifications  is  complex,  and  the  time  to  obtain  clearances  or 
certifications in other countries varies; therefore, we cannot be certain that we will receive regulatory approvals or certifications 
in any other country in which we plan to market our products or obtain such approvals or certifications on a favorable schedule. 
If  we  fail  to  obtain  or  maintain  regulatory  approval  or  certification  in  any  other  country  in  which  we  plan  to  market  our 
products,  our  ability  to  generate  revenue  will  be  harmed.  In  particular,  if  the  FDA  refuses  to  provide  CFGs,  our  ability  to 
register products or renew such registrations may be delayed or denied.

For instance, one of the most significant moving targets related to the regulatory landscape is in the EU; more specifically, 
the regulation of medical devices has recently evolved. The EU Medical Devices Regulation, which repeals and replaces the EU 
Medical  Devices  Directive,  became  applicable  on  May  26,  2021.  In  accordance  with  its  recently  extended  transitional 
provisions, both (i) devices lawfully placed on the market pursuant to the EU Medical Devices Directive prior to May 26, 2021, 
and  (ii)  legacy  devices  lawfully  placed  on  the  EU  market  from  May  26,  2021,  in  accordance  with  the  EU  Medical  Devices 
Regulation  transitional  provisions  may  generally  continue  to  be  made  available  on  the  market  or  put  into  service  until 
December 31, 2028 (at the very latest and depending on the product risk classification) per the EU Medical Devices Regulation 
extended transitional provisions, provided that the requirements of the transitional provisions are fulfilled. However, since May 
26, 2021, manufacturers must already comply with a number of new, or reinforced, requirements set forth in the EU Medical 
Devices Regulation, including registration of economic operators and of devices control plan, Periodic Safety Update Report 
(“PSUR”),  notify  body  periodic  vigilance  report,  post-market  surveillance,  clinical  periodic  review  report,  and  vigilance 
requirements.

Subject to the transitional provisions, in order to sell our products in EU member states, our products must comply with the 
general safety and performance requirements of the EU Medical Devices Regulation. Compliance with these requirements is a 
prerequisite  to  be  able  to  affix  the  CE  mark  to  our  products,  without  which  they  cannot  be  sold  or  marketed  in  the  EU.  All 
medical  devices  placed  on  the  market  in  the  EU  must  meet  the  general  safety  and  performance  requirements  laid  down  in 
Annex  I  to  the  EU  Medical  Devices  Regulation,  including  the  requirement  that  a  medical  device  must  be  designed  and 
manufactured in such a way that, during normal conditions of use, it is suitable for its intended purpose. It is the responsibility 
of the (manufacturer) Person Responsible for Regulatory Compliance (“PRRC”) to ensure such requirements are fulfilled and in 
place in the company. Medical devices must be safe and effective and must not compromise the clinical condition or safety of 
patients or the safety and health of users and, where applicable, other persons, provided that any risks that may be associated 
with their use constitute acceptable risks when weighed against the benefits to the patient and are compatible with a high level 
of protection of health and safety, taking into account the generally acknowledged state of the art. To demonstrate compliance 
with  the  general  safety  and  performance  requirements,  we  must  undergo  a  conformity  assessment  procedure,  which  varies 
according to the type of medical device and its (risk) classification and may include a technical documentation assessment and 
an  onsite  audit.  Except  for  low-risk  medical  devices  (Class  I),  where  the  manufacturer  can  self-assess  the  conformity  of  its 
products with the general safety and performance requirements (except for any parts that relate to sterility, metrology, or reuse 
aspects),  a  conformity  assessment  procedure  requires  the  intervention  of  a  notified  body.  The  notified  body  would  typically 
audit and examine the technical file and the quality system for the manufacture, design, and final inspection of our devices. If 
satisfied  that  the  relevant  product  conforms  to  the  relevant  general  safety  and  performance  requirements  and  we  have  the 
organizational structure to support it (i.e., PRRC), the notified body issues a certificate of conformity, which the manufacturer 
uses as a basis for its own declaration of conformity. The manufacturer may then apply the CE mark to the device, which allows 
the device to be placed on the market throughout the EU. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we would 
be  unable  to  affix  the  CE  mark  to  our  products,  which  would  prevent  us  from  selling  them  within  the  EU  or  any  countries 
recognizing the CE mark. The aforementioned EU rules are generally applicable in the EEA.

In January 1999, further to their certification by our notified body, Presafe, we affixed the CE mark to our da Vinci surgical 
system  and  EndoWrist  instruments,  attesting  compliance  with  the  former  EU  Medical  Devices  Directive,  and  we  have 
maintained  these  certifications  continuously  since  that  time.  Subsequent  products  and  accessories  have  also  received 
certifications  by  our  notified  body  in  accordance  with  the  former  EU  Medical  Devices  Directive.  Where  required,  we  are 
maintaining  our  certificates  granted  under  the  former  EU  Medical  Devices  Directive  and  have  either  gained,  or  are  working 
towards, certification under the EU Medical Devices Regulation for all medical devices that we intend to continue to market in 
the EU and EEA. Should we not gain such certification, this would prevent us from selling our products in the EU and EEA. 
Should  we  not  gain  such  certification  by  the  end  of  the  transitional  period  currently  set  forth  in  the  EU  Medical  Devices 
Regulation of December 31, 2027, for higher classification devices (Class III and certain Class IIb implantable devices), and 
December 31, 2028 for medium- and lower-risk devices (for the other Class IIb devices, Class IIa devices, and some Class I 
devices),  it  would  prevent  us  from  selling  our  products  in  the  EU  and  EEA.  We  are  committed  to  complying  with  the  EU 
Medical  Devices  Regulation  for  our  legacy  devices  as  well  as  any  new  device  introduction  in  the  market  for  the  first  time, 
transitioning  progressively  toward  the  EU  Medical  Devices  Regulation  and,  in  parallel,  benefiting  from  the  EU  Medical 
Devices Regulation transitional provisions to continue marketing our devices in the EU and the EEA under their EU Medical 
Devices Directive certification until we obtain our new certifications.

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Further, Switzerland, which is the country from which we import our products into the EU and where our EU regulatory 
team  is  based,  has  not  yet  entered  into  a  Mutual  Recognition  Agreement  with  the  EU  that  covers  the  EU  Medical  Device 
Regulation and allows medical devices to move freely between Switzerland and the EU. Therefore, for future needs, we will 
adjust the manner in which we bring our products into the EU market. Any such adjustments could cause temporary disruptions 
in and have adverse financial implications to our business in Europe.

To date, we received approvals from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for our da Vinci Si, Xi, X, and SP 
surgical  systems  and  various  associated  instruments  and  accessories  for  use  in  certain  da  Vinci  procedures.  We  may  seek 
additional  approvals  for  other  products  and/or  indications;  however,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  such  approvals  will  be 
granted.  In  addition,  because  not  all  of  our  instruments  have  received  product  approvals  and  reimbursement  is  an  additional 
process to generate market acceptance, it is possible that procedures will be adopted slowly or not at all. Sales of our products 
depend,  in  part,  on  the  extent  to  which  the  costs  of  our  products  are  reimbursed  by  governmental  health  administration 
authorities. There are multiple pathways to obtain reimbursement for procedures including those that require in-country clinical 
data and which are considered for reimbursed status in April of even-numbered years. If we are not successful in obtaining the 
necessary  reimbursement  approvals  or  obtaining  approvals  for  future  products  and  procedures,  then  the  demand  for  our 
products could be limited. These limitations could eliminate a significant market opportunity for our products in Japan.

Our  capital  sales  in  China  are  subject  to  importation  authorizations  and  purchasing  tender  processes.  In  June  2023,  the 
China National Health Commission published the 14th five-year plan quota for major medical equipment to be sold in China on 
its official website. Under the 2023 Quota, the government will allow for the sale of 559 new surgical robots into China, which 
could include da Vinci surgical systems as well as surgical systems introduced by others. Future system sales and our ability to 
grow  future  procedure  volumes  are  dependent  on  the  completion  of  these  purchasing  tender  authorizations.  The  timing  and 
magnitude of these future authorizations, which may determine our system placements in future years, is not certain, and we 
expect to continue to experience variability in the timing of capital sales in China.

CHANGES IN HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION AND POLICY MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON 
OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

In the U.S., there have been, and continue to be, a number of legislative initiatives to contain healthcare costs. In March 
2010,  the  ACA  was  enacted,  which  made  changes  that  have  impacted  and  are  expected  to  significantly  impact  the 
pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

The ACA contained a number of provisions designed to generate the revenues necessary to fund health insurance coverage 
expansions  among  other  things.  This  included  a  number  of  Medicare  payment  system  reforms,  including  a  national  pilot 
program on payment bundling to encourage hospitals, physicians, and other providers to improve the coordination, quality, and 
efficiency  of  certain  healthcare  services  through  bundled  payment  models  and  appropriated  funding  for  comparative 
effectiveness research.

Since  its  enactment,  there  have  been  judicial,  executive  branch,  and  Congressional  challenges  to  certain  aspects  of  the 
ACA. On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the ACA brought by several 
states without specifically ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA. Thus, the ACA will remain in effect in its current form.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA became law. These changes included 
an aggregate reduction in Medicare payments, which went into effect on April 1, 2013, and will remain in effect through 2032, 
unless additional Congressional action is taken, with the exception of a temporary suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
from  May  1,  2020,  through  March  31,  2022.  On  January  2,  2013,  the  American  Taxpayer  Relief  Act  of  2012  became  law, 
which,  among  other  things,  further  reduced  Medicare  payments  to  several  types  of  providers,  including  hospitals,  imaging 
centers, and cancer treatment centers. MACRA repealed the formula by which Medicare made annual payment adjustments to 
physicians and replaced the former formula with fixed annual updates and a new system of incentive payments that began in 
2019  and  are  based  on  various  performance  measures  and  physicians’  participation  in  alternative  payment  models,  such  as 
accountable care organizations. Individual states in the U.S. have also become increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and 
implementing  regulations  designed  to  control  product  pricing,  including  price  or  patient  reimbursement  constraints  and 
discounts, and require marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures.

We expect additional state and federal healthcare reform measures to be adopted in the future that could have a material 
adverse  effect  on  our  industry  generally  and  on  our  customers.  Any  changes  to,  or  uncertainty  with  respect  to,  future 
reimbursement rates or changes in hospital admission rates could impact our customers’ demand for our products and services, 
which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Further,  the  federal,  state,  and  local  governments,  Medicare,  Medicaid,  managed-care  organizations,  and  foreign 
governments have, in the past, considered, are currently considering, and may, in the future, consider healthcare policies and 
proposals  intended  to  curb  rising  healthcare  costs,  including  those  that  could  significantly  affect  both  private  and  public 
reimbursement  for  healthcare  services.  Future  significant  changes  in  the  healthcare  systems  in  the  U.S.  or  other  countries, 

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including  retroactive  and  prospective  rate  and  coverage  criteria  changes,  competitive  bidding  or  tender  processes  for  certain 
products  and  services,  and  other  changes  intended  to  reduce  expenditures  along  with  uncertainty  about  whether  and  how 
changes may be implemented, could have a negative impact on the demand for our products. We are unable to predict whether 
other healthcare policies, including policies stemming from legislation or regulations affecting our business may be proposed or 
enacted  in  the  future,  what  effect  such  policies  would  have  on  our  business,  or  what  effect  ongoing  uncertainty  about  these 
matters will have on the purchasing decisions of our customers.

For  instance,  in  December  2021,  the  EU  Regulation  No.  2021/2282  on  Health  Technology  Assessment,  amending 
Directive 2011/24/EU, was adopted. While the Regulation entered into force in January 2022, it will only begin to apply from 
January 2025 onwards, with preparatory and implementation-related steps to take place in the interim. Once applicable, it will 
have a phased implementation depending on the concerned products. This Regulation intends to boost cooperation among EU 
member  states  in  assessing  health  technologies,  including  certain  high-risk  medical  devices,  and  provide  the  basis  for 
cooperation at the EU level for joint clinical assessments in these areas. It will permit EU member states to use common HTA 
tools, methodologies, and procedures across the EU, working together in four main areas, including joint clinical assessment of 
the  innovative  health  technologies  with  the  highest  potential  impact  for  patients,  joint  scientific  consultations  whereby 
developers  can  seek  advice  from  HTA  authorities,  identification  of  emerging  health  technologies  to  identify  promising 
technologies  early,  and  continuing  voluntary  cooperation  in  other  areas.  Individual  EU  member  states  will  continue  to  be 
responsible for assessing non-clinical (e.g., economic, social, ethical, etc.) aspects of health technology and making decisions 
on pricing and reimbursement.

WE ARE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND FOREIGN LAWS GOVERNING OUR BUSINESS PRACTICES, 
WHICH,  IF  VIOLATED,  COULD  RESULT  IN  SUBSTANTIAL  PENALTIES.  ADDITIONALLY,  CHALLENGES 
TO,  OR  INVESTIGATION  INTO,  OUR  PRACTICES  COULD  CAUSE  ADVERSE  PUBLICITY  AND  BE  COSTLY 
TO  RESPOND  TO  AND,  THUS,  COULD  HARM  OUR  BUSINESS,  FINANCIAL  CONDITION,  OR  RESULTS  OF 
OPERATIONS.

The  Dodd-Frank  Wall  Street  Reform  and  Consumer  Protection  Act  requires  us  to  track  and  disclose  the  source  of  any 
tantalum,  tin,  gold,  and  tungsten  used  in  manufacturing  that  may  originate  in  the  Democratic  Republic  of  the  Congo  or 
adjoining regions (so called “conflict minerals”). These metals are central to the technology industry and are present in some of 
our products as component parts. In most cases, no acceptable alternative material exists that has the necessary properties that 
our products require. Because it is not possible to determine the source of the metals by analysis, we must obtain a good faith 
description of the source of the intermediate components and raw materials from parties in our supply chain. The components 
that incorporate those metals may originate from many sources, and we purchase fabricated products from manufacturers who 
may  have  a  long  and  difficult-to-trace  supply  chain.  As  the  spot  price  of  these  materials  varies,  producers  of  the  metal 
intermediates can be expected to change the mix of sources used. Accordingly, components and assemblies we buy may have a 
mix  of  sources  as  their  origin.  We  are  required  to  carry  out  a  diligent  effort  to  determine  and  disclose  the  source  of  these 
materials.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  we  can  obtain  this  information  accurately  or  reliably,  or  at  all,  from  intermediate 
producers who may be unwilling or unable to provide this information or further identify their sources of supply or to notify us 
if these sources change. In addition, these metals are subject to price fluctuations and shortages that can affect our ability to 
obtain the manufactured materials that we rely on at favorable terms or from consistent sources. These changes could have an 
adverse impact on our ability to manufacture and market our devices and products.

We are subject to healthcare regulation and enforcement by the federal government and the states and foreign governments 
where we conduct our business. The healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include the federal 
Anti-Kickback  Statute,  which  prohibits  the  payment  of  remuneration  to  induce  or  reward  hospitals,  physicians,  or  other 
healthcare professionals either to refer patients or to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend the purchase, lease, or 
order  of  healthcare  products  or  services  for  which  payment  may  be  made  under  the  federal  healthcare  programs,  such  as 
Medicare, Medicaid, and other third-party payor programs. Further, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge 
of this statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. Similar laws must be complied with at the 
state level and in foreign jurisdictions.

We  must  comply  with  the  federal  civil  and  criminal  false  claims  laws,  including  the  federal  False  Claims  Act,  and  civil 
monetary penalties laws, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to 
be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal healthcare programs that are false or fraudulent. 
Although  we  do  not  submit  claims  directly  to  government  payors,  manufacturers  can  be  held  liable  under  the  federal  False 
Claims Act if they are deemed to “cause” the submission of false or fraudulent claims by, for example, providing inaccurate 
billing or coding information to customers or promoting a product off-label. In addition, the government may assert that a claim 
including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim 
for purposes of the False Claims Act.

The  Health  Insurance  Portability  and  Accountability  Act  of  1996,  which  created  additional  federal  criminal  statutes 
prohibit,  among  other  things,  executing  a  scheme  to  defraud  any  healthcare  benefit  program  and  making  false  statements 

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relating  to  healthcare  matters.  Similar  to  the  federal  Anti-Kickback  Statute,  a  person  or  entity  does  not  need  to  have  actual 
knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation.

These  laws  may  affect  our  sales,  marketing,  and  other  promotional  activities  by  limiting  the  kinds  of  financial 
arrangements  that  we  may  have  with  hospitals,  physicians,  or  other  potential  purchasers  of  our  products.  They  particularly 
impact how we structure our sales offerings, including discount practices, customer support, speaker, education, and training 
programs,  physician  consulting,  and  other  service  arrangements.  These  laws  are  broadly  written,  and  it  is  often  difficult  to 
determine  precisely  how  these  laws  will  be  applied  to  specific  circumstances.  Violating  anti-kickback  laws  and  false  claims 
laws can result in civil and criminal fines and penalties, which can be substantial and include monetary damages and penalties, 
imprisonment, and exclusion from government healthcare programs. Even an unsuccessful challenge or investigation into our 
practices  could  cause  adverse  publicity  and  be  costly  to  defend  and,  thus,  could  harm  our  business,  financial  condition,  or 
results of operations.

The  federal  Physicians  Payments  Sunshine  Act  imposes  reporting  and  disclosure  requirements  on  certain  device 
manufacturers for any “transfer of value” made or distributed to physicians (including family members), as defined by statute, 
certain  non-physician  practitioners,  including  physician  assistants  and  nurse  practitioners,  and  teaching  hospitals.  Such 
information must be made publicly available in a searchable format. In addition, device manufacturers are required to report 
and  disclose  any  ownership  or  investment  interests  held  by  physicians  and  their  immediate  family  members,  as  well  as  any 
transfers of value made to such physician owners and investors, during the preceding calendar year. Similar requirements apply 
in foreign jurisdictions. Failure to submit required information may result in civil monetary penalties for all payments, transfers 
of  value,  or  ownership  or  investment  interests  not  reported  in  an  annual  submission.  Device  manufacturers  are  required  to 
submit reports to CMS by the 90th day of each calendar year.

Many states have similar laws and regulations, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may be broader in scope 
and  may  apply  regardless  of  payor,  in  addition  to  items  and  services  reimbursed  under  Medicaid  and  other  state  programs. 
Certain  states  mandate  implementation  of  commercial  compliance  programs  to  ensure  compliance  with  these  laws,  impose 
restrictions on device manufacturer marketing practices, and/or require the tracking and reporting of gifts, compensation, and 
other  remuneration  to  physicians  or  marketing  expenditures  and  pricing  information.  The  shifting  commercial  compliance 
environment  and  the  need  to  build  and  maintain  robust  and  expandable  systems  to  comply  with  multiple  jurisdictions  with 
different  compliance  and/or  reporting  requirements  increases  the  possibility  that  a  healthcare  company  may  be  found  out  of 
compliance with one or more of the requirements, subjecting us to significant civil monetary penalties.

Additionally, to the extent that our product is sold in a foreign country, we may be subject to similar foreign laws.

Compliance with complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our OUS operations increases our cost of 
doing business in foreign jurisdictions and could expose us or our employees to fines and penalties in the U.S. and/or abroad. 
These  numerous,  and  sometimes  conflicting,  laws  and  regulations  include  U.S.  laws,  such  as  the  FCPA,  and  similar  laws  in 
other countries, such as the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal 
sanctions against us, our officers, or our employees, prohibitions on the conduct of our business, and damage to our reputation. 
Although  we  have  implemented  policies  and  procedures  designed  to  ensure  compliance  with  these  laws,  there  can  be  no 
assurance that our employees, contractors, or agents will not violate our policies.

Our operations are subject to certain antitrust and competition laws in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business, 
in particular the U.S. and the EU. These laws prohibit, among other things, anticompetitive agreements and practices. If any of 
our  commercial  agreements  or  practices  are  found  to  violate  or  infringe  such  laws,  we  may  be  subject  to  civil  and  other 
penalties. We may also be subject to third-party claims for damages. Further, agreements that infringe upon these antitrust and 
competition  laws  may  be  void  and  unenforceable,  in  whole  or  in  part,  or  require  modification  in  order  to  be  lawful  and 
enforceable. If we are unable to enforce our commercial agreements, whether at all or in material part, our business, financial 
condition, or results of operations could be adversely affected.

We  are  also  subject  to  claims,  lawsuits,  and  government  investigations  involving  labor  and  employment.  Such  claims, 
lawsuits,  and  government  investigations  are  inherently  uncertain.  Regardless  of  the  outcome,  any  of  these  types  of  legal 
proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of legal costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.

We are also exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, and any 
other third parties that we may engage in connection with the development and commercialization of our products may engage 
in  fraudulent  or  illegal  activity.  Misconduct  by  these  parties  could  include  intentional,  reckless,  and/or  negligent  conduct  or 
disclosure  of  unauthorized  activities  to  us  that  violates:  (i)  the  laws  of  the  FDA  and  other  similar  regulatory  authorities, 
including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete, and accurate information to such authorities; (ii) manufacturing 
standards; (iii) data privacy, security, fraud, and abuse laws and regulations; or (iv) laws that require the true, complete, and 
accurate  reporting  of  financial  information  or  data.  Activities  subject  to  these  laws  could  also  involve  the  improper  use  or 
misrepresentation  of  information  obtained  in  the  course  of  clinical  trials  or  the  creation  of  fraudulent  data  in  clinical  trials, 
which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and 

55

deter misconduct by employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not 
be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other 
actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with such laws or regulations.

Additionally, we are subject to the risk that a person or government could allege fraud or other misconduct, even if none 
occurred. If any such actions are instituted against us and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, 
those actions could have a significant impact on our business or results of operations, including the imposition of significant 
civil, criminal, and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgements, possible exclusion from participation in 
Medicare, Medicaid, other U.S. federal healthcare programs, or healthcare programs in other jurisdictions, integrity oversight 
and  reporting  obligations  to  resolve  allegations  of  non-compliance,  imprisonment,  other  sanctions,  contractual  damages, 
reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, and curtailment of our operations.

IF  HOSPITALS  AND  OTHER  SURGERY  FACILITIES  DO  NOT  CONTINUE  TO  MEET  FEDERAL,  STATE,  OR 
OTHER REGULATORY STANDARDS, THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO TEMPORARILY CEASE ALL OR PART 
OF THEIR SYSTEM UTILIZATION.

Our  global  customers  are  subject  to  periodic  inspection  by  regulatory  authorities.  Our  customers  are  required  to  comply 
with  applicable  local  and  international  regulations,  including  with  respect  to  the  reprocessing  of  our  instruments  and 
accessories.  Hospitals  may  not  follow  cleaning  and  sterilization  instructions  properly,  or  equipment  used  for  cleaning  and 
sterilization  may  malfunction  or  be  used  improperly.  If  our  customers  deviate  from  cleaning  and  sterilization  instructions, 
regulatory authorities may require them to suspend the use of our systems.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

IF  WE  ARE  UNABLE  TO  FULLY  PROTECT  AND  SUCCESSFULLY  DEFEND  OUR  INTELLECTUAL 
PROPERTY  FROM  USE  BY  THIRD  PARTIES,  OUR  ABILITY  TO  COMPETE  IN  THE  MARKET  MAY  BE 
HARMED.

Our commercial success depends in part on obtaining patent protection for the proprietary technologies contained in our 
products  and  on  successfully  defending  our  patents  against  infringing  products  and/or  services  in  litigation  or  administrative 
proceedings, including patent oppositions, reviews, or reexaminations. We incur substantial costs in obtaining patents and, if 
necessary, defending our patent rights. We do not know whether we will be successful in obtaining the desired patent protection 
for our new proprietary technologies or that the protection we do obtain will be found valid and enforceable when challenged. 
The success of defending our proprietary rights can be highly uncertain, because it involves complex and often evolving legal 
issues and procedures that are dependent on the particular facts of each case.

In addition to patents, we also rely on other intellectual property rights, such as trade secret, copyright, and trademark laws 
to  protect  proprietary  technologies.  We  further  utilize  nondisclosure  agreements  and  other  contractual  provisions  as  well  as 
technical measures to protect our proprietary technologies. Nevertheless, these measures may be inadequate in protecting our 
technologies.  If  these  measures  prove  to  be  inadequate  in  protecting  our  technologies,  our  competitive  advantages  may  be 
reduced.  Moreover,  we  may  not  have  adequate  remedies  for  potential  breaches  by  employees,  consultants,  and  others  who 
participate  in  developing  our  proprietary  technologies  against  their  agreements  with  us  regarding  intellectual  property.  As  a 
result,  our  trade  secrets  may  be  lost.  Notwithstanding  our  efforts  to  protect  our  intellectual  property,  our  competitors  may 
independently develop similar or alternative technologies or products that are equal to or superior to our technologies without 
infringing any of our intellectual property, which would harm our ability to compete in the market.

As foreign markets become more significant in revenue for us, our foreign operations and strategic alliances with foreign 
entities  will  likely  increase.  Our  exposure  to  risks  associated  with  these  operations  requires  us  to  increase  our  reliance  on 
protecting  our  intellectual  property  against  infringing  products  and/or  services  in  markets  outside  of  the  U.S.  The  laws  and 
judicial systems in these countries may introduce yet another level of uncertainty in our effort to obtain the desired protection as 
well as defending our rights.

OTHERS MAY BE SUCCESSFUL IN ASSERTING THAT OUR PRODUCTS INFRINGE THEIR INTELLECTUAL 
PROPERTY  RIGHTS,  WHICH  MAY  CAUSE  US  TO  PAY  SUBSTANTIAL  DAMAGES  AND/OR  ENJOIN  US 
FROM COMMERCIALIZING OUR PRODUCTS.

As  we  continue  to  introduce  and  commercialize  new  products  and  technologies,  there  may  be  U.S.  and  foreign  patents 
issued to third parties that relate to our products. Some of these patents may be broad enough to cover one or more aspects of 
our  products.  We  do  not  know  whether  any  of  these  patents,  if  challenged,  would  be  held  valid,  enforceable,  and  infringed. 
From time to time, we receive, and likely will continue to receive, letters from third parties accusing us of infringing and/or 
inviting us to license their patents. We may be sued by, or become involved in an administrative proceeding with, one or more 
of these third parties.

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We cannot be certain that a court or administrative body would agree with any arguments or defenses that we may have 
concerning invalidity, unenforceability, or non-infringement of any third-party patent. In addition, other parties may have filed 
or  will  file  patent  applications  covering  products  that  are  similar  to  or  identical  to  ours.  We  cannot  be  certain  that  patents 
issuing  from  our  own  patent  applications  covering  our  products  will  have  a  priority  date  over  any  patents  issuing  from 
applications filed by a third party.

The  medical  device  industry  has  experienced  extensive  intellectual  property  litigation  and  administrative  proceedings.  If 
third  parties  assert  infringement  claims  or  institute  administrative  proceedings  against  us,  our  technical  and  management 
personnel will need to spend significant time and effort, and we will incur large expenses in defending against these attacks. We 
cannot  be  certain  that  we  will  prevail  in  defending  against  infringement,  validity,  or  enforceability  claims  against  us.  If 
plaintiffs in patent administrative proceedings are successful, our patent portfolio may be adversely affected. If plaintiffs in any 
patent  action  are  successful,  we  may  be  enjoined  from  selling  or  importing  our  products,  we  may  have  to  pay  substantial 
damages, including treble damages, or we may be required to obtain a license that requires us to pay substantial royalties or 
relocate our manufacturing facilities. In addition, any public announcements related to litigation or administrative proceedings 
initiated or threatened against us could cause our stock price to decline.

OUR  PRODUCTS  RELY  ON  LICENSES  FROM  THIRD  PARTIES,  WHICH  MAY  NOT  BE  AVAILABLE  TO  US 
ON  COMMERCIALLY  REASONABLE  TERMS  OR  AT  ALL.  IF  WE  LOSE  ACCESS  TO  THESE 
TECHNOLOGIES, OUR REVENUES COULD DECLINE.

We  rely  on  technology  that  we  license  from  others,  including  technology  that  is  integral  to  our  products.  There  is  no 
assurance that we can obtain or retain licenses on acceptable terms or at all. The license agreements we have entered into with 
several  industry  partners  may  be  terminated  for  breach.  If  any  of  these  agreements  are  terminated,  we  may  be  unable  to 
reacquire the necessary license on satisfactory terms or at all. The failure to obtain, retain, or maintain licenses could prevent or 
delay  further  development  or  commercialization  of  our  products,  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business, 
financial condition, or results of operations.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

OUR  FUTURE  OPERATING  RESULTS  MAY  BE  BELOW  SECURITIES  ANALYSTS’  OR  INVESTORS’ 
EXPECTATIONS, WHICH COULD CAUSE OUR STOCK PRICE TO DECLINE.

Due to the nascent nature of our industry, we have limited insight into trends that may emerge in our market and affect our 
business.  The  revenue  and  income  potential  of  our  market  are  unproven,  and  we  may  be  unable  to  maintain  or  grow  our 
revenue. Our products typically have lengthy sales cycles. In addition, our costs may be higher than we anticipated. If we fail to 
generate  sufficient  revenues  or  our  costs  are  higher  than  we  expect,  our  results  of  operations  may  be  materially  adversely 
affected.  Further,  future  revenue  from  sales  of  our  products  is  difficult  to  forecast,  because  the  market  for  new  surgical 
technologies is still evolving. Our results of operations could be impacted by numerous factors, including:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

the extent to which our products achieve and maintain market acceptance;

actions relating to regulatory matters;

product quality and supply problems;

inflationary pressures on the cost of producing and distributing our products;

our timing and ability to develop our manufacturing and sales and marketing capabilities;

demand for our products;

the size and timing of particular sales and any collection delays related to those sales;

the progress of surgical training in the use of our products;

our ability to develop, introduce, and market new or enhanced versions of our products on a timely basis;

third-party payor reimbursement policies;

our ability to protect our proprietary rights and defend against third-party challenges;

our ability to license additional intellectual property rights; and

the progress and results of any clinical trials.

Our operating results in any particular period will not be a reliable indication of our future performance. It is possible that, 
in future periods, our operating results will be below the expectations of securities analysts or investors. If this occurs, the price 
of our common stock and the value of your investment will likely decline.

57

OUR STOCK PRICE HAS BEEN, AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO BE, VOLATILE.

The  market  price  of  our  common  stock  has  experienced  fluctuations  and  may  fluctuate  significantly  in  the  future.  For 
example, during 2021, the adjusted closing price of our common stock reached a high of $365.42 and a low of $228.30; during 
2022, it reached a high of $360.00 and a low of $183.06; and, during 2023, it reached a high of $354.93 and a low of $224.75. 
Our stock price can fluctuate for a number of reasons, including:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

announcements about us or our competitors;

variations in our operating results and financial guidance;

our introduction or abandonment of new technologies or products;

regulatory approvals and enforcement actions;

changes in our product pricing policies;

changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by analysts;

changes in accounting policies;

economic changes and overall market volatility;

announcements relating to product quality and the supply chain for our products;

litigation;

• media coverage, whether accurate or inaccurate, fair or misleading;

•
•

•

political uncertainties;
short sales on shares of our common stock or other activities by short sellers; and

our stock repurchase program.

Future stock repurchase programs will be contingent on a variety of factors, including our financial condition, results of 
operations, and business requirements. There can be no assurance that we will continue repurchasing our common stock in the 
future,  consistent  with  historical  levels  or  at  all,  or  that  our  stock  repurchase  programs  will  have  a  beneficial  impact  on  our 
stock price.

In  addition,  stock  markets  generally  have  experienced,  and  in  the  future  may  experience,  significant  price  and  volume 
volatility.  This  volatility  has  a  substantial  effect  on  the  market  prices  of  securities  of  many  public  companies  for  reasons 
frequently unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the specific companies. Further, the securities of many 
medical  device  companies,  including  us,  have  historically  been  subject  to  extensive  price  and  volume  fluctuations  that  may 
affect  the  market  price  of  their  common  stock.  If  these  broad  market  fluctuations  continue,  it  may  have  a  material  adverse 
impact on the market price of our common stock.

CHANGES  TO  FINANCIAL  ACCOUNTING  STANDARDS  MAY  AFFECT  OUR  REPORTED  RESULTS  OF 
OPERATIONS.

A  change  in  accounting  standards  can  have  a  significant  effect  on  our  reported  results  and  may  retroactively  affect 
previously reported results. New accounting pronouncements and varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements have 
occurred  and  may  occur  in  the  future.  Changes  to  existing  standards  or  the  reevaluation  of  current  practices  may  adversely 
affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.

ITEM 1B. 

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 1C. 

CYBERSECURITY

CYBERSECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY

We  have  developed  and  implemented  a  cybersecurity  risk  management  program  intended  to  protect  the  confidentiality, 
integrity,  and  availability  of  our  critical  systems  and  information.  Our  cybersecurity  risk  management  program  includes  a 
cybersecurity incident response plan.

We design and assess our program based on various cybersecurity frameworks, such as the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology (“NIST”) and the Center for Internet Security (“CIS”), as well as information security standards issued by the 
International Organization for Standardization, including ISO 27001 and ISO 27002. In 2022, our cybersecurity systems and 
processes  achieved  ISO  27001  certification.  We  use  these  cybersecurity  frameworks  and  information  security  standards  as  a 
guide to help us identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks relevant to our business.

58

Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program and shares 
common  methodologies,  reporting  channels,  and  governance  processes  that  apply  across  the  enterprise  risk  management 
program to other legal, compliance, strategic, operational, and financial risk areas.

Our cybersecurity risk management program includes:

•

•

•

•

•

•

risk assessments designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems, information, products, 
services, and our broader enterprise information technology (“IT”) environment;

a security team principally responsible for managing (1) our cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (2) our security 
controls, and (3) our response to cybersecurity incidents;

the use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test, or otherwise assist with aspects of our security 
controls;

cybersecurity awareness training for our employees, incident response personnel, and senior management;

a cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents; and

a third-party risk management process for service providers, suppliers, and vendors.

We  have  not  identified  any  risks  from  known  cybersecurity  threats,  including  as  a  result  of  any  prior  cybersecurity 
incidents,  that  have  materially  affected  or  are  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect  us,  including  our  operations,  business 
strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.

CYBERSECURITY GOVERNANCE

Our Board considers cybersecurity risk as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated oversight of cybersecurity 
and other information technology risks to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee oversees management’s implementation 
of the cybersecurity risk management program.

The  Audit  Committee  receives  quarterly  reports  from  management  on  our  cybersecurity  risks.  In  addition,  management 
updates the Audit Committee, as necessary, regarding any material cybersecurity incidents, as well as any incidents with lesser 
potential impact.

The  Audit  Committee  reports  to  the  full  Board  regarding  its  activities,  including  those  related  to  cybersecurity.  The  full 
Board  also  receives  briefings  from  management  on  our  cybersecurity  risk  management  program.  Board  members  receive 
presentations on cybersecurity topics from our IT management team, internal security staff, or external experts as part of the 
Board’s continuing education. Six members of our Board of Directors have information security expertise, including Joseph C. 
Beery, Gary S. Guthart, Ph.D., Amal M. Johnson, Sreelakshmi Kolli, Keith R. Leonard, Jr., and Mark J. Rubash.

 Our management team, including our IT management team, is responsible for assessing and managing our material risks 
from  cybersecurity  threats.  The  team  has  primary  responsibility  for  our  overall  cybersecurity  risk  management  program  and 
supervises both our internal cybersecurity personnel and our retained external cybersecurity consultants. Our management team 
has certifications from various organizations, such as ISC2 (Certified Information Security Systems Professional or “CISSP”), 
Global Information Assurance (“GIAC”), and the EC-Council.

Our management team oversees efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents through 
various means, which may include briefings from internal security personnel, threat intelligence and other information obtained 
from governmental, public, or private sources, including external consultants engaged by us, and alerts and reports produced by 
security tools deployed in the information technology environment.

ITEM 2. 

PROPERTIES

As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  own  approximately  2.0  million  square  feet  of  space  on  142  acres  of  land  in  Sunnyvale, 
California,  where  we  house  our  principal  headquarters,  research  and  development,  service,  and  support  functions,  as  well  as 
certain of our manufacturing operations.

Outside of Sunnyvale, California, we own facilities in other U.S. locations that are used for sales, training, manufacturing, 
engineering,  and  administrative  functions,  including  approximately  520,000  square  feet  of  space  on  69  acres  of  land  in 
Peachtree Corners, Georgia. We also lease approximately 830,000 square feet of space for certain engineering, warehousing, 
and support functions at various locations in the U.S.

Outside  of  the  U.S.,  we  own  and/or  lease  properties  in  Mexicali,  Mexico,  and  Germany,  primarily  for  manufacturing 
operations, and Aubonne, Switzerland, primarily for our international headquarters. In China, our Joint Venture leases facilities 
for research and development, manufacturing, and sales operations. In Israel, we lease facilities for research and development. 
In addition, we lease various international facilities for sales and other operations.

59

ITEM 3. 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The information included in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this report is 

incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 4. 

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

60

PART II

ITEM 5.  

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

COMMON STOCK

Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ISRG.”

As  of  January  25,  2024,  there  were  132  stockholders  of  record  of  our  common  stock,  although  there  are  a  significantly 

larger number of beneficial owners of our common stock.

DIVIDENDS

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain earnings for use in 
the operation and expansion of our business. In addition, we may use a portion of our retained earnings to repurchase shares of 
our common stock, if appropriate.

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

Please see Item 12. “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” 
under Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information on where to find information required by Item 201(d) of 
Regulation S-K.

RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

None.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The table below summarizes our stock repurchase activity for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Fiscal Period
October 1 to October 31, 2023

November 1 to November 30, 2023

December 1 to December 31, 2023

Total Number of
Shares
Repurchased

Average
Price Paid
Per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased As
Part of a Publicly
Announced Program

Approximate Dollar
Amount of Shares That
May Yet be Purchased
Under the Program (1)

232,332  $ 

22,585  $ 

—  $ 

259.56 

265.01 

— 

232,332  $ 

22,585  $ 

—  $ 

254,917 

1.1  billion

1.1  billion

1.1  billion

Total during quarter ended December 31, 2023  

254,917  $ 

260.04 

(1) Since March 2009, we have had an active stock repurchase program (the “Repurchase Program”). As of December 31, 2023, our Board of Directors (our 
“Board”) had authorized an aggregate amount of up to $10.0 billion for stock repurchases, of which the most recent authorization occurred in July 2022, 
when our Board increased the authorized amount available under our Repurchase Program to $3.5 billion. The remaining amount available to repurchase 
shares  under  the  authorized  Repurchase  Program  as  of  December  31,  2023,  is  $1.1  billion.  The  authorized  Repurchase  Program  does  not  have  an 
expiration date.

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

This  graph  is  not  “soliciting  material”  or  deemed  “filed”  with  the  SEC  or  subject  to  Regulation  14A  or  14C  (17  CFR 
240.14a-1–240.14a-104  or  240.14c-1–240.14c-101)  for  purposes  of  Section  18  of  the  Exchange  Act,  or  otherwise  subject  to 
liabilities  under  that  Section,  and  shall  not  be  deemed  incorporated  by  reference  into  any  filings  of  Intuitive  Surgical,  Inc. 
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general 
incorporation language in any such filing.

The graph set forth below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock between December 31, 
2018, and December 31, 2023, with the cumulative total return of (i) the Nasdaq Composite Index, (ii) the S&P 500 Healthcare 
Index, and (iii) the S&P 500 Index over the same period. This graph assumes an investment of $100.00 on December 31, 2018, 
in our common stock, the Nasdaq Composite Index, the S&P Healthcare Index, and the S&P 500 Index and assumes the re-
investment of dividends, if any.

The  comparisons  shown  in  the  graph  below  are  based  on  historical  data.  We  caution  that  the  stock  price  performance 
shown in the graph below is not necessarily indicative of, nor is it intended to forecast, the potential future performance of our 
common stock.

COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG INTUITIVE, NASDAQ 
COMPOSITE, S&P HEALTHCARE INDEX, AND S&P 500 INDEX

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Nasdaq Composite

S&P 500 Healthcare Index

S&P 500 Index

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

100.00  $ 

123.43  $ 

170.82  $ 

225.07  $ 

166.22  $ 

100.00  $ 

136.69  $ 

198.10  $ 

242.03  $ 

163.28  $ 

100.00  $ 

118.68  $ 

132.24  $ 

164.20  $ 

158.37  $ 

100.00  $ 

131.49  $ 

155.68  $ 

200.37  $ 

164.08  $ 

211.33 

236.17 

158.85 

207.21 

December 31,

ITEM 6.

[RESERVED]

62

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.NASDAQ CompositeS&P 500 Healthcare IndexS&P 500 Index201820192020202120222023$100$150$200$250ITEM  7. 

Overview

MANAGEMENT’S  DISCUSSION  AND  ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL  CONDITION  AND  RESULTS 
OF OPERATIONS

Open surgery remains the predominant form of surgery and is used in almost every area of the body. However, the large 
incisions required for open surgery create trauma to patients, typically resulting in longer hospitalization and recovery times, 
increased hospitalization costs, and additional pain and suffering relative to minimally invasive surgery, where MIS is available. 
For over three decades, MIS has reduced trauma to patients by allowing selected surgeries to be performed through small ports 
rather than large incisions. MIS has been widely adopted for certain surgical procedures.

Da Vinci surgical systems enable surgeons to extend the benefits of MIS to many patients who would otherwise undergo a 
more  invasive  surgery  by  using  computational,  robotic,  and  imaging  technologies  to  overcome  many  of  the  limitations  of 
traditional open surgery or conventional MIS. Surgeons using a da Vinci surgical system operate while seated comfortably at a 
console  viewing  a  3D,  high-definition  image  of  the  surgical  field.  This  immersive  console  connects  surgeons  to  the  surgical 
field  and  their  instruments.  While  seated  at  the  console,  the  surgeon  manipulates  instrument  controls  in  a  natural  manner, 
similar to open surgical technique. Our technology is designed to provide surgeons with a range of articulation of the surgical 
instruments used in the surgical field analogous to the motions of a human wrist, while filtering out the tremor inherent in a 
surgeon’s hand. In designing our products, we focus on making our technology easy and safe to use.

Our da Vinci products fall into five broad categories: da Vinci surgical systems, da Vinci instruments and accessories, da 
Vinci  Stapling,  da  Vinci  Energy,  and  da  Vinci  Vision,  including  Firefly  Fluorescence  imaging  systems  and  da  Vinci 
Endoscopes. We also provide a comprehensive suite of systems, learning, and services offerings. Digitally-enabled for nearly 
three  decades,  these  three  offerings  aim  to  decrease  variability  by  providing  dependable,  consistent  functionality  and  an 
integrated  user  experience.  Our  systems  category  includes  robotic  platforms,  software,  vision,  energy,  and  instruments  and 
accessories. Our learning category includes educational technology, such as simulation and telepresence, as well as technical 
training programs and personalized peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Our services category assists and optimizes minimally 
invasive  programs  through  readiness,  on-demand  support,  consultation  for  minimally  invasive  program  optimization,  and 
hospitals  customized  analytics.  Within  our  integrated  ecosystem,  our  focus  is  to  decrease  variability  in  surgery  by  offering 
actionable  insights,  with  digital  solutions,  to  take  action  with  the  potential  to  improve  outcomes,  personalize  learning,  and 
optimize efficiency. We take a holistic approach, offering intelligent technology and systems designed to work together to make 
MIS intervention more available and applicable.

We have commercialized the following da Vinci surgical systems: the da Vinci standard surgical system in 1999, the da 
Vinci S surgical system in 2006, the da Vinci Si surgical system in 2009, and the fourth generation da Vinci Xi surgical system 
in 2014. We extended our fourth-generation platform by adding the da Vinci X surgical system, commercialized in 2017, and 
the da Vinci SP surgical system, commercialized in 2018. The da Vinci SP surgical system accesses the body through a single 
incision, while the other da Vinci surgical systems access the body through multiple incisions. All da Vinci systems include a 
surgeon’s console (or consoles), imaging electronics, a patient-side cart, and computational hardware and software. We are in 
the  early  stages  of  launching  our  da  Vinci  SP  surgical  system,  and  we  have  an  installed  base  of  177  da  Vinci  SP  surgical 
systems  as  of  December  31,  2023.  We  have  received  FDA  clearance  for  the  da  Vinci  SP  surgical  system  for  urologic  and 
certain transoral procedures, and we have received regulatory clearance in South Korea, where the da Vinci SP surgical system 
may be used for a broad set of procedures. In September 2022, we received regulatory clearance for the da Vinci SP surgical 
system in Japan for the same set of procedures as can be performed on the da Vinci Xi surgical system in Japan. In January 
2024, we obtained the European certification in accordance with 2017/745 EU MDR (Medical Devices Regulation) for our da 
Vinci SP surgical system for use in endoscopic abdominopelvic, thoracoscopic, transoral otolaryngology, transanal colorectal, 
and breast surgical procedures. We plan to commercialize the da Vinci SP surgical system in select major European countries 
throughout 2024 as part of a measured rollout strategy. We plan to seek FDA clearances for additional indications for the da 
Vinci SP surgical system over time. We also plan to seek clearances (including for additional indications) in other OUS markets 
over time. The success of the da Vinci SP surgical system is dependent on positive experiences and improved clinical outcomes 
for the procedures for which it has been cleared as well as securing additional clinical clearances.

In addition, we have submitted regulatory filings in the U.S., Japan, and South Korea for our fifth-generation multi-port 
platform,  da  Vinci  5.  If  we  obtain  the  required  regulatory  clearances,  we  plan  a  phased  launch  over  several  quarters  after 
clearance, giving us time to mature our supply and manufacturing processes for the new system.

We offer approximately 70 different multi-port da Vinci instruments to provide surgeons with flexibility in choosing the 
types  of  tools  needed  to  perform  a  particular  surgery.  These  multi-port  instruments  are  generally  robotically  controlled  and 
provide  end  effectors  (tips)  that  are  similar  to  those  used  in  either  open  or  laparoscopic  surgery.  We  offer  advanced 
instrumentation  for  the  da  Vinci  X  and  da  Vinci  Xi  platforms,  including  da  Vinci  Energy  and  da  Vinci  Stapler  products,  to 
provide surgeons with sophisticated, computer-aided tools to precisely and efficiently interact with tissue. The da Vinci X and 
da Vinci Xi surgical systems share the same instruments, whereas the da Vinci Si surgical system uses instruments that are not 

63

compatible with the da Vinci X or da Vinci Xi systems. We currently offer nine core instruments on our da Vinci SP surgical 
system. We plan to expand the da Vinci SP instrument offering over time.

Training  technologies  include  our  Intuitive  Simulation  products,  our  Intuitive  Telepresence  remote  case  observation  and 

telementoring tools, and our dual console for use in surgeon proctoring and collaborative surgery.

In 2019, the FDA cleared our Ion endoluminal system, which is a flexible, robotic-assisted, catheter-based platform that 
utilizes instruments and accessories for which the first cleared indication is minimally invasive biopsies in the lung. Our Ion 
system extends our commercial offering beyond surgery into diagnostic endoluminal procedures. The system features an ultra-
thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that can articulate 180 degrees in all directions and allows navigation far into the peripheral 
lung and provides the stability necessary for precision in a biopsy. Many suspicious lesions found in the lung may be small and 
difficult to access, which can make diagnosis challenging, and Ion helps physicians obtain tissue samples from deep within the 
lung,  which  could  help  enable  earlier  diagnosis.  In  March  2023,  we  obtained  the  European  certification  in  accordance  with 
2017/745  EU  MDR  (Medical  Devices  Regulation)  for  our  Ion  endoluminal  system  and,  in  September  2023,  we  received 
regulatory  clearance  for  our  Ion  endoluminal  system  in  South  Korea.  We  plan  to  seek  additional  clearances,  approvals,  and 
certifications for the Ion endoluminal system in OUS markets over time.

The  success  of  new  product  introductions  depends  on  a  number  of  factors  including,  but  not  limited  to,  pricing, 
competition, market and consumer acceptance, the effective forecasting and management of product demand, inventory levels, 
the  management  of  manufacturing  and  supply  costs,  and  the  risk  that  new  products  may  have  quality  or  other  defects  in  the 
early stages of introduction.

Macroeconomic Environment

Uncertainty surrounding macroeconomic and geopolitical factors in the U.S. and globally characterized by the supply chain 
environment, inflationary pressure, higher interest rates, instability in the global financial markets, significant disruptions in the 
commodities’ markets as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, labor 
shortages, and the introduction of or changes in tariffs or trade barriers may result in a recession, which could have a material 
adverse effect on our business.

Supply  chain  constraints  continued  to  show  improvement  as  2023  progressed,  relative  to  2022,  based  on  fewer  market 
constraints. Notably, supply of semiconductor materials rebounded, while certain residual stresses remain. Additionally, prices 
of such materials remain elevated due to either market demand or production-related cost inflation. With higher interest rates, 
access  to  credit  may  become  more  difficult  and  any  insolvency  of  certain  suppliers,  including  sole-  and  single-sourced 
suppliers,  may  have  heightened  continuity  risks.  We  are  actively  engaged  in  activities  to  seek  to  mitigate  the  impact  of  any 
supply chain disruptions on our operations.

Global  shortages  in  important  components  have  resulted  in,  and  will  continue  to  cause,  inflationary  cost  pressure  in  our 
supply chain. To date, these supply chain challenges have not materially impacted our results of operations or ability to deliver 
products and services to our customers. However, supply constraints with certain materials, which may be unavoidable, could 
delay  the  timing  of  finished  product  deliveries,  which  could  result  in  deferred  or  canceled  procedures.  Additionally,  if 
inflationary  pressures  in  component  costs  persist,  we  may  not  be  able  to  quickly  or  easily  adjust  pricing,  reduce  costs,  or 
implement countermeasures. Also, there is continued uncertainty surrounding the impact of any monetary policy changes taken 
by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks to address the structural risks associated with inflation.

Fluctuations in labor availability globally, including labor shortages and staff burnout and attrition, could also impact our 
ability  to  hire  and  retain  personnel  critical  to  our  manufacturing,  logistics,  and  commercial  operations.  We  are  also  highly 
dependent on the principal members of our management and scientific staff. The loss of critical members of our team, or our 
inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, could significantly harm our operations, business, and ability to compete.

A number of hospitals continue to experience challenges with staffing and cost pressures that could affect their ability to 
provide  patient  care;  however,  the  staffing  challenges  have  shown  signs  of  improvement  during  the  second  half  of  2023, 
relative to the first half of 2023 and to the prior year. Additionally, hospitals are facing significant financial pressure as supply 
chain constraints and inflation drive up operating costs, higher interest rates make access to credit more expensive, unrealized 
losses  decrease  available  cash  reserves,  and  fiscal  stimulus  programs  enacted  during  the  COVID-19  pandemic  wind  down. 
Hospitals may also be adversely affected by the liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry that could result in 
delayed access or loss of access to uninsured deposits or loss of their ability to draw on existing credit facilities involving a 
troubled or failed financial institution. As a consequence of the financial pressures and decreased profitability, some hospitals 
have indicated that they are lowering their capital investment plans and tightening their operational budgets. We believe that 
these factors have contributed to a softening in our U.S. capital pipeline, and we expect that demand for capital, particularly in 
the U.S., will continue to be impacted while macroeconomic conditions remain challenging. In addition, as overall competition 
for medical technologies, including robotic-assisted devices and treatment options, progresses in various markets, we will likely 
experience  longer  selling  cycles  and  pricing  pressures.  Any  or  all  of  these  factors  could  negatively  impact  the  number  of  da 

64

Vinci procedures performed or the number of system placements and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition, or results of operations resulting in the failure to achieve our anticipated financial results.

We  maintain  the  majority  of  our  cash  and  cash  equivalents  in  accounts  with  major  U.S.  and  multi-national  financial 
institutions, and our deposits exceed insured limits. Market conditions could impact the viability of these institutions. To date, 
these market conditions and liquidity concerns have not impacted our results of operations. However, in the event of the failure 
of any of the financial institutions where we maintain our cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that we would be 
able  to  access  uninsured  funds  in  a  timely  manner  or  at  all.  Any  inability  to  access  or  delay  in  accessing  these  funds  could 
adversely affect our business and financial position.

COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2021, resurgences of the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) affected da Vinci procedure volumes at 
various times throughout the year in most of the markets that we operate in. After each resurgence, as COVID-19 cases and 
hospitalizations subsided, we saw procedure volumes recover. In the U.S., the impact of high COVID-related hospitalization 
rates on procedure volumes was exacerbated by staffing shortages. Although hospitals were better equipped to handle COVID 
patients  as  compared  to  the  outset  of  the  pandemic,  COVID-19  resurgences  challenged  hospital  resources  and  negatively 
impacted da Vinci procedure volumes. In addition, delays in diagnosis and treatment of underlying conditions had a negative 
impact on da Vinci procedure volumes. Volumes associated with benign procedures were generally impacted to a higher degree 
when COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increased, reflecting the deferability of certain elective surgeries.

In early 2022, a resurgence of COVID-19 resulted in a significant increase in infections and hospitalization rates in the U.S. 
and certain countries in Europe, which, in turn, negatively impacted procedure volumes in January and February. As infections 
and hospitalizations started to decrease in February in the U.S. and Europe, we saw a recovery of procedure volumes. In March 
and  during  the  second  quarter  of  2022,  we  also  saw  a  resurgence  in  COVID-19  cases  and  increased  hospitalizations  and 
government interventions impacting parts of Asia, particularly China, which negatively impacted procedure volumes. During 
the third quarter of 2022, we did not experience significant disruptions from COVID-19. In the fourth quarter of 2022, we saw a 
resurgence in COVID-19 cases in China, which had a significant negative impact on our procedure volumes in the region.

In 2023, COVID-19 resurgences in China continued to negatively impact our procedure volumes in January. However, in 
February and March, as infections and hospitalization started to decrease, we saw a recovery of procedure volumes. During the 
remainder of 2023, we did not experience significant disruptions from COVID-19.

We  expect  the  depth  and  extent  to  which  COVID-19  impacts  individual  markets  to  vary  based  on  the  availability  of 
vaccinations,  personal  protective  equipment,  intensive  care  units  and  operating  rooms,  and  medical  staff,  as  well  as  other 
government interventions. Additionally, COVID-19 has, and may continue to, contribute to hospital staffing shortages, which 
impacts  hospitals’  ability  to  provide  patient  care  and,  in  some  cases,  results  in  the  deferral  of  elective  surgeries.  When 
COVID-19 infection rates have spiked in a particular region in the past, procedure volumes were often negatively impacted and 
the diagnoses of new conditions and their related treatments were sometimes deferred. While we believe that there has been a 
backlog of patients that remains to be treated, and that such a backlog has positively contributed to 2023 procedure volumes, it 
is difficult to determine if and when any remaining backlog of patients will ultimately seek diagnosis and treatment and whether 
they will be treated through surgery.

Business Model

Overview

We  generate  revenue  from  the  placement  of  da  Vinci  surgical  systems,  in  sales  or  sales-type  lease  arrangements  where 
revenue is recognized up-front or in fixed-payment or usage-based operating lease arrangements where revenue is recognized 
over time. We earn recurring revenue from the sales of instruments, accessories, and services, as well as revenue from operating 
leases.  The  da  Vinci  surgical  system  generally  sells  for  between  $0.7  million  and  $2.5  million,  depending  on  the  model, 
configuration, and geography, and represents a significant capital equipment investment for our customers when purchased. Our 
instruments and accessories have limited lives and will either expire or wear out as they are used in surgery, at which point they 
need to be replaced. We generally earn between $700 and $3,600 of instruments and accessories revenue per surgical procedure 
performed, depending on the type and complexity of the specific procedures performed and the number and type of instruments 
used.  We  typically  enter  into  service  contracts  at  the  time  systems  are  sold  or  leased  at  an  annual  fee  between  $80,000  and 
$200,000,  depending  on  the  configuration  of  the  underlying  system  and  the  composition  of  the  services  offered  under  the 
contract. Our system sale arrangements generally include a five-year period of service, with the first year of service provided 
for free. These service contracts have generally been renewed at the end of the initial contractual service periods.

We generate revenue from our Ion endoluminal system in a business model consistent with the da Vinci surgical system 
model  described  above.  We  generate  revenue  from  the  placement  of  Ion  systems,  in  sales  or  sales-type  lease  arrangements 
where  revenue  is  recognized  up-front  or  in  fixed-payment  or  usage-based  operating  lease  arrangements  where  revenue  is 

65

recognized over time. We earn recurring revenue from the sales of instruments, accessories, and services, as well as revenue 
from  operating  leases.  The  Ion  system  generally  sells  for  between  $500,000  and  $650,000.  Our  instruments  and  accessories 
have limited lives and will either expire or wear out as they are used in procedures, at which point they need to be replaced. We 
typically enter into service contracts at the time systems are sold or leased at an annual fee between $55,000 and $65,000.

Additionally,  as  part  of  our  ecosystem  of  products  and  services,  we  provide  a  portfolio  of  learning  offerings  and  digital 

solutions. We do not currently generate material revenue from these offerings.

Recurring Revenue

Recurring  revenue  consists  of  instruments  and  accessories  revenue,  service  revenue,  and  operating  lease  revenue. 
Recurring  revenue  increased  to  $5.94  billion,  or  83%  of  total  revenue  in  2023,  compared  to  $4.92  billion,  or  79%  of  total 
revenue in 2022, and $4.29 billion, or 75% of total revenue in 2021.

Instruments and accessories revenue has grown at a faster rate than systems revenue over time. Instruments and accessories 
revenue  increased  to  $4.28  billion  in  2023,  compared  to  $3.52  billion  in  2022  and  $3.10  billion  in  2021.  The  increase  in 
instruments and accessories revenue largely reflects continued procedure adoption.

Service revenue was $1.17 billion in 2023, compared to $1.02 billion in 2022 and $0.92 billion in 2021. The increase in 
service  revenue  was  primarily  driven  by  the  growth  of  the  base  of  installed  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  producing  service 
revenue. The installed base of da Vinci surgical systems grew 14% to approximately 8,606 as of December 31, 2023; 12% to 
approximately 7,544 as of December 31, 2022; and 12% to approximately 6,730 as of December 31, 2021.

We  use  the  installed  base,  number  of  placements,  and  utilization  of  systems  as  metrics  for  financial  and  operational 
decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Management believes that the installed base, number 
of  placements,  and  utilization  of  systems  provide  meaningful  supplemental  information  regarding  our  performance,  as 
management believes that the installed base, number of placements, and utilization of systems are an indicator of the rate of 
adoption of our robotic-assisted medical procedures as well as an indicator of future recurring revenue. Management believes 
that  both  it  and  investors  benefit  from  referring  to  the  installed  base,  number  of  placements,  and  utilization  of  systems  in 
assessing  our  performance  and  when  planning,  forecasting,  and  analyzing  future  periods.  The  installed  base,  number  of 
placements,  and  utilization  of  systems  also  facilitate  management’s  internal  comparisons  of  our  historical  performance.  We 
believe that the installed base, number of placements, and utilization of systems are useful to investors as metrics because (1) 
they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-
making, and (2) they are used by institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the performance of our 
business.  The  vast  majority  of  installed  systems  are  connected  via  the  internet.  System  logs  can  also  be  accessed  by  field 
engineers  for  systems  that  are  not  connected  to  the  internet.  We  utilize  this  information  as  well  as  other  information  from 
agreements  and  discussions  with  our  customers  that  involve  estimates  and  judgments,  which  are,  by  their  nature,  subject  to 
substantial uncertainties and assumptions. Estimates and judgments for determining the installed base, number of placements, 
and utilization of systems may be impacted over time by various factors, including system internet connectivity, hospital and 
distributor reporting behavior, and inherent complexities in new agreements. Such estimates and judgments are also susceptible 
to technical errors. In addition, the relationship between the installed base, number of placements, and utilization of systems and 
our revenues may fluctuate from period to period, and growth in the installed base, number of placements, and utilization of 
systems may not correspond to an increase in revenue. The installed base, number of placements, and utilization of systems are 
not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, revenue or other financial information prepared 
and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

Intuitive System Leasing

Since 2013, we have entered into sales-type and fixed-payment operating lease arrangements directly with certain qualified 
customers as a way to offer customers flexibility in how they acquire systems and expand their robotic-assisted programs while 
leveraging  our  balance  sheet.  These  leases  generally  have  commercially  competitive  terms  as  compared  to  other  third-party 
entities  that  offer  equipment  leasing.  We  have  also  entered  into  usage-based  operating  lease  arrangements  with  qualified 
customers that have committed da Vinci programs where we charge for the system and service as the systems are utilized. We 
believe  that  these  alternative  financing  structures  have  been  effective  and  well-received,  and  we  are  willing  to  expand  the 
proportion  of  these  structures  based  on  customer  demand.  We  include  systems  placed  under  fixed-payment  and  usage-based 
operating lease arrangements, as well as sales-type lease arrangements, in our system placement and installed base disclosures. 
We exclude operating lease-related revenue, including usage-based revenue, and Ion system revenue from our da Vinci surgical 
system average selling price (“ASP”) computations.

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The  following  table  summarizes  our  system  placements  under  leasing  arrangements  for  the  years  ended  December  31, 

2023, 2022, and 2021:

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

Da Vinci System Placements Under Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

Total da Vinci system placements under operating lease arrangements

% of Total da Vinci system placements

Sales-type lease arrangements

  304 

  355 

  659 

 48 %

45 

  276 

  216 

  492 

 39 %

99 

Total da Vinci system placements under leasing arrangements

  704 

  591 

Ion System Placements Under Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

63 

54 

61 

40 

Total Ion system placements under operating lease arrangements

  117 

  101 

% of Total Ion system placements

Sales-type lease arrangements

 55 %

5 

 53 %

11 

Total Ion system placements under leasing arrangements

  122 

  112 

  333 

  184 

  517 

 38 %

  151 

  668 

43 

7 

50 

 54 %

7 

57 

Revenue from fixed-payment operating lease arrangements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and 
revenue from usage-based operating lease arrangements is recognized as the systems are used. We generally set fixed-payment 
and usage-based operating lease arrangements’ pricing at a modest premium relative to purchased systems reflecting the time 
value of money and, in the case of usage-based operating lease arrangements, the risk that system utilization may fall short of 
anticipated levels. Variable lease revenue recognized from usage-based operating lease arrangements has been included in our 
operating lease metrics herein. Operating lease revenue has grown at a faster rate than overall systems revenue and was $501 
million, $377 million, and $277 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, of which $217 
million,  $133  million,  and  $78  million,  respectively,  was  variable  lease  revenue  related  to  our  usage-based  operating  lease 
arrangements.  As  revenue  for  fixed-payment  and  usage-based  operating  lease  arrangements  is  recognized  over  time,  total 
systems revenue growth is reduced in a period when the number of operating lease placements increases as a proportion of total 
system placements. Generally, lease transactions generate similar gross margins as our sale transactions.

The  following  table  summarizes  our  systems  installed  at  customers  under  operating  leasing  arrangements  for  the  years 

ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:

Da Vinci System Installed Base under Operating Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

Total da Vinci system installed base under operating lease arrangements

Ion System Installed Base under Operating Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

Total Ion system installed base under operating lease arrangements

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

1,204 

1,023 

2,227 

96 

118 

214 

1,018 

665 

1,683 

72 

60 

132 

841 

453 

1,294 

50 

11 

61 

Our exposure to the credit risks relating to our lease financing arrangements may increase if our customers are adversely 
affected  by  economic  pressures  or  uncertainty,  changes  in  healthcare  laws,  coverage  and  reimbursement,  or  other  customer-
specific factors. As a result of these macroeconomic factors impacting our customers, we may be exposed to defaults under our 
lease financing arrangements. Moreover, usage-based operating lease arrangements generally contain no minimum payments; 
therefore, customers may exit such arrangements without paying a financial penalty to us.

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For some operating lease arrangements, our customers are provided with the right to purchase the leased system at certain 
points during and/or at the end of the lease term. Revenue generated from customer purchases of systems under operating lease 
arrangements (“Lease Buyouts”) was $74 million, $72 million, and $96 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 
and 2021, respectively. We expect that revenue recognized from customer exercises of buyout options will fluctuate based on 
the timing of when, and if, customers choose to exercise their buyout options.

Systems Revenue

System placements are driven by procedure growth in most markets. In some markets, system placements are constrained 
by regulation. In geographies where da Vinci procedure adoption is in an early stage or system placements are constrained by 
regulation, system sales will precede procedure growth. System placements also vary due to seasonality largely aligned with 
hospital  budgeting  cycles.  On  an  annual  basis,  we  typically  place  a  higher  proportion  of  systems  in  the  fourth  quarter  and  a 
lower proportion in the first quarter as customer budgets are reset. Systems revenue is also affected by the proportion of system 
placements  under  operating  lease  arrangements,  recurring  fixed-payment  and  usage-based  operating  lease  revenue,  Lease 
Buyouts, product mix, ASPs, trade-in activities, customer mix, and specified-price trade-in rights. We generally do not provide 
specified-price  trade-in  rights  or  upgrade  rights  at  the  time  of  a  system  purchase.  However,  we  expect  that  the  number  of 
arrangements that may contain these specified-price trade-in rights will increase when we launch our fifth-generation multi-port 
platform, da Vinci 5. Systems revenue remained flat at $1.68 billion in 2023. Systems revenue declined 1% to $1.68 billion in 
2022. Systems revenue grew 44% to $1.69 billion in 2021.

Procedure Mix / Products

Our da Vinci surgical systems are generally used for soft tissue surgery for areas of the body between the pelvis and the 
neck,  primarily  in  general,  gynecologic,  urologic,  cardiothoracic,  and  head  and  neck  surgeries.  Within  these  categories, 
procedures  range  in  complexity  from  cancer  and  other  highly  complex  procedures  to  less  complex  procedures  for  benign 
conditions. Cancer and other highly complex procedures tend to be reimbursed at higher rates than less complex procedures for 
benign conditions. Thus, hospitals are more sensitive to the costs associated with treating less complex, benign conditions. Our 
strategy is to provide hospitals with attractive clinical and economical solutions across the spectrum of procedure complexity. 
Our  fully  featured  da  Vinci  Xi  surgical  system  with  advanced  instruments  (including  da  Vinci  Energy  and  EndoWrist  and 
SureForm  Stapler  products)  and  our  Integrated  Table  Motion  product  targets  the  more  complex  procedure  segment.  Our  da 
Vinci  X  surgical  system  is  targeted  toward  price-sensitive  markets  and  procedures.  Our  da  Vinci  SP  surgical  system 
complements the da Vinci Xi and X surgical systems by enabling surgeons to access narrow workspaces.

Procedure Seasonality

More  than  half  of  the  da  Vinci  procedures  performed  are  for  benign  conditions,  most  notably  hernia  repairs, 
hysterectomies,  and  cholecystectomies.  These  benign  procedures  and  other  short-term  elective  procedures  tend  to  be  more 
seasonal than cancer operations and surgeries for other life-threatening conditions. Seasonality in the U.S. for procedures for 
benign conditions typically results in higher fourth quarter procedure volume when more patients have met annual deductibles 
and  lower  first  quarter  procedure  volume  when  deductibles  are  reset.  Seasonality  outside  of  the  U.S.  varies  and  is  more 
pronounced around local holidays and vacation periods, which have lower procedure volume. As a result of the factors outlined 
in  the  COVID-19  Pandemic  section  above,  including  past  and  potentially  future  recommendations  of  authorities  to  defer 
elective procedures, historical procedure patterns may be disrupted.

Distribution Channels

We provide our products through direct sales organizations in the U.S., Europe (excluding Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, 
and  Eastern  European  countries),  China  (through  our  Intuitive-Fosun  Pharma  Joint  Venture),  Japan,  South  Korea,  India, 
Taiwan, and Canada. In the remainder of our OUS markets, we provide our products through distributors.

Regulatory Activities

Overview

Our products must meet the requirements of a large and growing body of international standards that govern the product 
safety,  efficacy,  advertising,  labeling,  safety  reporting  design,  manufacture,  materials  content  and  sourcing,  testing, 
certification,  packaging,  installation,  use,  and  disposal  of  our  products.  Examples  of  such  standards  include  electrical  safety 
standards, such as those of the International Electrotechnical Commission, and composition standards, such as the Reduction of 
Hazardous Substances and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directives in the EU. Failure to meet these standards 
could limit our ability to market our products in those regions that require compliance with such standards.

Our  products  and  operations  are  also  subject  to  increasingly  stringent  medical  device,  privacy,  and  other  regulations  by 
regional, federal, state, and local authorities. After a device is placed on the market, numerous FDA and comparable foreign 
regulatory  requirements  continue  to  apply.  These  requirements  include  establishment  registration  and  device  listing  with  the 

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FDA  or  other  foreign  regulatory  authorities  and  compliance  with  medical  device  reporting  regulations,  which  require  that 
manufacturers  report  to  the  FDA  or  other  foreign  regulatory  authorities  if  their  device  caused  or  contributed,  or  may  have 
caused or contributed, to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or 
serious injury if it were to recur.

We  anticipate  that  timelines  for  the  introduction  of  new  products  and/or  indications  may  be  extended  relative  to  past 
experience as a result of these regulations. For example, we have seen elongated regulatory approval timelines in the U.S. and 
Europe.

Clearances, Approvals, and Certifications

We  have  generally  obtained  the  regulatory  clearances,  approvals,  and  certifications  required  to  market  our  products 
associated with our da Vinci multi-port surgical systems (S, Si, Xi, and X systems) for our targeted surgical specialties within 
the  U.S.,  South  Korea,  Japan,  and  the  European  markets  in  which  we  operate.  Since  2021,  we  have  obtained  regulatory 
clearances, approvals, and certifications for the following products:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

In  January  2024,  we  obtained  the  European  certification  in  accordance  with  2017/745  EU  MDR  (Medical  Devices 
Regulation)  for  our  da  Vinci  SP  surgical  system  for  use  in  endoscopic  abdominopelvic,  thoracoscopic,  transoral 
otolaryngology,  transanal  colorectal,  and  breast  surgical  procedures.  We  plan  to  commercialize  the  da  Vinci  SP 
surgical  system  in  select  major  European  countries  throughout  2024  as  part  of  a  measured  rollout  strategy.  In 
September  2022,  we  obtained  regulatory  clearance  for  our  da  Vinci  SP  surgical  system  in  Japan  for  use  in  general 
surgeries,  thoracic  surgeries  (excluding  cardiac  procedures  and  intercostal  approaches),  urologic  surgeries, 
gynecologic surgeries, and transoral head and neck surgeries.
In September 2023, we received regulatory clearance in South Korea for our Ion endoluminal system. We expect the 
introduction of the Ion system in South Korea to follow the refinement of our training pathways in the region and the 
gathering of local clinical and economic data. In March 2023, we obtained the European certification in accordance 
with 2017/745 EU MDR (Medical Devices Regulation) for our Ion endoluminal system. In Europe, we plan to initially 
focus  on  the  United  Kingdom  (“UK”)  market  and  on  the  collection  of  clinical  data  in  support  of  our  European 
reimbursement strategy. Our Ion system previously received FDA clearance in the U.S. in 2019.

Following approval in June 2023 by China’s National Medical Products Administration (“NMPA”) for a local version 
of  our  da  Vinci  Xi  surgical  system,  in  August  2023,  our  Intuitive-Fosun  Pharma  Joint  Venture  received  a 
manufacturing  license  that  permits  the  Joint  Venture  to  manufacture  our  da  Vinci  Xi  surgical  system  for  sale  to 
customers in China.

In July 2023, we received regulatory clearance for our E-200 generator in Japan and South Korea. In November 2022, 
we obtained FDA clearance for our E-200 generator. The E-200 generator can be used in da Vinci robotic procedures, 
as  well  as  non-robotic  open  and  laparoscopic  procedures,  to  deliver  high-frequency  energy  for  cutting,  coagulation, 
and  vessel  sealing  of  tissues.  The  E-200  generator  includes  the  same  advanced  energy  capability  as  the  E-100 
generator and supports the same vessel sealing instruments.

In  April  2023,  we  obtained  FDA  clearance  for  the  use  of  our  da  Vinci  SP  surgical  system  in  simple  prostatectomy 
procedures. We also obtained FDA clearance for the use of our da Vinci SP surgical system in transvesical approaches 
to simple and radical prostatectomy.

In  October  2022,  we  received  regulatory  clearance  in  Japan  to  market  our  8  mm  SureForm  30  Curved-Tip  and 
Straight-Tip Stapler instruments and reloads for use in general, thoracic (except for cardiac), gynecologic, and urologic 
surgery. In December 2021, we obtained FDA clearance for our 8 mm SureForm 30 Curved-Tip Stapler and reloads 
for use in general, thoracic, gynecologic, urologic, and pediatric surgery. We completed initial evaluations of the 8 mm 
SureForm 30 stapler with certain customers in the U.S. in 2022. After the initial feedback, we are completing design 
changes and are targeting another submission in 2024.
In  March  2022,  we  received  regulatory  clearance  in  China  to  market  our  da  Vinci  Endoscope  Plus.  We  have  also 
received regulatory clearances in South Korea and Japan to market our da Vinci Endoscope Plus in December 2019 
and May 2020, respectively. In June 2019, we obtained European certification for our da Vinci Endoscope Plus for the 
da Vinci Xi and da Vinci X surgical systems. Following the European certification, in July 2019, we obtained FDA 
clearance for our da Vinci Endoscope Plus.

In  February  2022,  we  received  regulatory  clearance  in  China  to  market  both  our  12  mm  SureForm  45  Stapler  and 
SureForm 60 Stapler and corresponding reloads.
In January 2022, we received regulatory clearance in China to market our da Vinci Vessel Sealer Extend with up to 7 
mm vascular indications.

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•

•

In June 2021 and July 2021, we received regulatory clearance in South Korea to market our SureForm 45 Curved-Tip 
Stapler and SureForm 45 Gray reload, respectively. In September 2019, we received regulatory clearance in Japan to 
market  both  our  SureForm  45  Curved-Tip  Stapler  and  SureForm  45  Gray  reload.  In  February  2019,  we  obtained 
European certification for our SureForm 45 Curved-Tip Stapler and SureForm 45 Gray reload and, in July 2019, we 
obtained FDA clearance for our SureForm 45 Curved-Tip Stapler and SureForm 45 Gray reload, which round out our 
SureForm 45 portfolio.

In  late  2020  and  early  2021,  we  obtained  FDA  clearance,  European  certification,  and  other  regulatory  clearances  in 
most of our significant markets to market our Extended Use Instruments.

Refer to the descriptions of our new products that received regulatory clearances, approvals, or certifications in 2023, 2022, 

and 2021 in the Recent Product Introductions section below.

In June 2023, the China National Health Commission published the 14th five-year plan quota for major medical equipment 
to be sold in China on its official website. Under the 2023 Quota, the government will allow for the sale of 559 new surgical 
robots  into  China,  which  could  include  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  as  well  as  surgical  systems  introduced  by  others.  As  of 
December 31, 2023, including systems that were sold in prior quarters, we have placed 76 da Vinci surgical systems under the 
2023 Quota. Future sales of da Vinci surgical systems under this and any previously published open quotas are uncertain, as 
they are open to other medical device companies that have introduced robotic-assisted surgical systems and are dependent on 
hospitals completing a tender process and receiving associated approvals. Also, our ability to track the number of systems that 
could  be  sold  under  these  quotas  in  the  future  will  be  limited  by  provincial  and  national  agencies  making  such  information 
publicly available.

Since  2022,  several  provinces,  including  the  Hunan  Provincial  Healthcare  Security  Administration,  have  implemented 
significant  limits  on  what  hospitals  can  charge  patients  for  surgeries  using  robotic  surgical  technology,  including  soft  tissue 
surgery and orthopedics. These limits have significantly impacted the number of procedures performed and have impacted our 
instruments and accessories revenue in those provinces. As of the date of this report, these limits have not had a material impact 
on our business, financial condition, or results of operations, as only a small portion of our installed base in China is currently 
located  in  the  impacted  provinces.  Companies  providing  robotic  surgical  technology,  including  our  Joint  Venture  in  China, 
have been meeting with Chinese government healthcare agencies to discuss these developments and to provide feedback. We 
cannot assure you that additional provincial or national healthcare agencies and administrations will not impose similar limits, 
and  we  expect  to  continue  to  face  increased  pricing  pressure,  both  of  which  could  further  impact  the  number  of  procedures 
performed and our instruments and accessories revenue in China.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare considers reimbursement for procedures in April of even-numbered 
years. The process for obtaining reimbursement requires Japanese university hospitals and surgical societies, with our support, 
to seek reimbursement. There are multiple pathways to obtain reimbursement for procedures, including those that require in-
country clinical and economic data. In April 2012 and April 2016, the MHLW granted reimbursement status for prostatectomy 
and partial nephrectomy, respectively. Most prostatectomies and partial nephrectomies were open procedures prior to da Vinci 
reimbursement. Da Vinci procedure reimbursement for prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy procedures are higher than open 
and conventional laparoscopic procedure reimbursements. An additional 12 da Vinci procedures were granted reimbursement in 
April,  2018,  including  gastrectomy,  low  anterior  resection,  lobectomy,  and  hysterectomy,  for  both  malignant  and  benign 
conditions,  and  an  additional  seven  da  Vinci  procedures  were  granted  reimbursement  in  April,  2020.  An  additional  eight  da 
Vinci  procedures  were  granted  reimbursement  in  April,  2022,  including  colon  resection.  In  addition,  we  received  higher 
reimbursement  for  da  Vinci  gastrectomy  procedures,  as  compared  to  open  and  conventional  laparoscopic  procedure 
reimbursements. The additional reimbursed procedures have varying levels of conventional laparoscopic penetration and will 
generally  be  reimbursed  at  rates  equal  to  the  conventional  laparoscopic  procedures.  Given  the  reimbursement  level  and 
laparoscopic penetration for these additional procedures, there can be no assurance that the adoption pace for these procedures 
will be similar to prostatectomy or partial nephrectomy, given their higher reimbursement, or any other da Vinci procedure.

Recalls and Corrections

Medical device companies have regulatory obligations to correct or remove medical devices in the field that could pose a 
risk to health. The definition of “recalls and corrections” is expansive and includes repair, replacement, inspections, relabeling, 
and issuance of new or additional instructions for use or reinforcement of existing instructions for use and training when such 
actions are taken for specific reasons of safety or compliance. These field actions require stringent documentation, reporting, 
and monitoring worldwide. There are other actions that a medical device manufacturer may take in the field without reporting 
including, but not limited to, routine servicing and stock rotations.

As we determine whether a field action is reportable in any regulatory jurisdiction, we prepare and submit notifications to 
the  appropriate  regulatory  agency  for  the  particular  jurisdiction.  Regulators  can  require  the  expansion,  reclassification,  or 
change in scope and language of the field action. In general, upon submitting required notifications to regulators regarding a 
field  action  that  is  a  recall  or  correction,  we  will  notify  customers  regarding  the  field  action,  provide  any  additional 

70

documentation required in their national language, and arrange, as required, the return or replacement of the affected product or 
a field service visit to perform the correction.

Field actions, as well as certain outcomes from regulatory activities, can result in adverse effects on our business, including 
damage to our reputation, delays by customers of purchase decisions, reduction or stoppage of the use of installed systems, and 
reduced revenue as well as increased expenses.

Procedures

We model patient value as equal to procedure efficacy / invasiveness. In this equation, procedure efficacy is defined as a 
measure of the success of the procedure in resolving the underlying disease, and invasiveness is defined as a measure of patient 
pain and disruption of regular activities. When the patient value of a robotic-assisted procedure is greater than that of alternative 
treatment  options,  patients  may  benefit  from  seeking  out  surgeons  or  physicians  and  hospitals  that  offer  robotic-assisted 
medical procedures, which could potentially result in a local market share shift. Adoption of robotic-assisted procedures occurs 
by procedure and by market and is driven by the relative patient value and total treatment costs of robotic-assisted procedures as 
compared to alternative treatment options for the same disease state or condition.

We  use  the  number  and  type  of  procedures  as  metrics  for  financial  and  operational  decision-making  and  as  a  means  to 
evaluate  period-to-period  comparisons.  Management  believes  that  the  number  and  type  of  procedures  provide  meaningful 
supplemental information regarding our performance, as management believes procedure volume is an indicator of the rate of 
adoption of our robotic-assisted medical procedures as well as an indicator of future revenue (including revenue from usage-
based operating lease arrangements). Management believes that both it and investors benefit from referring to the number and 
type of procedures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. The number and 
type of procedures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons of our historical performance. We believe that the number 
and type of procedures are useful to investors as metrics, because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key 
metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-making, and (2) they are used by institutional investors 
and the analyst community to help them analyze the performance of our business. The vast majority of our installed systems are 
connected  via  the  internet.  System  logs  can  also  be  accessed  by  field  engineers  for  systems  that  are  not  connected  to  the 
internet. We utilize certain methods that rely on information collected from the installed systems for determining the number 
and  type  of  procedures  performed  that  involve  estimates  and  judgments,  which  are,  by  their  nature,  subject  to  substantial 
uncertainties and assumptions. Estimates and judgments for determining the number and type of procedures may be impacted 
over time by various factors, including changes in treatment modalities, hospital and distributor reporting behavior, and system 
internet connectivity. Such estimates and judgments are also susceptible to algorithmic or other technical errors. In addition, the 
relationship between the number and type of procedures and our revenues may fluctuate from period to period, and procedure 
volume  growth  may  not  correspond  to  an  increase  in  revenue.  The  number  and  type  of  procedures  are  not  intended  to  be 
considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, revenue or other financial information prepared and presented in 
accordance with GAAP.

Our systems and instruments are regulated independently in various countries and regions of the world. The discussion of 
indications for use and representative or target procedures is intended solely to provide an understanding of the market for our 
products  and  is  not  intended  to  promote  for  sale  or  use  any  Intuitive  product  outside  of  its  licensed  or  cleared  labeling  and 
indications for use.

Da Vinci Procedures

The adoption of robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci surgical system has the potential to grow for those procedures 
that offer greater patient value than to non-da Vinci alternatives and competitive total economics for healthcare providers. Our 
da Vinci surgical systems are used primarily in general, urologic, gynecologic, cardiothoracic, and head and neck surgeries. We 
focus our organization and investments on developing, marketing, and training products and services for procedures in which 
da Vinci can bring patient value relative to alternative treatment options and/or economic benefit to healthcare providers. Target 
procedures  in  general  surgery  include  hernia  repair  (both  ventral  and  inguinal),  colorectal,  cholecystectomy,  and  bariatric 
procedures.  Target  procedures  in  urology  include  prostatectomy  and  partial  nephrectomy.  Target  procedures  in  gynecology 
include hysterectomy for both cancer and benign conditions and sacrocolpopexy. In cardiothoracic surgery, target procedures 
include lung resection. In head and neck surgery, target procedures include transoral surgery. Not all indications, procedures, or 
products described may be available in a given country or region or on all generations of da Vinci surgical systems. Surgeons 
and their patients need to consult the product labeling in their specific country and for each product in order to determine the 
cleared uses, as well as important limitations, restrictions, or contraindications.

In  2023,  approximately  2,286,000  surgical  procedures  were  performed  with  da  Vinci  surgical  systems,  compared  to 
approximately  1,875,000  and  1,594,000  surgical  procedures  performed  with  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  in  2022  and  2021, 
respectively. The increase in our overall procedure volume in 2023 was largely attributable to growth in U.S. general surgery, 
OUS  urologic  surgery,  OUS  general  surgery  (particularly  cancer),  and  U.S.  gynecologic  surgery  procedures.  The  overall 

71

procedure volumes in the comparative 2022 and 2021 years reflect the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted 
in the COVID-19 Pandemic section above.

U.S. da Vinci Procedures

Overall  U.S.  procedure  volume  with  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  grew  to  approximately  1,532,000  in  2023,  compared  to 
approximately 1,282,000 in 2022 and approximately 1,109,000 in 2021. General surgery was our largest and fastest growing 
U.S. specialty in 2023 with procedure volume that grew to approximately 896,000 in 2023, compared to approximately 720,000 
in 2022 and approximately 588,000 in 2021. Gynecology was our second largest U.S. surgical specialty in 2023 with procedure 
volume that grew to approximately 390,000 in 2023, compared to approximately 341,000 in 2022 and approximately 316,000 
in  2021.  Urology  was  our  third  largest  U.S.  surgical  specialty  in  2023  with  procedure  volume  that  grew  to  approximately 
173,000 in 2023, compared to approximately 162,000 in 2022 and approximately 153,000 in 2021.

OUS da Vinci Procedures

Overall  OUS  procedure  volume  with  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  grew  to  approximately  754,000  in  2023,  compared  to 
approximately  593,000  in  2022  and  approximately  485,000  in  2021.  Urology  was  our  largest  OUS  specialty  in  2023  with 
procedure volume that grew to approximately 381,000 in 2023, compared to approximately 316,000 in 2022 and approximately 
264,000 in 2021. General surgery was our second largest and fastest growing OUS specialty in 2023 with procedure volume 
that grew to approximately 188,000 in 2023, compared to approximately 133,000 in 2022 and approximately 101,000 in 2021. 
Gynecology was our third largest OUS specialty in 2023 with procedure volume that grew to approximately 110,000 in 2023, 
compared to approximately 86,000 in 2022 and approximately 70,000 in 2021.

Ion Procedures

The adoption of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy using the Ion endoluminal system has the potential to grow if it can offer 

greater patient value than non-Ion alternatives and competitive total economics for healthcare providers.

In 2023, approximately 54,000 biopsy procedures were performed with Ion systems, compared to approximately 23,500 in 
2022 and approximately 7,400 in 2021. The increase in our overall procedure volume in 2023 reflects a larger installed base of 
approximately  534  systems,  an  increase  of  66%  compared  to  the  installed  base  of  approximately  321  systems  as  of  2022. 
Currently, the vast majority of Ion biopsy procedures are performed in the U.S.

Recent Business Events and Trends

Procedures

Overall.  Total da Vinci procedures performed by our customers grew approximately 22% for the year ended December 31, 
2023, compared to approximately 18% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The growth in the comparative 2022 procedure 
results  partially  reflected  disruption  caused  by  the  COVID-19  pandemic  in  both  the  2022  and  comparative  2021  procedure 
results, as noted in the COVID-19 Pandemic section above. The 2023 procedure growth was largely attributable to growth in 
U.S.  general  surgery,  OUS  urologic  surgery,  OUS  general  surgery  (particularly  cancer),  and  U.S.  gynecologic  surgery 
procedures.  Delays  in  both  the  diagnosis  and  treatments  of  diseases  reflecting  disruptions  caused  by  COVID-19  have 
previously, and may continue to, adversely impact procedure volumes in periods with disruption. Such delays may also create 
treatment backlogs that could have a beneficial impact on future period procedure volumes.

U.S. Procedures.  U.S. da Vinci procedures grew approximately 19% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 
approximately  16%  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022.  The  2022  procedure  results  (and  comparative  2021  procedures 
results) reflected disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted in the COVID-19 Pandemic section above. The 2023 
U.S. procedure growth was largely attributable to growth in general surgery procedures, most notably cholecystectomy, hernia 
repair, and colorectal procedures. Growth in bariatric procedures decelerated in 2023. Growth in the more mature gynecologic 
procedure category accelerated in 2023, while growth in the more mature urologic procedure category was more moderate.

U.S.  General  Surgery.    General  surgery  procedures  in  the  U.S.  grew  to  approximately  896,000  in  2023,  compared  to 
approximately 720,000 in 2022 and approximately 588,000 in 2021. Cholecystectomy, inguinal and ventral hernia repair, and 
colorectal  procedures  contributed  the  most  incremental  procedures  in  2023,  while  inguinal  and  ventral  hernia  repair, 
cholecystectomy, and bariatric procedures contributed the most incremental procedures in 2022 and 2021.

Given the already very high level of laparoscopic techniques used in cholecystectomy, it is unclear to what extent robotic-

assisted surgery using da Vinci may continue to be adopted.

We  believe  that  growth  in  hernia  repair  using  da  Vinci  reflects  improved  clinical  outcomes  within  certain  patient 
populations, as well as potential cost benefits relative to certain alternative treatments. We believe that hernia repair procedures 
represent  a  significant  opportunity  with  the  potential  to  drive  growth  in  future  periods.  However,  given  the  differences  in 
surgical complexity associated with the treatment of various hernia patient populations and varying surgeon opinions regarding 

72

optimal surgical technique, it is difficult to estimate the timing of and to what extent hernia repair procedure volume will grow 
in the future. We expect a large portion of hernia repairs will continue to be performed via different modalities of surgery.

The  adoption  of  da  Vinci  for  colorectal  procedures,  which  includes  several  underlying  procedures,  such  as  low  anterior 
resections for rectal cancers and certain colon procedures for benign and cancerous conditions, has been ongoing for several 
years and is supported by certain technologies, such as the EndoWrist and SureForm Staplers, energy devices, and Integrated 
Table Motion.

Bariatric procedures have been an increased area of focus and may have benefited from certain patients prioritizing weight 
loss, as obesity is a significant COVID-19 risk factor. In addition, our SureForm 60mm Stapler provides surgeons with a more 
optimized robotic tool set for bariatric procedures using da Vinci. While bariatric procedures have grown significantly over the 
last three years, the pace of this growth has slowed during 2023. It is unclear whether the slowing growth is a temporary pause 
as patients evaluate new drug therapies or if growth in U.S. bariatric procedures will continue to slow in future periods. The 
diagnosis and treatment pathways for bariatric patients are long, and we cannot provide any assurance that we will continue to 
see significant growth in bariatric procedures in future periods.

U.S. Gynecology.  Gynecology procedures in the U.S. grew to approximately 390,000 in 2023, compared to approximately 
341,000  in  2022  and  approximately  316,000  in  2021.  Benign  hysterectomy  procedures  contributed  the  most  incremental 
procedures in 2023, 2022, and 2021. The growth in benign hysterectomy procedures has been driven largely by new surgeon 
training.

OUS Procedures.  OUS da Vinci procedures grew approximately 27% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 
approximately  22%  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022.  The  2022  procedure  results  (and  comparative  2021  procedures 
results) reflected disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted in the COVID-19 Pandemic section above. The 2023 
OUS  procedure  growth  was  driven  by  continued  growth  in  urologic  procedures,  including  prostatectomies  and  partial 
nephrectomies, and earlier stage growth in general surgery (particularly colorectal) and gynecologic procedures. The 2023 OUS 
procedure growth rate reflects continued da Vinci adoption in European and Asian markets. We saw strong procedure growth in 
China, Japan, Germany, and the UK during 2023. In China, the strong procedure growth rate was partially attributable to the 
disruption caused by COVID-19 in the comparative 2022 procedure results. We believe that growth in these global markets is 
being driven by increased acceptance among surgeons and health systems, supported by expanded global evidence validating 
the clinical and economic value of da Vinci procedures as well as increased surgeon training.

OUS  Urology.    OUS  urology  procedures  have  been  a  strong  contributor  to  our  overall  procedure  growth.  OUS  urology 
procedures grew to approximately 381,000 in 2023, compared to approximately 316,000 in 2022 and approximately 264,000 in 
2021. In the U.S., da Vinci is the standard of care for the surgical treatment of prostate cancer, and we believe that the growth is 
largely aligned with surgical volumes of prostate cancer. Outside of the U.S., prostatectomy is at varying states of adoption in 
different  areas  of  the  world  but  is  the  largest  overall  da  Vinci  procedure.  In  2023,  we  saw  more  moderate  growth  in  OUS 
prostatectomy procedures compared to higher growth in 2022, as we are further up the adoption curve.

Kidney  cancer  procedures  have  also  been  a  strong  contributor  to  our  recent  global  urology  procedure  growth.  Clinical 
publications have demonstrated that the use of a da Vinci system increases the likelihood that a patient will receive nephron 
sparing surgery through a partial nephrectomy, which is typically the surgical society guideline recommended therapy.

OUS  General  Surgery.    OUS  general  surgery  procedures  grew  to  approximately  188,000  in  2023,  compared  to 
approximately  133,000  in  2022  and  approximately  101,000  in  2021.  Colorectal  procedures  contributed  the  most  incremental 
procedures in 2023, 2022, and 2021, aided by improved clinical outcomes relative to open and laparoscopic techniques within 
certain patient populations, along with enabling technologies, such as EndoWrist and SureForm staplers, energy devices, and 
Integrated Table Motion.

System Demand

We  placed  1,370  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  in  2023,  compared  to  1,264  systems  in  2022.  The  increase  in  system 
placements  reflects  an  increase  in  demand  for  additional  capacity  by  our  customers  as  a  result  of  procedure  growth.  This 
increase was partially offset by the impacts of a smaller number of third generation da Vinci systems available for trade-in and 
the macroeconomic challenges impacting our customers. We continue to see our customers challenged by staffing shortages, 
inflation,  debt  servicing  costs,  and  other  financial  pressures,  particularly  in  the  U.S.  As  a  result,  we  expect  our  customers  to 
continue to be cautious in their overall capital spending. In addition, in July 2023, the Chinese government launched a one-year 
anti-corruption campaign targeting the healthcare sector. As a result of this anti-corruption campaign, the medical institutions 
have heightened their scrutiny with respect to initiating tenders. Therefore, some tenders were cancelled or delayed without a 
timeline. In 2023, the effect of this anti-corruption campaign contributed to fewer systems being placed in China. Currently, the 
extent of the impact of this anti-corruption campaign on our business remains uncertain.

73

We expect that future placements of da Vinci surgical systems will be impacted by a number of factors: supply chain risks; 
economic  and  geopolitical  factors;  inflationary  pressures;  high  interest  rates;  hospital  staffing  shortages;  procedure  growth 
rates; evolving system utilization and point-of-care dynamics; capital replacement trends, including a declining number of older 
generation systems available for trade-in transactions; additional reimbursements in various global markets, such as in Japan; 
the timing around governmental tenders and authorizations, as well as governmental actions impacting the tender process, such 
as the anti-corruption campaign in China; the impact of COVID-19, as noted in the COVID-19 Pandemic section above; the 
hospital response to the evolving healthcare environment; the timing of when we receive regulatory clearance in our other OUS 
markets for our da Vinci Xi, X, and SP surgical systems and related instruments; and the market response. Market acceptance 
of our da Vinci SP surgical system and the nature and timing of additional da Vinci SP regulatory indications may also impact 
future system placements.

Demand  may  also  be  impacted  by  competition,  including  from  companies  that  have  introduced  products  in  the  field  of 
robotic-assisted  medical  procedures  or  have  made  explicit  statements  about  their  efforts  to  enter  the  field  including,  but  not 
limited to, the following companies: Asensus Surgical, Inc.; Beijing Surgerii Robotics Company Limited; CMR Surgical Ltd.; 
Johnson  &  Johnson;  Medicaroid  Corporation;  Medtronic  plc;  meerecompany  Inc.;  Noah  Medical;  Shandong  Weigao  Group 
Medical Polymer Company Ltd.; Shanghai Microport Medbot (Group) Co., Ltd.; and Shenzhen Edge Medical Co., Ltd.

Many of the above factors will also impact future demand for our Ion endoluminal system, as we extend our commercial 
offering into diagnostics, along with additional factors associated with a new product introduction, including, but not limited to, 
our  ability  to  optimize  manufacturing  and  our  supply  chain,  competition,  clinical  data  to  demonstrate  value,  and  market 
acceptance.

Recent Product Introductions

E-200  Generator.    In  November  2022,  we  obtained  FDA  clearance  for  the  E-200  generator.  In  July  2023,  we  received 
regulatory  clearance  for  our  E-200  generator  in  Japan  and  South  Korea.  The  E-200  generator  is  an  advanced  electrosurgical 
generator  designed  to  provide  high-frequency  energy  for  cutting,  coagulation,  and  vessel  sealing  of  tissues.  The  E-200 
generator  is  compatible  with  the  da  Vinci  Xi  and  X  surgical  systems  and  can  also  function  as  a  standalone  electrosurgical 
generator.  When  connected  to  a  da  Vinci  system,  the  E-200  delivers  high-frequency  energy  to  da  Vinci  instruments,  with 
control and status messages communicated through an Ethernet cable. The E-200 generator is also compatible with third-party 
handheld  monopolar  and  bipolar  instruments,  as  well  as  fingerswitch-equipped  instruments  and  Intuitive-provided  auxiliary 
footswitches. The E-200 generator includes the same advanced energy capability as the E-100 generator and supports the same 
vessel sealing instruments.

SureForm  30  Curved-Tip  Stapler  and  Reloads.    In  December  2021,  we  obtained  initial  FDA  clearance  for  our  8  mm 
SureForm  30  Curved-Tip  Stapler  and  reloads  (gray,  white,  and  blue)  for  use  in  general,  thoracic,  gynecologic,  urologic,  and 
pediatric surgery. We designed this instrument to help surgeons better visualize and reach anatomy through a combination of 
the 8 mm diameter instrument shaft and jaws, 120-degree cone of wristed articulation, and the curved tip. As it fits through the 
8  mm  da  Vinci  surgical  system  instrument  cannula,  the  stapler  allows  different  angles  for  surgeons  to  approach  patient 
anatomy.  Consistent  with  our  other  SureForm  staplers,  the  8  mm  SureForm  30  Curved-Tip  Stapler  integrates  SmartFire 
technology,  which  makes  automatic  adjustments  to  the  firing  process  as  staples  are  formed  and  the  transection  is  made.  The 
technology  makes  more  than  1,000  measurements  per  second,  helping  achieve  a  consistent  staple  line.  We  completed  initial 
evaluations  of  the  8  mm  SureForm  30  stapler  with  certain  customers  in  the  U.S.  in  2022.  After  the  initial  feedback,  we  are 
completing design changes and are targeting another submission in 2024. In October 2022, we received regulatory clearance in 
Japan  to  market  our  8  mm  SureForm  30  Curved-Tip  and  Straight-Tip  Stapler  instruments  and  reloads  for  use  in  general, 
thoracic (except for cardiac), gynecologic, and urologic surgery.

Intuitive Ventures

In  2020,  we  launched  Intuitive  Ventures  Fund  I,  an  inaugural  $100  million  fund  focused  on  investment  opportunities  in 
companies that share Intuitive’s commitment to advancing positive outcomes in healthcare. As of December 31, 2023, we have 
invested $50 million of the $100 million.

In  late  2023,  we  launched  Intuitive  Ventures  Fund  II,  a  $150  million  fund  focused  on  investment  opportunities  in 

companies reimagining the future of minimally invasive care.

74

2023 Operational and Financial Highlights

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Total revenue increased by 14% to $7.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $6.2 billion for the 
year ended December 31, 2022.

Approximately 2,286,000 da Vinci procedures were performed during the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase 
of 22% compared to approximately 1,875,000 da Vinci procedures for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Approximately 54,000 Ion procedures were performed during the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 129% 
compared to approximately 23,500 Ion procedures for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Instruments  and  accessories  revenue  increased  by  22%  to  $4.28  billion  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023, 
compared to $3.52 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Systems revenue remained flat at $1.68 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $1.68 billion for 
the year ended December 31, 2022.

1,370 da Vinci surgical systems were placed during the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 8% compared to 
1,264 systems during the year ended December 31, 2022.

As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  had  a  da  Vinci  surgical  system  installed  base  of  approximately  8,606  systems,  an 
increase of 14% compared to the installed base of approximately 7,544 systems as of December 31, 2022.

Utilization of da Vinci surgical systems, measured in terms of procedures per system per year, increased 9% relative to 
2022.

213 Ion systems were placed during the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 11% compared to 192 systems 
during the year ended December 31, 2022.

As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  had  an  Ion  system  installed  base  of  approximately  534  systems,  an  increase  of  66% 
compared to the installed base of approximately 321 systems as of December 31, 2022.

Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 66.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 67.4% for the 
year ended December 31, 2022.

Operating income increased by 12% to $1.77 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $1.58 billion 
for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022.  Operating  income  included  $598  million  and  $517  million  of  share-based 
compensation expense related to employee stock plans and $31.2 million and $45.4 million of intangible asset-related 
charges for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023, we had $7.34 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and investments. Cash, cash equivalents, and 
investments increased by $0.60 billion, compared to $6.74 billion as of December 31, 2022, primarily as a result of 
cash  provided  by  operating  activities,  proceeds  from  stock  option  exercises  and  employee  stock  purchases,  and 
unrealized  gains  on  interest-bearing  debt  securities  classified  as  available  for  sale,  partially  offset  by  cash  used  for 
capital expenditures and share repurchases.

75

Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. This 
section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses 2023 and 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 
2023 and 2022. Discussions of 2021 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021 that are not included in this 
report  on  Form  10-K  can  be  found  in  “Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of 
Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, certain Consolidated Statements of Income information (in millions, 

except percentages):

Years Ended December 31,

2023

% of total 
Revenue

2022

% of total 
Revenue

2021

% of total 
Revenue

Revenue:

Product

Service

Total revenue

Cost of revenue:

Product
Service

Total cost of revenue

Product gross profit

Service gross profit

Gross profit

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative

Research and development

Total operating expenses

Income from operations

Interest and other income, net

Income before taxes

Income tax expense

Net income

$  5,956.3 

 84 % $  5,198.0 

 84 % $  4,793.9 

1,167.8 

7,124.1 

2,041.8 

352.8 

2,394.6 

3,914.5 

815.0 

4,729.5 

1,963.9 

998.8 

2,962.7 

1,766.8 

192.1 

1,958.9 

141.6 

1,817.3 

 16 %  

1,024.2 

 16 %  

916.2 

 100 %  

6,222.2 

 100 %  

5,710.1 

 29 %  

1,700.3 

 28 %  

1,464.1 

 5 %  

325.9 

 5 %  

287.5 

 34 %  

2,026.2 

 33 %  

1,751.6 

 55 %  

3,497.7 

 56 %  

3,329.8 

 11 %  

698.3 

 11 %  

628.7 

 66 %  

4,196.0 

 67 %  

3,958.5 

 27 %  

1,739.9 

 28 %  

1,466.5 

 14 %  

879.0 

 14 %  

671.0 

 41 %  

2,618.9 

 42 %  

2,137.5 

 25 %  

1,577.1 

 25 %  

1,821.0 

 3 %  

29.7 

 1 %  

69.3 

 28 %  

1,606.8 

 26 %  

1,890.3 

 2 %  

262.4 

 4 %  

162.2 

 26 %  

1,344.4 

 22 %  

1,728.1 

Less: net income attributable to 
noncontrolling interest in joint venture
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, 
Inc.

19.3 

 1 %  

22.1 

 1 %  

23.5 

$  1,798.0 

 25 % $  1,322.3 

 21 % $  1,704.6 

 84 %

 16 %

 100 %

 26 %

 5 %

 31 %

 58 %

 11 %

 69 %

 25 %

 12 %

 37 %

 32 %

 1 %

 33 %

 3 %

 30 %

 — %

 30 %

Total Revenue

Total revenue increased by 14% to $7.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $6.2 billion for the 
year ended December 31, 2022. Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased by 9% compared to $5.7 billion 
for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, resulted from 22% 
higher instruments and accessories revenue and 14% higher service revenue.

Revenue denominated in foreign currencies as a percentage of total revenue was approximately 25%, 24%, and 23% for the 
years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. We generally sell our products and services in local currencies 
where  we  have  direct  distribution  channels.  Foreign  currency  rate  fluctuations,  as  determined  by  comparing  current  period 
revenue in USD to current period revenue in local currency using the same foreign exchange rates as the prior year same period, 
net of the impacts from foreign currency hedging, had an unfavorable impact on OUS total revenue of $29 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022. Foreign currency rate fluctuations, net of the impacts from foreign currency 
hedging, had an unfavorable impact on OUS total revenue of $138 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared 
to 2021.

76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue generated in the U.S. accounted for 66%, 67%, and 67% of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023, 
2022, and 2021, respectively. We believe that U.S. revenue has accounted for the large majority of total revenue due to U.S. 
patients’ ability to choose their provider and method of treatment, reimbursement structures supportive of innovation and MIS, 
and our initial investments focused on U.S. infrastructure. We have been investing in our business in OUS markets, and our 
OUS  procedures  have  grown  faster  in  proportion  to  U.S.  procedures.  We  expect  that  our  OUS  procedures  and  revenue  will 
make up a greater portion of our business in the long term.

The following table summarizes our revenue and system unit placements for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 

and 2021, respectively (in millions, except percentages and unit placements):

Revenue

Instruments and accessories

Systems

Total product revenue

Services

Total revenue

U.S.
OUS

Total revenue

% of Revenue — U.S.

% of Revenue — OUS

Instruments and accessories

Services

Operating lease revenue

Total recurring revenue

% of Total revenue 

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

4,276.6  $ 

3,517.9  $ 

3,100.5 

1,679.7 

5,956.3 

1,167.8 

1,680.1 

5,198.0 

1,024.2 

1,693.4 

4,793.9 

916.2 

$ 

$ 

$ 

7,124.1  $ 

6,222.2  $ 

5,710.1 

4,688.6  $ 

4,157.6  $ 

3,853.2 

2,435.5 

2,064.6 

1,856.9 

7,124.1  $ 

6,222.2  $ 

5,710.1 

66%

34%

67%

33%

67%

33%

$ 

4,276.6  $ 

3,517.9  $ 

3,100.5 

1,167.8 

500.5 

1,024.2 

376.5 

916.2 

276.9 

$ 

5,944.9  $ 

4,918.6  $ 

4,293.6 

83%

79%

75%

Da Vinci Surgical System Placements by Region

U.S. unit placements

OUS unit placements

Total unit placements*

*Systems placed under fixed-payment operating lease arrangements (included 
in total unit placements)
*Systems placed under usage-based operating lease arrangements (included in 
total unit placements)

Da Vinci Surgical System Placements involving System Trade-ins

Unit placements involving trade-ins

Unit placements not involving trade-ins

Ion System Placements**

**Systems placed under fixed-payment operating lease arrangements 
(included in total unit placements)
**Systems placed under usage-based operating lease arrangements (included 
in total unit placements)

666 

704 

1,370 

304 

355 

240 

1,130 

213 

63 

54 

692 

572 

1,264 

865 

482 

1,347 

276 

216 

345 

919 

192 

61 

40 

333 

184 

510 

837 

93 

43 

7 

77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Product Revenue

Product revenue increased by 15% to $5.96 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $5.20 billion for 
the  year  ended  December  31,  2022.  Product  revenue  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022,  increased  by  8%  compared  to 
$4.79 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Instruments and accessories revenue increased by 22% to $4.28 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 
$3.52 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in instruments and accessories revenue for the year ended 
December  31,  2023,  was  primarily  driven  by  approximately  22%  higher  da  Vinci  procedure  volume  and  higher  pricing, 
partially  offset  by  customer  buying  patterns.  The  2023  U.S.  da  Vinci  procedure  growth  was  approximately  19%,  driven  by 
strong growth in general surgery procedures, most notably cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and colorectal procedures. Growth in 
bariatric procedures decelerated in 2023. Growth in the more mature gynecologic procedure category accelerated in 2023, while 
growth in the more mature urologic procedure category was more moderate. The 2023 OUS da Vinci procedure growth was 
approximately 27%, driven by continued growth in urologic procedures, including prostatectomies and partial nephrectomies, 
and earlier stage growth in general surgery (particularly colorectal) and gynecologic procedures. Geographically, the 2023 OUS 
da Vinci procedure growth was driven by procedure expansion in a number of markets with particular strength in China, Japan, 
Germany,  and  the  UK.  In  China,  the  strong  procedure  growth  rate  was  partially  attributable  to  the  disruption  caused  by 
COVID-19 in the comparative 2022 procedure results.

Systems revenue remained flat at $1.68 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $1.68 billion for the 
year ended December 31, 2022. The flat system revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by higher 
operating  lease  revenue,  offset  by  lower  sales-type  lease  revenue,  lower  ASPs,  and  a  higher  proportion  of  da  Vinci  system 
placements under operating leases (partially offset by more systems placements).

During  2023,  1,370  da  Vinci  surgical  systems  were  placed  compared  to  1,264  systems  during  2022.  By  geography,  666 
systems were placed in the U.S., 308 in Europe, 305 in Asia, and 91 in other markets during 2023, compared to 692 systems 
placed in the U.S., 280 in Europe, 244 in Asia, and 48 in other markets during 2022. The increase in system placements was 
primarily  driven  by  the  demand  for  additional  capacity  by  our  customers  due  to  the  procedure  growth,  partially  offset  by  a 
smaller number of third generation da Vinci systems available for trade-in, the macroeconomic challenges impacting our U.S. 
customers,  and  the  effect  of  the  anti-corruption  campaign  in  China.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  had  a  da  Vinci  surgical 
system  installed  base  of  approximately  8,606  systems,  compared  to  an  installed  base  of  approximately  7,544  systems  as  of 
December 31, 2022. The incremental system installed base reflects continued procedure growth and further customer validation 
that robotic-assisted surgery addresses their Quadruple Aim objectives.

The following table summarizes our da Vinci system placements under leasing arrangements for the years ended December 

31, 2023, and 2022:

Da Vinci System Placements Under Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

Total da Vinci system placements under operating lease arrangements
% of Total da Vinci system placements

Sales-type lease arrangements

Total da Vinci system placements under leasing arrangements

Da Vinci System Installed Base under Operating Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

Total da Vinci system installed base under operating leasing arrangements

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

304 

355 

659 

45 

704 

48%

276 

216 

492 

99 

591 

39%

1,204 

1,023 

2,227 

1,018 

665 

1,683 

Operating lease revenue, including the contribution from Ion systems, was $501 million for the year ended December 31, 
2023, of which $217 million was variable lease revenue relating to usage-based arrangements, compared to $377 million for the 
year  ended  December  31,  2022,  of  which  $133  million  was  variable  lease  revenue  relating  to  usage-based  arrangements. 
Revenue from Lease Buyouts was $74.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $72.1 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2022. We expect revenue from Lease Buyouts to fluctuate period to period depending on the timing of 
when, and if, customers choose to exercise buyout options embedded in their leases.

78

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  da  Vinci  surgical  system  ASP,  excluding  systems  placed  under  fixed-payment  or  usage-based  operating  lease 
arrangements  and  Ion  systems,  was  approximately  $1.42  million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  compared  to 
approximately $1.49 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The lower ASP for the year ended December 31, 2023, 
was  largely  driven  by  higher  pricing  discounts,  unfavorable  product  mix,  unfavorable  geographic  mix,  and  foreign  currency 
impacts, partially offset by fewer trade-ins. ASP fluctuates from period to period based on geographic and product mix, product 
pricing, systems placed involving trade-ins, and changes in foreign exchange rates.

During 2023, 213 Ion systems were placed compared to 192 systems during 2022. The increase in system placements was 
primarily  driven  by  the  demand  for  additional  capacity  by  our  customers  due  to  the  procedure  growth.  As  of  December  31, 
2023, we had an Ion system installed base of approximately 534 systems, compared to an installed base of approximately 321 
systems as of December 31, 2022.

The following table summarizes our Ion system placements under leasing arrangements for the years ended December 31, 

2023, and 2022:

Ion System Placements Under Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

Total Ion system placements under operating lease arrangements

% of Total Ion system placements

Sales-type lease arrangements

Total Ion system placements under leasing arrangements

Ion System Installed Base under Operating Leasing Arrangements

Fixed-payment operating lease arrangements

Usage-based operating lease arrangements

Total Ion system installed base under operating leasing arrangements

Service Revenue

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

55%

63 

54 

117 

5 

122 

96 

118 

214 

53%

61 

40 

101 

11 

112 

72 

60 

132 

Service revenue increased by 14% to $1.17 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $1.02 billion for the 
year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in service revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by 
a larger installed base of systems producing service revenue.

Gross Profit

Product  gross  profit  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  increased  by  12%  to  $3.91  billion,  representing  65.7%  of 
product revenue, compared to $3.50 billion, representing 67.3% of product revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The 
higher product gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by higher product revenue, partially 
offset by a lower product gross profit margin. The lower product gross profit margin for the year ended December 31, 2023, 
was  primarily  driven  by  a  higher  mix  of  new  products,  higher  costs  related  to  scrap  and  components,  increases  in  inventory 
reserves, and lower 2023 da Vinci system ASPs, partially offset by higher pricing for instruments and accessories.

Product  gross  profit  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  and  2022,  included  share-based  compensation  expense  of 
$83.4 million and $67.6 million, respectively, and intangible assets amortization expense of $13.5 million and $17.3 million, 
respectively

Service  gross  profit  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  increased  by  17%  to  $0.82  billion,  representing  69.8%  of 
service revenue, compared to $0.70 billion, representing 68.2% of service revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The 
higher service gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by higher service revenue, reflecting a 
larger  installed  base  of  da  Vinci  surgical  systems,  and  a  higher  service  gross  profit  margin.  The  higher  service  gross  profit 
margin for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by favorable impacts from leveraging volume of repairs.

Service  gross  profit  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  and  2022,  included  share-based  compensation  expense  of 
$28.2  million  and  $23.6  million,  respectively,  and  intangible  assets  amortization  expense  of  $0.9  million  and  $1.9  million, 
respectively.

79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  include  costs  for  sales,  marketing  and  administrative  personnel,  sales  and 

marketing activities, trade show expenses, legal expenses, regulatory fees, and general corporate expenses.

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  increased  by  13%  to  $1.96  billion, 
compared to $1.74 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses 
for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by higher headcount, resulting in increased fixed and share-based 
compensation expense, higher variable compensation, the charitable contribution discussed below, as well as higher travel and 
training expenses, partially offset by lower litigation charges. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we made a charitable contribution 
of $40 million to the Intuitive Foundation, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to reduce the global burden of disease 
and suffering through research, education, and philanthropy aimed at better outcomes for patients around the globe.

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  and  2022,  included  share-based 
compensation  expense  of  $275  million  and  $261  million,  respectively,  and  intangible  assets  amortization  expense  of  $3.3 
million and $5.9 million, respectively.

Research and Development Expenses

Research  and  development  costs  are  expensed  as  incurred.  Research  and  development  expenses  include  costs  associated 
with the design, development, testing, and significant enhancement of our products. Our main product development initiatives 
include multi-port, Ion, and SP platform investments and our digital products and services.

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased by 14% to $999 million, compared 
to $879 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in research and development expenses for the year ended 
December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by higher personnel-related expenses, including share-based compensation expense, 
and  other  project  costs  incurred  to  support  a  broader  set  of  product  development  initiatives,  including  future  generations  of 
robotics, Ion and SP platform investments, and digital investments.

Research  and  development  expenses  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  and  2022,  included  share-based 
compensation expense of $212 million and $164 million, respectively, and intangible asset-related charges of $13.5 million and 
$20.3 million, respectively.

Research  and  development  expenses  fluctuate  with  project  timing.  Based  upon  our  broader  set  of  product  development 
initiatives  and  the  stage  of  the  underlying  projects,  we  expect  to  continue  to  make  substantial  investments  in  research  and 
development and anticipate that research and development expenses will continue to increase in the future.

Interest and Other Income, Net

Interest and other income, net, for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased by 547% to $192 million, compared to $30 
million  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022.  Interest  and  other  income,  net  decreased  by  57%  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2022, compared to $69 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in interest and other income, 
net, for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily driven by higher interest income earned due to an increase in average 
interest rates (despite lower average cash and investment balances), lower foreign exchange losses, and lower unrealized losses 
on investments resulting from strategic arrangements.

We held an equity investment in preferred shares of Broncus Holding Corporation (“Broncus”), which was reflected in our 
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  on  a  cost  basis.  In  the  first  quarter  of  2021,  we  recorded  an  unrealized  gain  on  our 
investment in Broncus of approximately $14 million. In September 2021, Broncus completed an initial public offering (“IPO”) 
of common shares on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Upon completion of the IPO, the preferred shares were converted to 
common  shares  in  Broncus,  and  we  recognized  a  net  gain  on  this  investment  in  the  third  quarter  of  2021  of  approximately 
$8 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized a loss on this investment of approximately $21 million. For 
the year ended December 31, 2023, we sold our shares in this investment, recognizing an additional nominal loss.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was $142 million and $262 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. 

Our effective tax rate for 2023 was approximately 7.2% compared to 16.3% for 2022. 

Our effective tax rates for 2023 differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the increase in Swiss 
deferred tax assets, as discussed below, the tax benefits associated with employee equity plans, the effect of income earned by 
certain overseas entities being taxed at rates lower than the federal statutory rate, the federal research and development credit 
benefit, and the release of unrecognized tax benefits due to statute expiration in various jurisdictions, partially offset by the U.S. 
tax on foreign earnings and state income taxes (net of the federal benefit).

80

Our  effective  tax  rates  for  2022  differed  from  the  U.S.  federal  statutory  rate  of  21%  primarily  due  to  the  tax  benefits 
associated with employee equity plans, the effect of income earned by certain overseas entities being taxed at rates lower than 
the  federal  statutory  rate,  and  the  federal  research  and  development  credit  benefit,  partially  offset  by  the  U.S.  tax  on  foreign 
earnings and state income taxes (net of the federal benefit).

Our lower effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, was 

primarily due to the increase in Swiss deferred tax assets, as discussed below, and lower U.S. tax on foreign earnings.

Our  provision  for  income  taxes  for  2023  reflected  Swiss  tax  benefits  of  $92.3  million,  net  of  a  $67.3  million  valuation 
allowance, related to certain tax assets recorded by our Swiss entity. In addition, a one-time net benefit of $67.1 million was 
recorded from the re-measurement of our Swiss deferred tax assets resulting from the Swiss cantonal tax rate increase enacted 
in December 2023 for years after 2024 as well as a Swiss cantonal tax rate increase from the discontinuation of our 2017 Swiss 
tax ruling, which was deemed effective as of January 1, 2023.

Our provision for income taxes for 2023 and 2022 included excess tax benefits associated with employee equity plans of 
$108 million and $99 million, respectively, which reduced our effective tax rate by 5.5 and 6.1 percentage points, respectively. 
The  amount  of  excess  tax  benefits  or  deficiencies  will  fluctuate  from  period  to  period  based  on  the  price  of  our  stock,  the 
volume of share-based awards settled or vested, and the value assigned to employee equity awards under GAAP, which results 
in increased income tax expense volatility.

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act was enacted in the U.S. and introduced a 15% alternative minimum tax 
based on the financial statement income of certain large corporations (“CAMT”), effective January 1, 2023. There is no impact 
on our provision for income taxes from the CAMT for the year ended December 31, 2023.

In  2021,  the  OECD  established  an  Inclusive  Framework  on  Base  Erosion  and  Profit  Shifting  and  agreed  on  a  two-pillar 
solution (“Pillar Two”) to global taxation, focusing on global profit allocation and a 15% global minimum effective tax rate. On 
December 15, 2022, the European Union member states agreed to implement the OECD’s global minimum tax rate of 15%. 
The OECD issued Pillar Two model rules and continues to release guidance on these rules. The Inclusive Framework calls for 
tax law changes by participating countries to take effect in 2024 and 2025. Various countries have enacted or have announced 
plans to enact new tax laws to implement the global minimum tax. We considered the applicable tax law changes on Pillar Two 
implementation in the relevant countries, and there is no impact to our tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2023. We 
will continue to evaluate the impact of these tax law changes on future reporting periods.

We file federal, state, and foreign income tax returns in many jurisdictions in the U.S. and OUS. Years before 2016 are 
considered closed for most significant jurisdictions. Certain of our unrecognized tax benefits could change due to activities of 
various tax authorities, including evolving interpretations of existing tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, potential 
assessment of additional tax, possible settlement of audits, or through normal expiration of various statutes of limitations, which 
could affect our effective tax rate in the period in which they change. Due to the uncertainty related to the timing and potential 
outcome of audits, we cannot estimate the range of reasonably possible changes in unrecognized tax benefits that may occur in 
the next 12 months.

We are subject to the examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. The 
outcome of these audits cannot be predicted with certainty. Management regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes 
resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. If any issues addressed in our 
tax audits are resolved in a manner not consistent with management’s expectations, we could be required to adjust our provision 
for income taxes in the period such resolution occurs.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Venture

The  Company’s  Joint  Venture  with  Fosun  Pharma  was  established  to  research,  develop,  manufacture,  and  sell  robotic-
assisted, catheter-based medical devices. The Joint Venture is owned 60% by us and 40% by Fosun Pharma and is located in 
China. The catheter-based technology will initially target early diagnosis and cost-effective treatment of lung cancer, one of the 
most  commonly  diagnosed  forms  of  cancer  in  the  world.  Distribution  of  catheter-based  medical  devices  in  China  will  be 
conducted by the Joint Venture, while distribution outside of China will be conducted by us.

In January 2019, the Joint Venture acquired certain assets, including distribution rights, customer relationships, and certain 
personnel, from Chindex and its affiliates, a subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, and began direct operations for da Vinci products and 
services in China. As of December 31, 2023, the companies have contributed $55 million of up to $100 million required by the 
joint venture agreement. Following approval in June 2023 by China’s NMPA for a local version of our da Vinci Xi surgical 
system,  in  August  2023,  our  Intuitive-Fosun  Pharma  Joint  Venture  received  a  manufacturing  license  that  permits  the  Joint 
Venture to manufacture our da Vinci Xi surgical system for sale to customers in China.

Net  income  attributable  to  noncontrolling  interest  in  Joint  Venture  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  was 

$19.3 million, compared to $22.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

81

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash and Cash Equivalents

Our  principal  source  of  liquidity  is  cash  provided  by  our  operations  and  by  the  issuance  of  common  stock  through  the 
exercise  of  stock  options  and  our  employee  stock  purchase  program.  Cash  and  cash  equivalents  plus  short-  and  long-term 
investments increased by $0.60 billion to $7.34 billion as of December 31, 2023, from $6.74 billion as of December 31, 2022, 
primarily  as  a  result  of  cash  provided  by  operating  activities,  proceeds  from  stock  option  exercises  and  employee  stock 
purchases, and unrealized gains on interest-bearing debt securities classified as available for sale, partially offset by cash used 
for capital expenditures and share repurchases. Cash and cash equivalents plus short- and long-term investments decreased by 
$1.88 billion to $6.74 billion as of December 31, 2022, from $8.62 billion as of December 31, 2021, primarily from cash used 
in share repurchases, capital expenditures, and taxes paid related to net share settlements of equity awards, as well as unrealized 
losses on interest-bearing debt securities classified as available for sale, offset by cash provided by our operations and proceeds 
from stock option exercises and employee stock purchases.

Our cash requirements depend on numerous factors, including market acceptance of our products, the resources we devote 
to developing and supporting our products, and other factors. We expect to continue to devote substantial resources to expand 
procedure  adoption  and  acceptance  of  our  products.  We  have  made  substantial  investments  in  our  commercial  operations, 
product  development  activities,  facilities,  and  intellectual  property.  Based  on  our  business  model,  we  anticipate  that  we  will 
continue  to  be  able  to  fund  future  growth  through  cash  provided  by  our  operations.  We  believe  that  our  current  cash,  cash 
equivalents,  and  investment  balances,  together  with  income  to  be  derived  from  our  business,  will  be  sufficient  to  meet  our 
liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future. However, we may experience reduced cash flow from operations as a result of 
the risk of a recession along with other macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds.

As of December 31, 2023, $521 million of our cash, cash equivalents, and investments was held by foreign subsidiaries. 
We intend to repatriate earnings from our Swiss subsidiary and our joint venture in Hong Kong, as needed, since the U.S. and 
foreign  tax  implications  of  such  repatriations  are  not  expected  to  be  significant.  We  will  continue  to  indefinitely  reinvest 
earnings  from  the  rest  of  our  foreign  subsidiaries  and  do  not  expect  the  tax  implications  of  repatriating  these  earnings  to  be 
significant.

See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for discussion on the impact of interest rate 

risk and market risk on our investment portfolio.

Consolidated Cash Flow Data

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 (in millions):

Net cash provided by (used in):

Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities
Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

1,813.8  $ 

1,490.8  $ 

2,089.4 

(360.1)   

(287.6)   
3.3 

1,370.8 

(2,461.5) 

(2,572.3)   

5.4 

43.0 
(3.4) 

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

$ 

1,169.4  $ 

294.7  $ 

(332.5) 

Operating Activities

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  of  $1.81  billion  was  less  than  our  net 

income of $1.82 billion, primarily due to the following factors:

1. Our  net  income  included  non-cash  charges  of  $774  million,  consisting  primarily  of  the  following  significant  items: 
share-based  compensation  of  $593  million;  depreciation  expense  and  losses  on  the  disposal  of  property,  plant,  and 
equipment of $402 million; changes in deferred income taxes of $(281) million; deferred commission amortization of 
$33 million; and intangible asset amortization of $20 million.

2. The non-cash charges outlined above were partially offset by changes in operating assets and liabilities that resulted in 
$778 million of cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2023. Inventory, including the 
transfer  of  equipment  from  inventory  to  property,  plant,  and  equipment,  increased  by  $713  million,  primarily  to 
address  the  growth  in  the  business  as  well  as  to  mitigate  risks  of  disruption  that  could  arise  from  supply  or  other 
matters.  Refer  to  the  supplemental  cash  flow  information  in  Note  4  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for 
further details. Accounts receivable increased by $186 million, primarily due to the timing of billings and collections, 

82

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and  other  accrued  liabilities  decreased  by  $33  million,  primarily  due  to  timing  of  income  tax  payments.  The 
unfavorable  impact  of  these  items  on  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  was  partially  offset  by  an  increase  in 
deferred  revenue  by  $53  million,  primarily  due  to  collections  of  payments  related  to  future  services,  an  increase  in 
accounts  payable  by  $42  million,  primarily  due  to  the  timing  of  billing  and  payments,  an  increase  in  accrued 
compensation  and  employee  benefits  by  $35  million,  primarily  due  to  higher  headcount  and  higher  variable 
compensation, and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets by $24 million, primarily due to a decrease in net 
investments in sales-type leases.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash provided by operating activities of $1.49 billion exceeded our net income 

of $1.34 billion, primarily due to the following factors:

1. Our  net  income  included  non-cash  charges  of  $766  million,  consisting  primarily  of  the  following  significant  items: 
share-based  compensation  of  $513  million;  depreciation  expense  and  losses  on  the  disposal  of  property,  plant,  and 
equipment  of  $338  million;  changes  in  deferred  income  taxes  of  $(185)  million;  and  net  losses  on  investments, 
accretion, and amortization of $49 million.

2. The non-cash charges outlined above were partially offset by changes in operating assets and liabilities that resulted in 
$619 million of cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2022. Inventory, including the 
transfer  of  equipment  from  inventory  to  property,  plant,  and  equipment,  increased  by  $547  million,  primarily  to 
address the growth in the business as well as to mitigate risks of disruption that could arise from trade, supply, or other 
matters.  Refer  to  further  details  in  the  supplemental  cash  flow  information  in  Note  4  to  the  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements.  Accounts  receivable  increased  by  $159  million,  primarily  due  to  the  timing  of  billings  and  collections. 
Prepaid expenses and other assets increased by $129 million, primarily due to an increase in net investments in sales-
type leases and an increase in recoverable VAT related to growth in our OUS activities. The unfavorable impact of 
these items on cash provided by operating activities was partially offset by a $122 million increase in other liabilities, 
primarily due to additional accruals related to capital expenditures and timing of income tax payments, a $52 million 
increase  in  accrued  compensation  and  employee  benefits,  primarily  due  to  higher  headcount  and  variable 
compensation, and a $21 million increase in accounts payable, primarily due to the timing of billing and payments.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, consisted primarily of $1.06 billion paid for the 
acquisition  of  property,  plant,  and  equipment,  partially  offset  by  proceeds  from  maturities  and  sales  of  investments,  net  of 
purchases, of $0.71 billion.

Net  cash  provided  by  investing  activities  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022,  consisted  primarily  of  proceeds  from 
maturities and sales of investments, net of purchases, of $1.92 billion, partially offset by $532 million paid for the acquisition of 
property, plant, and equipment.

Net  cash  used  in  investing  activities  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  consisted  primarily  of  purchases  of 
investments, net of proceeds from maturities and sales, of $2.10 billion and $340 million paid for the acquisition of property, 
plant, and equipment.

We  invest  predominantly  in  high  quality,  fixed  income  securities.  Our  investment  portfolio  may,  at  any  time,  contain 
investments in U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities, taxable and tax-exempt municipal notes, corporate notes 
and bonds, commercial paper, non-U.S. government agency securities, cash deposits, and money market funds.

Financing Activities

Net  cash  used  in  financing  activities  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  consisted  primarily  of  cash  used  in  the 
repurchase of approximately 1.7 million shares of our common stock for $416 million and taxes paid on behalf of employees 
related  to  net  share  settlements  of  vested  employee  equity  awards  of  $165  million,  partially  offset  by  proceeds  from  stock 
option exercises and employee stock purchases of $296 million.

Net  cash  used  in  financing  activities  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022,  consisted  primarily  of  cash  used  in  the 
repurchase of approximately 11.2 million shares of our common stock for $2.61 billion, 8.5 million shares of which related to 
accelerated  share  buyback  programs  executed  and  settled  during  2022  and  further  described  in  Note  9  to  the  Consolidated 
Financial Statements, and taxes paid on behalf of employees related to net share settlements of vested employee equity awards 
of $194 million, partially offset by proceeds from stock option exercises and employee stock purchases of $234 million.

Net  cash  provided  by  financing  activities  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  consisted  primarily  of  proceeds  from 
stock  option  exercises  and  employee  stock  purchases  of  $277  million,  partially  offset  by  taxes  paid  on  behalf  of  employees 
related  to  net  share  settlements  of  vested  employee  equity  awards  of  $212  million  and  the  payment  of  deferred  purchase 
consideration of $22 million.

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Capital Expenditures

Our  capital  expenditures  are  increasing  as  we  continue  to  build  the  Company  to  supply  our  customers  with  highly 
differentiated  products  manufactured  in  highly  automated  factories  to  facilitate  outstanding  performance  in  product  quality, 
availability,  and  cost.  A  significant  portion  of  this  investment  involves  the  construction  of  facilities  to  expand  our 
manufacturing and commercial capabilities. We have also been vertically integrating key technologies to develop a more robust 
supply chain and bring important products to market at attractive price points. These investments include increased ownership 
of  our  imaging  pipelines,  and  investments  in  strategic  instruments  and  accessories  technologies  that  allow  us  to  serve  our 
customers  better.  We  expect  these  capital  investments  to  range  between  $1  billion  and  $1.2  billion  in  2024,  the  majority  of 
which will be facilities-related investments. We intend to fund these capital investments with cash generated from operations.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

Operating  leases.    We  lease  spaces  for  our  operations  in  the  U.S.  as  well  as  in  Japan,  China,  Israel,  Mexico,  Germany, 
South  Korea,  the  United  Kingdom,  India,  and  other  countries.  We  also  lease  automobiles  for  certain  sales  and  field  service 
employees.  These  leases  have  varying  terms  of  up  to  20  years.  Operating  lease  amounts  include  future  minimum  lease 
payments under all of our non-cancellable operating leases with an initial term in excess of one year. Refer to Note 6 to the 
Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 for further details.

Purchase  commitments  and  obligations.    Total  purchase  commitments  and  obligations  as  of  December  31,  2023,  are 
estimated to be $2.37 billion, of which $2.13 billion is expected to be due within a year. These amounts include an estimate of 
all open purchase orders and contractual obligations in the ordinary course of business, including commitments with contract 
manufacturers  and  suppliers  for  which  we  have  not  received  the  goods  or  services,  commitments  for  capital  expenditures, 
including  construction-related  activities,  for  which  we  have  not  received  the  goods  or  services,  and  commitments  for  the 
acquisition  and  licensing  of  intellectual  property.  Approximately  one  third  of  our  estimated  purchase  commitments  and 
obligations  are  facilities-related.  Although  open  purchase  orders  are  considered  enforceable  and  legally  binding,  the  terms 
generally allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, or adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to the delivery 
of  goods  or  performance  of  services.  In  addition  to  the  above,  we  have  committed  to  making  potential  future  milestone 
payments to third parties as part of licensing, collaboration, and development arrangements. Payments under these agreements 
generally become due and payable only upon achievement of certain developmental, regulatory, and/or commercial milestones. 
For instances in which the achievement of these milestones is neither probable nor reasonably estimable, such contingencies 
have not been recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

2017 Tax Act deemed repatriation tax.  As of December 31, 2023, our obligation associated with the deemed repatriation 

tax is $121 million, of which $54 million is due within a year. The remaining balance is expected to be paid in 2025.

We are unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate as to when payments may occur for our unrecognized tax benefits.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2023, we did not have any significant off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) 

of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  are  prepared  in  conformity  with  GAAP,  which  requires  us  to  make  judgments, 
estimates, and assumptions. See “Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in Notes to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements, which is included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” for a description of our significant 
accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements. The methods, estimates, and 
judgments  that  we  use  in  applying  our  accounting  policies  require  us  to  make  difficult  and  subjective  judgments,  often  as  a 
result  of  the  need  to  make  estimates  regarding  matters  that  are  inherently  uncertain.  Our  most  critical  accounting  estimates 
include:

•

•

•
•

the valuation and recognition of investments, which impacts our investment portfolio balance when we assess fair 
value and interest and other income, net, when we record impairments;

the standalone selling prices used to allocate the contract consideration to the individual performance obligations, 
which impacts revenue recognition;
the valuation of inventory, which impacts gross profit margins;
the valuation of and assessment of the recoverability of intangible assets and goodwill and the estimated useful 
lives of intangible assets, which primarily impacts gross profit margin or operating expenses when we record asset 
impairments or accelerate their amortization;

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•

•

the recognition and measurement of current and deferred income taxes (including the measurement of uncertain 
tax positions), which impact our provision for taxes; and

the estimate of probable loss associated with legal contingencies, which impacts accrued liabilities and operating 
expenses.

Investments Valuation

Fair Value.  Our investments may include, at any time, a diversified portfolio of cash equivalents and short- and long-term 
investments in a variety of high-quality securities, including money market funds, U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency 
securities, corporate notes and bonds, commercial paper, non-U.S. government agency securities, and municipal notes, as well 
as  equity  investments  with  and  without  readily  determinable  value.  The  assessment  of  the  fair  value  of  investments  can  be 
difficult and subjective. GAAP establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value. Each level of input has 
different  levels  of  subjectivity  and  difficulty  involved  in  determining  fair  value.  Valuation  of  Level  1  and  2  instruments 
generally  do  not  require  significant  management  judgment,  and  the  estimation  is  not  difficult.  Level  3  instruments  include 
unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or 
liabilities.  The  determination  of  fair  value  for  Level  3  instruments  requires  the  most  management  judgment  and  subjectivity. 
There were no Level 3 securities for the periods presented.

After determining the fair value of our available-for-sale instruments, we identify instruments with an amortized cost basis 
in  excess  of  their  estimated  fair  value.  Available-for-sale  instruments  in  an  unrealized  loss  position  are  written  down  to  fair 
value  through  a  charge  to  interest  and  other  income,  net  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income,  if  we  intend  to  sell  the 
security or it is more likely than not we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. For the 
remaining securities, we assess what amount of the excess, if any, is caused by expected credit losses. Factors considered in 
determining  whether  a  credit-related  loss  exists  include  the  financial  condition  and  near-term  prospects  of  the  investee,  the 
extent of the loss related to the credit of the issuer, and the expected cash flows from the security. These judgments could prove 
to  be  wrong,  and  companies  with  relatively  high  credit  ratings  and  solid  financial  conditions  may  not  be  able  to  fulfill  their 
obligations.

No  significant  impairment  charges  were  recorded  during  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021.  As  of 
December  31,  2023,  and  2022,  net  unrealized  losses  on  investments  of  $29.7  million  and  $154.2  million,  net  of  tax, 
respectively, were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Revenue recognition.  Our system sale arrangements contain multiple products and services, including system(s), system 
components,  system  accessories,  instruments,  accessories,  and  services.  Other  than  services,  we  generally  deliver  all  of  the 
products  upfront.  Each  of  these  products  and  services  is  a  distinct  performance  obligation.  System  accessories,  instruments, 
accessories, and services are also sold on a standalone basis.

For  multiple-element  arrangements,  revenue  is  allocated  to  each  performance  obligation  based  on  its  relative  standalone 
selling price. Standalone selling prices are based on observable prices at which we separately sell the products or services. If a 
standalone selling price is not directly observable, then we estimate the standalone selling prices considering market conditions 
and  entity-specific  factors  including,  but  not  limited  to,  features  and  functionality  of  the  products  and  services,  geographies, 
type  of  customer,  and  market  conditions.  We  regularly  review  standalone  selling  prices  and  maintain  internal  controls  over 
establishing and updating these estimates.

Our system sales arrangements generally include a five-year period of service. The first year of service is generally free and 
included  in  the  system  sale  arrangement,  and  the  remaining  four  years  are  billed  at  a  stated  service  price.  Revenue  that  is 
allocated to the service obligation is deferred and recognized ratably over the service period.

Inventory valuation.  Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. The cost 
basis  of  our  inventory  is  reduced  for  any  products  that  are  considered  excess  or  obsolete  based  on  assumptions  about  future 
demand  and  market  conditions.  If  actual  future  demand  or  market  conditions  are  less  favorable  than  those  projected  by 
management, additional inventory write-downs may be required, which could have a material adverse effect on the results of 
our operations.

Valuation of intangible assets and goodwill.  We allocate the fair value of purchase consideration, including contingent 
consideration, to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination based on their estimated fair values at the 
acquisition  date.  The  excess  of  the  fair  value  of  the  purchase  consideration  over  the  fair  value  of  assets  acquired,  liabilities 
assumed, and any noncontrolling interest is recorded as goodwill. When determining the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities 
assumed, and any noncontrolling interest, management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions, especially with 
respect to intangible assets. The estimates and assumptions used in valuing intangible assets include, but are not limited to, the 
amount and timing of projected future cash flows, the discount rate used to determine the present value of these cash flows, and 
the determination of the assets’ life cycle. These estimates are inherently uncertain and, therefore, actual results may differ from 
the estimates made.

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Our  intangible  assets  include  identifiable  intangible  assets  and  goodwill.  Identifiable  intangible  assets  include  developed 
technology,  patents,  distribution  rights,  customer  relationships,  licenses,  and  non-competition  arrangements.  Currently,  all  of 
our identifiable intangible assets have finite lives. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are subject to an annual 
impairment review (or more frequent if impairment indicators arise) by applying a fair value-based test. There have been no 
such impairments.

Identifiable  intangible  assets  with  finite  lives  are  subject  to  impairment  testing  and  are  reviewed  for  impairment  when 
events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset is not recoverable and its carrying amount exceeds its fair 
value.  We  evaluate  the  recoverability  of  the  carrying  value  of  these  identifiable  intangible  assets  based  on  estimated 
undiscounted cash flows to be generated from such assets. If the cash flow estimates or the significant operating assumptions 
upon which they are based change in the future, we may be required to record additional impairment charges.

The  valuation  and  classification  of  intangible  assets  and  goodwill  and  the  assignment  of  useful  lives  for  purposes  of 
amortization  involves  judgments  and  the  use  of  estimates.  The  evaluation  of  these  intangible  assets  and  goodwill  for 
impairment  under  established  accounting  principles  is  required  on  a  recurring  basis.  Changes  in  business  conditions  could 
potentially require future adjustments to the assumptions made. When we determine that the useful lives of assets are shorter 
than  we  had  originally  estimated,  we  accelerate  the  rate  of  amortization  over  the  assets’  new,  shorter  useful  lives.  No 
impairment  charges  or  accelerated  amortization  were  recorded  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021.  A 
considerable  amount  of  judgment  is  required  in  assessing  impairment,  which  includes  financial  forecasts.  If  conditions  are 
different  from  management’s  current  estimates,  material  write-downs  of  long-lived  assets  may  be  required,  which  would 
adversely affect our operating results.

Accounting  for  income  taxes.    Significant  management  judgment  is  required  in  determining  our  provision  for  income 
taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets in accordance with 
GAAP. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of tax credits, benefits, and deductions and in the calculation of 
certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and 
financial statement purposes, as well as the interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions. Significant changes to these 
estimates may result in an increase or decrease in our tax provision in the current period or subsequent periods.

Also, we must assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets. In the event that all or part of 
our  deferred  tax  assets  are  not  recoverable  in  the  future,  we  must  increase  our  provision  for  taxes  by  recording  a  valuation 
allowance  to  reduce  our  deferred  tax  assets  to  the  amount  that  is  more  likely  than  not  to  be  recoverable.  In  order  for  our 
deferred  tax  assets  to  be  recoverable,  we  must  be  able  to  generate  sufficient  taxable  income  in  those  jurisdictions  where  the 
deferred tax assets are located. We consider forecasted income, including income that may be generated as a result of certain 
tax planning strategies, together with future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, in determining the need for a 
valuation  allowance.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  believe  that  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  our  deferred  tax  assets  will 
ultimately be recovered, with the exception of our California deferred tax assets and a portion of our Swiss deferred tax assets. 
We  believe  that,  due  to  the  computation  of  California  taxes  under  the  single  sales  factor,  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  our 
California deferred tax assets of $202.5 million will not be realized. Additionally, given certain limitations prescribed by the 
Swiss tax authority on the utilization of some of our Swiss deferred tax assets, we believe that it is more likely than not that 
$67.3 million of the Swiss deferred tax assets will not be realized based on the future forecasted income of our Swiss entity. 
Our ability to realize the deferred tax assets could be reduced in the future if our estimates of future forecasted income do not 
support the realization of our deferred tax assets. Should there be a change in our ability to realize our deferred tax assets, our 
tax provision would be affected in the period in which such change takes place.

The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We 
recognize  liabilities  for  uncertain  tax  positions  based  on  a  two-step  process.  The  first  step  is  to  evaluate  the  tax  position  for 
recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be 
sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. If we determine that a tax position will 
more likely than not be sustained on audit, then the second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest 
amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate 
such  amounts,  as  we  have  to  determine  the  probability  of  various  possible  outcomes.  We  re-evaluate  these  uncertain  tax 
positions  on  a  quarterly  basis.  This  evaluation  is  based  on  factors  including,  but  not  limited  to,  changes  in  facts  or 
circumstances, changes in tax law, effective settlement of audit issues, and new audit activity. Such a change in the recognition 
or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Accounting  for  legal  contingencies.    From  time  to  time,  we  are  involved  in  a  number  of  legal  proceedings  involving 
product liability, intellectual property, shareholder derivative actions, securities class actions, insurance, employee-related, and 
other  matters.  We  record  a  liability  and  related  charge  to  earnings  in  our  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  legal 
contingencies when the loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Our assessment is re-evaluated 
each  accounting  period  and  is  based  on  all  available  information,  including  discussion  with  any  outside  legal  counsel  that 
represents  us.  If  a  reasonable  estimate  of  a  known  or  probable  loss  cannot  be  made,  but  a  range  of  probable  losses  can  be 

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estimated, the low-end of the range of losses is recognized if no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other. If a 
loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, and can be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed in 
the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

When determining the estimated probable loss or range of losses, significant judgment is required to be exercised in order 
to  estimate  the  amount  and  timing  of  the  loss  to  be  recorded.  Estimates  of  probable  losses  resulting  from  litigation  are 
inherently difficult to make, particularly when the matters are in early procedural stages with incomplete facts and information. 
The final outcome of legal proceedings is dependent on many variables and is difficult to predict and, therefore, the ultimate 
cost  to  entirely  resolve  such  matters  may  be  materially  different  than  the  amount  of  current  estimates.  Consequently,  new 
information or changes in judgments and estimates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, 
and results of operations or cash flows.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See “Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. 
Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data”  for  additional  information  regarding  recent  accounting  pronouncements, 
including the respective expected dates of adoption and estimated effects, if any, on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ITEM 7A. 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate and Market Risk

The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while supporting our liquidity requirements. To 
achieve this objective, we maintain a diversified portfolio of cash equivalents and short- and long-term investments in a variety 
of high-quality securities, including money market funds, U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities, corporate notes 
and  bonds,  commercial  paper,  non-U.S.  government  agency  securities,  and  municipal  notes.  The  securities  are  classified  as 
available-for-sale and consequently are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported as a separate component 
of  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss.  The  weighted  average  duration  of  our  portfolio  as  of  December  31,  2023,  was 
approximately 0.8 years. If interest rates rise, the market value of our investments may decline, which could result in a realized 
loss if we are forced to sell an investment before its scheduled maturity. A hypothetical increase or decrease in interest rates by 
25 basis points would have resulted in a decrease or increase in the fair value of our net investment position of approximately 
$14 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023. We do not utilize derivative financial instruments to manage our interest 
rate risks.

Uncertain financial markets could result in a tightening in the credit markets, a reduced level of liquidity in many financial 
markets,  and  extreme  volatility  in  fixed  income  and  credit  markets.  The  credit  ratings  of  the  securities  we  have  invested  in 
could deteriorate and may have an adverse impact on the carrying value of these investments.

Foreign Exchange Risk

The  majority  of  our  revenue,  expense,  and  capital  purchasing  activities  are  transacted  in  U.S.  dollars.  However,  we 
generally sell our products and services in local currencies where we have direct distribution channels. We operate in a number 
of  markets  on  a  direct  sales  basis  and  incur  operating  expenses  in  local  currencies.  We  also  purchase  certain  product 
components  from  non-U.S.  suppliers  in  local  currency.  As  a  result,  because  a  portion  of  our  operations  consists  of  sales 
activities outside of the U.S., we have foreign exchange exposures to non-U.S. dollar revenues, operating expenses, accounts 
receivable, accounts payable, and foreign currency bank balances.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, sales denominated in foreign currencies were approximately 25% of total revenue. 
The objective of our hedging program is to mitigate the impact of changes in currency exchange rates on our net cash flow from 
foreign currency-denominated sales and expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2023, our revenue would have decreased 
by approximately $121 million if the U.S. dollar exchange rate strengthened by 10%. We also hedge the net recognized non-
functional currency balance sheet exposures with foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the risk that our earnings and 
cash  flows  will  be  adversely  affected  by  changes  in  exchange  rates.  A  10%  strengthening  of  the  U.S.  dollar  exchange  rate 
against  all  currencies  to  which  we  have  exposure,  after  considering  foreign  currency  hedges  and  offsetting  positions  as  of 
December 31, 2023, would have resulted in an approximately $1 million increase in the carrying amounts of those net assets. 
Actual  gains  and  losses  in  the  future  may  differ  materially  from  the  hypothetical  gains  and  losses  discussed  above  based  on 
changes  in  the  timing  and  amount  of  foreign  currency  exchange  rate  movements  and  our  actual  exposure  and  hedging 
transactions. Bank counterparties to foreign exchange forward contracts expose us to credit-related losses in the event of their 
nonperformance. To mitigate that risk, we only contract with counterparties that meet certain minimum requirements under our 
counterparty risk assessment process. We monitor credit ratings and potential downgrades on at least a quarterly basis. Based 
on our ongoing assessment of counterparty risk, we will adjust our exposure to various counterparties.

Although we sell to distributors outside of the U.S. in U.S. dollars, strengthening of the dollar can impact our distributors’ 
margins and could impact the end customers’ ability to purchase our products if our distributors seek to recover the impact of 
the  change  in  the  dollar  by  increasing  product  and  service  prices.  Less  than  10%  of  our  revenue  is  conducted  through 
distributors outside of the U.S. Strengthening of the dollar relative to non-U.S. currencies could have an adverse impact on our 
business.

Our operations outside of the U.S. are subject to risks typical of operations outside of the U.S. including, but not limited to, 
differing economic conditions, changes in the political climate, differing tax structures, other regulations and restrictions, and 
foreign exchange rate volatility.

88

ITEM 8. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index To Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – PCAOB ID: 238

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023, and 2022

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Page No.

90

92

93

94

95

96

97

127

All  other  schedules  have  been  omitted,  because  they  are  not  applicable  or  the  required  information  is  shown  in  the 

Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.

89

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) 
as  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  and  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  income,  of  comprehensive  income,  of 
stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related 
notes  and  financial  statement  schedule  listed  in  the  index  appearing  under  Item  15(a)(2)  (collectively  referred  to  as  the 
“consolidated  financial  statements”).  We  also  have  audited  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee 
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  referred  to  above  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the  financial 
position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the 
three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United 
States  of  America.  Also  in  our  opinion,  the  Company  maintained,  in  all  material  respects,  effective  internal  control  over 
financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) 
issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The  Company’s  management  is  responsible  for  these  consolidated  financial  statements,  for  maintaining  effective  internal 
control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included 
in  Management’s  Report  on  Internal  Control  Over  Financial  Reporting  appearing  under  Item  9A.  Our  responsibility  is  to 
express  opinions  on  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements  and  on  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting  based  on  our  audits.  We  are  a  public  accounting  firm  registered  with  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight 
Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. 
federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audits  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  consolidated  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement, 
whether  due  to  error  or  fraud,  and  whether  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was  maintained  in  all  material 
respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement 
of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. 
Such  procedures  included  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  regarding  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  consolidated 
financial  statements.  Our  audits  also  included  evaluating  the  accounting  principles  used  and  significant  estimates  made  by 
management,  as  well  as  evaluating  the  overall  presentation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  Our  audit  of  internal 
control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the 
risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based 
on  the  assessed  risk.  Our  audits  also  included  performing  such  other  procedures  as  we  considered  necessary  in  the 
circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A  company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  a  process  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the 
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally 
accepted  accounting  principles.  A  company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures 
that  (i)  pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and 
dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit 
preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and  that  receipts  and 
expenditures  of  the  company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the 
company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or 
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Also, 
projections  of  any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

90

Critical Audit Matters

The  critical  audit  matter  communicated  below  is  a  matter  arising  from  the  current  period  audit  of  the  consolidated  financial 
statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or 
disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or 
complex  judgments.  The  communication  of  critical  audit  matters  does  not  alter  in  any  way  our  opinion  on  the  consolidated 
financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate 
opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Determination of Standalone Selling Prices Related to System Sale Arrangements

As described in Notes 2 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognized $1,679.7 million of systems 
revenue,  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023.  The  Company’s  system  sale  arrangements  include  a  combination  of  the 
following  performance  obligations:  system(s);  system  components;  system  accessories;  instruments;  accessories;  and  system 
service. For multiple-element arrangements, revenue is allocated to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone 
selling price. Standalone selling prices are based on observable prices at which the Company separately sells the products or 
services.  If  a  standalone  selling  price  is  not  directly  observable,  then  management  estimates  the  standalone  selling  price 
considering market conditions and entity-specific factors including, but not limited to, features and functionality of the products 
and services, geographies, and type of customer.

The  principal  considerations  for  our  determination  that  performing  procedures  relating  to  the  determination  of  standalone 
selling prices related to system sale arrangements is a critical audit matter are the significant judgment by management when 
determining  estimates  of  standalone  selling  prices,  which  in  turn  led  to  a  high  degree  of  auditor  judgment,  subjectivity,  and 
effort  in  performing  procedures  and  evaluating  audit  evidence  relating  to  the  estimates  of  standalone  selling  prices  used  to 
allocate the transaction price of an arrangement to each distinct performance obligation.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall 
opinion  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  These  procedures  included  testing  the  effectiveness  of  controls  over  the 
revenue  recognition  process,  including  controls  over  the  determination  of  the  estimates  of  standalone  selling  prices.  These 
procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for determining the estimates of standalone selling 
prices; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the overall methodology used by management to develop the estimates, including 
the  appropriateness  of  the  data  inputs  related  to  the  products  and  services,  geographies,  and  type  of  customer  used  in  the 
methodology; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of the data used in the methodology; and (iv) testing the accuracy of 
management’s calculations of estimated selling prices.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California
January 31, 2024

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.

91

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PAR VALUE AMOUNTS)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

Short-term investments

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $27.1 and $22.4 as of December 31, 2023, 
and 2022, respectively
Inventory

Prepaids and other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant, and equipment, net

Long-term investments

Deferred tax assets

Intangible and other assets, net

Goodwill

Total assets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

Deferred revenue

Other accrued liabilities

Total current liabilities

Other long-term liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, 2.5 shares authorized, $0.001 par value, issuable in series; zero shares 
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023, and 2022
Common stock, 600.0 shares authorized, $0.001 par value, 352.3 shares and 350.0 
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively
Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity

Noncontrolling interest in joint venture

Total stockholders’ equity

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

December 31,

2023

2022

$ 

2,750.1  $ 

2,473.1 

1,130.2 

1,220.6 

314.0 

7,888.0 

3,537.6 

2,120.0 

910.5 

636.7 

348.7 

1,581.2 

2,536.7 

942.1 

893.2 

299.8 

6,253.0 

2,374.2 

2,623.6 

664.6 

710.1 

348.5 

$ 

15,441.5  $ 

12,974.0 

$ 

188.7  $ 

436.4 

446.1 

587.5 

1,658.7 

385.5 

2,044.2 

— 

0.4 

8,576.4 

4,743.0 

147.0 

401.6 

397.3 

476.2 

1,422.1 

439.3 

1,861.4 

— 

0.4 

7,703.9 

3,500.1 

(12.2)   

(162.5) 

13,307.6 

11,041.9 

89.7 

70.7 

13,397.3 

11,112.6 

$ 

15,441.5  $ 

12,974.0 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

92

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

Revenue:

Product

Service

Total revenue

Cost of revenue:

Product

Service

Total cost of revenue

Gross profit

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative

Research and development

Total operating expenses

Income from operations

Interest and other income, net

Income before taxes

Income tax expense

Net income

Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture

Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.:

Basic

Diluted

Shares used in computing net income per share attributable to Intuitive 
Surgical, Inc.:

Basic

Diluted

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

5,956.3  $ 

5,198.0  $ 

4,793.9 

1,167.8 

7,124.1 

2,041.8 

352.8 

2,394.6 

4,729.5 

1,963.9 

998.8 

2,962.7 

1,766.8 

192.1 

1,958.9 

141.6 

1,817.3 

19.3 

1,024.2 

6,222.2 

1,700.3 

325.9 

2,026.2 

4,196.0 

1,739.9 

879.0 

2,618.9 

1,577.1 

29.7 

1,606.8 

262.4 

1,344.4 

22.1 

916.2 

5,710.1 

1,464.1 

287.5 

1,751.6 

3,958.5 

1,466.5 

671.0 

2,137.5 

1,821.0 

69.3 

1,890.3 

162.2 

1,728.1 

23.5 

$ 

$ 

$ 

1,798.0  $ 

1,322.3  $ 

1,704.6 

5.12  $ 

5.03  $ 

3.72  $ 

3.65  $ 

4.79 

4.66 

351.2 

357.4 

355.7 

362.0 

356.1 

365.8 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

93

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(IN MILLIONS)

Net income

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

1,817.3  $ 

1,344.4  $ 

1,728.1 

Change in foreign currency translation gains (losses)

25.7 

(0.5)   

(13.3) 

Available-for-sale securities (net of tax):

Change in unrealized gains (losses)

Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains on securities

Net change

Hedge instruments (net of tax):

Change in unrealized gains (losses)

Less: Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses on hedge 
instruments
Net change

Employee benefit plans (net of tax):

Change in unrealized gains (losses)

Less: Reclassification adjustment for losses on employee 
benefit plans
Net change

124.6 

(0.1)   

124.5 

(138.2)   

— 

(138.2)   

(45.5) 

— 

(45.5) 

(6.6)   

(35.0)   

12.3 

7.0 

0.4 

(0.6)   

— 

(0.6)   

27.6 

(7.4)   

5.8 

0.2 

6.0 

(4.9) 

7.4 

0.1 

1.5 

1.6 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Total comprehensive income

Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

Total comprehensive income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

150.0 

(140.1)   

(49.8) 

1,967.3  $ 

1,204.3  $ 

1,678.3 

19.0  $ 

20.3  $ 

22.8 

1,948.3  $ 

1,184.0  $ 

1,655.5 

$ 

$ 

$ 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

94

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(IN MILLIONS)

Common Stock

Shares

Amount

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss)/Income

Total 
Intuitive 
Surgical, Inc. 
Stockholders’ 
Equity

Noncontrolling
Interest
in 
Joint
Venture

Total 
Stockholders’ 
Equity

Balances as of December 31, 2020

 353.1  $  0.4  $ 6,444.9  $ 3,261.3  $ 

24.9  $  9,731.5  $ 

27.6  $  9,759.1 

  5.4 

  — 

276.5 

— 

  (0.8)    — 

(6.6)   

(205.0)   

  — 

  — 

449.2 

— 

— 

— 

— 

276.5 

(211.6)   

449.2 

— 

— 

— 

276.5 

(211.6) 

449.2 

Net income attributable to 

noncontrolling interest in joint venture   — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

— 

— 

— 

  1,704.6 

— 

  1,704.6 

— 

  1,704.6 

— 

— 

(49.1)   

(49.1)   

(0.7)   

(49.8) 

— 

— 

23.5 

23.5 

Balances as of December 31, 2021

 357.7  $  0.4  $ 7,164.0  $ 4,760.9  $ 

(24.2)  $ 11,901.1  $ 

50.4  $ 11,951.5 

  4.2 

  — 

233.8 

— 

  (0.7)    — 

(7.4)   

(186.8)   

  — 

  — 

524.6 

— 

— 

— 

— 

233.8 

(194.2)   

524.6 

— 

— 

— 

233.8 

(194.2) 

524.6 

 (11.2)    — 

(211.1)    (2,396.3)   

— 

  (2,607.4)   

— 

  (2,607.4) 

Net income attributable to 

noncontrolling interest in joint venture   — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

— 

— 

— 

  1,322.3 

— 

  1,322.3 

— 

  1,322.3 

— 

— 

(138.3)   

(138.3)   

(1.8)   

(140.1) 

— 

— 

22.1 

22.1 

Balances as of December 31, 2022

 350.0  $  0.4  $ 7,703.9  $ 3,500.1  $ 

(162.5)  $ 11,041.9  $ 

70.7  $ 11,112.6 

Issuance of common stock through 

employee stock plans 

Shares withheld related to net share 

settlement of equity awards

Share-based compensation expense 
related to employee stock plans

Net income attributable to Intuitive 

Surgical, Inc.

Other comprehensive income (loss)

Issuance of common stock through 

employee stock plans 

Shares withheld related to net share 

settlement of equity awards

Share-based compensation expense 
related to employee stock plans

Repurchase and retirement of common 

stock

Net income attributable to Intuitive 

Surgical, Inc.

Other comprehensive income (loss)

Issuance of common stock through 

employee stock plans 

Shares withheld related to net share 

settlement of equity awards

Share-based compensation expense 
related to employee stock plans

Repurchase and retirement of common 

stock

Net income attributable to Intuitive 

Surgical, Inc.

Other comprehensive income (loss)

  4.7 

  — 

296.3 

— 

  (0.7)    — 

(7.2)   

(157.5)   

  — 

  — 

602.1 

— 

  (1.7)    — 

(18.7)   

(397.6)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

296.3 

(164.7)   

602.1 

(416.3)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

296.3 

(164.7) 

602.1 

(416.3) 

Net income attributable to 

noncontrolling interest in joint venture   — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

  — 

— 

— 

— 

  1,798.0 

— 

  1,798.0 

— 

  1,798.0 

— 

— 

150.3 

150.3 

(0.3)   

150.0 

— 

— 

19.3 

19.3 

Balances as of December 31, 2023

 352.3  $  0.4  $ 8,576.4  $ 4,743.0  $ 

(12.2)  $ 13,307.6  $ 

89.7  $ 13,397.3 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

95

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN MILLIONS)

Operating activities:

Net income

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating 
activities:

Depreciation and loss on disposal of property, plant, and equipment, net

Amortization of intangible assets

Gain on sale of business

Loss on investments, accretion of discounts, and amortization of 
premiums on investments, net
Deferred income taxes

Share-based compensation expense

Amortization of contract acquisition assets

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

Accounts receivable
Inventory

Prepaids and other assets

Accounts payable

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

Deferred revenue

Other liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities
Investing activities:

Purchase of investments

Proceeds from sales of investments

Proceeds from maturities of investments

Purchase of property, plant, and equipment 

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash, and intellectual property and other 
investing activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Financing activities:

Proceeds from issuance of common stock relating to employee stock plans

Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards

Repurchase of common stock

Payment of deferred purchase consideration

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted 
cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of year

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

1,817.3  $ 

1,344.4  $ 

1,728.1 

401.6 

20.2 

— 

7.3 

338.0 

27.8 

(3.8)   

49.0 

(280.8)   

(185.3)   

592.8 

33.0 

513.2 

26.6 

(186.3)   

(712.5)   

24.2 

41.7 

34.8 

53.4 

(159.3)   

(546.6)   

(129.2)   

21.3 

51.5 

21.5 

(32.9)   

1,813.8 

121.7 

1,490.8 

282.8 

27.4 

— 

10.6 

(62.6) 

449.2 

22.0

(142.3) 

(256.0) 

(204.9) 

36.0 

115.1 

32.6 

51.4 

2,089.4 

(2,207.4)   

(1,399.5)   

(6,452.0) 

230.3 

2,690.1 

61.1 

3,254.4 

(1,064.2)   

(532.4)   

(8.9)   

(12.8)   

(360.1)   

1,370.8 

296.3 

(164.7)   

(416.3)   

(2.9)   

233.8 

(194.2)   

(2,607.4)   

(4.5)   

(287.6)   

(2,572.3)   

3.3 

1,169.4 

1,600.7 

5.4 

294.7 

1,306.0 

84.9 

4,267.8 

(339.5) 

(22.7) 

(2,461.5) 

276.5 

(211.6) 

— 

(21.9) 

43.0 

(3.4) 

(332.5) 

1,638.5 

1,306.0 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of year

$ 

2,770.1  $ 

1,600.7  $ 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

96

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (“Intuitive” or the “Company”) develops, manufactures, and markets da Vinci® surgical systems and 
the  Ion®  endoluminal  system.  The  Company’s  products  and  related  services  enable  physicians  and  healthcare  providers  to 
improve the quality of and access to minimally invasive care. The da Vinci surgical system consists of a surgeon console or 
consoles, a patient-side cart, and a high-performance vision system. The Ion endoluminal system consists of a system cart, a 
controller, a catheter, and a vision probe. Both systems use software, instruments, and accessories.

NOTE 2.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The  accompanying  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  U.S.  generally  accepted 
accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries. All 
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the results and balances of the Company’s majority-owned joint ventures, 
Intuitive  Surgical-Fosun  Medical  Technology  (Shanghai)  Co.,  Ltd.  and  Intuitive  Surgical-Fosun  (HongKong)  Co.,  Ltd. 
(collectively,  the  “Joint  Venture”)  with  Shanghai  Fosun  Pharmaceutical  (Group)  Co.,  Ltd.  (“Fosun  Pharma”).  The  Company 
holds a controlling financial interest in the Joint Venture, and the noncontrolling interest is reflected as a separate component of 
the  consolidated  stockholders’  equity.  The  noncontrolling  interest’s  share  of  the  earnings  in  the  Joint  Venture  is  presented 
separately in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 
and 2021.

Common Stock Split

Shares  issued  pursuant  to  the  three-for-one  stock  split  (the  “Stock  Split”)  of  the  Company’s  issued  and  outstanding 
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, were distributed on October 4, 2021, to stockholders of record as of September 27, 
2021. All share and per-share information presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements have been retroactively adjusted 
to reflect the Stock Split.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions 
that  affect  the  amounts  reported  in  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and  accompanying  Notes  to  the  Consolidated 
Financial Statements. The accounting estimates that require management’s most significant, complex, and subjective judgments 
include the valuation and recognition of investments, the standalone selling prices used to allocate the contract consideration to 
the  individual  performance  obligations,  the  valuation  of  inventory,  the  valuation  of  and  assessment  of  the  recoverability  of 
intangible  assets  and  goodwill,  the  recognition  and  measurement  of  current  and  deferred  income  taxes,  including  the 
measurement of uncertain tax positions, and the estimates for legal contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from 
these estimates.

Concentrations of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties

The  carrying  amounts  for  financial  instruments  consisting  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable,  accounts 
payable,  and  accrued  liabilities  approximate  fair  value  due  to  their  short  maturities.  Marketable  securities  and  derivative 
instruments  are  stated  at  their  estimated  fair  values,  based  on  quoted  market  prices  for  the  same  or  similar  instruments.  The 
counterparties to the agreements relating to the Company’s investment securities and derivative instruments consist of various 
major corporations, financial institutions, municipalities, and government agencies of high credit standing.

The  Company’s  accounts  receivable  are  primarily  derived  from  billings  related  to  revenue  arrangements  with  customers 
and distributors located throughout the world. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition 
and, generally, requires no collateral from its customers. The Company provides reserves for potential credit losses but has not 
experienced significant losses to date. As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, 65% and 60%, respectively, of accounts receivable 
were from domestic customers.

During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, domestic revenue accounted for 66%, 67%, and 67% of total 
revenue,  respectively,  while  outside  of  the  U.S.  (“OUS”)  revenue  accounted  for  34%,  33%,  and  33%,  respectively,  of  total 
revenue for each of the years then ended.

The  Company’s  future  results  of  operations  and  liquidity  could  be  materially  adversely  affected  by  macroeconomic  and 
geopolitical factors in the U.S. and globally, including the supply chain environment, inflationary pressure, higher interest rates, 
instability in the global financial markets, significant disruptions in the commodities’ markets as a result of the conflict between 
Russia and Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, labor shortages, the introduction of or changes in tariffs, trade 

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barriers, or regulatory requirements, and uncertain or reduced demand, as well as the impact of any initiatives or programs that 
the Company may undertake to address financial and operational challenges faced by its customers.

Supply chain constraints continued to show improvement through 2023 based on fewer market constraints. Notably, supply 
of  semiconductor  materials  rebounded  while  certain  residual  stresses  remain.  Additionally,  prices  of  such  materials  remain 
elevated  due  to  either  market  demand  or  production-related  cost  inflation.  With  higher  interest  rates,  access  to  credit  may 
become  more  difficult,  and  any  insolvency  of  certain  suppliers,  including  sole-  and  single-sourced  suppliers,  may  heighten 
continuity risks. The Company is actively engaged in activities to seek to mitigate the impact of any supply chain disruptions on 
the Company’s operations.

Global  shortages  in  important  components  have  resulted  in,  and  will  continue  to  cause,  inflationary  cost  pressure  in  the 
Company’s  supply  chain.  To  date,  these  supply  chain  challenges  have  not  materially  impacted  the  Company’s  results  of 
operations or ability to deliver products and services to its customers. However, supply constraints with certain materials, which 
may be unavoidable, could delay the timing of our product deliveries, which could result in deferred or canceled procedures. 
Additionally,  if  inflationary  pressures  in  component  costs  persist,  the  Company  may  not  be  able  to  quickly  or  easily  adjust 
pricing,  reduce  costs,  or  implement  countermeasures.  Also,  there  is  continued  uncertainty  surrounding  the  impact  of  any 
monetary policy changes taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks to address the structural risks associated 
with inflation.

Fluctuations in labor availability globally, including labor shortages and staff burnout and attrition, could also impact the 
Company’s ability to hire and retain personnel critical to its manufacturing, logistics, and commercial operations. The Company 
is also highly dependent on the principal members of its management and scientific staff. The loss of critical members of the 
Company’s team, or its inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, could significantly harm its operations, business, and 
ability to compete.

A number of hospitals continue to experience challenges with staffing and cost pressures that could affect their ability to 
provide  patient  care;  however,  the  staffing  challenges  have  shown  signs  of  improvement  during  the  second  half  of  2023, 
relative to the first half of 2023 and to the prior year. Additionally, hospitals are facing significant financial pressure as supply 
chain constraints and inflation drive up operating costs, higher interest rates make access to credit more expensive, unrealized 
losses  decrease  available  cash  reserves,  and  fiscal  stimulus  programs  enacted  during  the  COVID-19  pandemic  wind  down. 
Hospitals may also be adversely affected by the liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry that could result in 
delayed access or loss of access to uninsured deposits or loss of their ability to draw on existing credit facilities involving a 
troubled or failed financial institution. To the extent macroeconomic conditions remain challenging, it is likely that hospitals’ 
spend on capital equipment will be adversely impacted. In addition, as overall competition for medical technologies, including 
robotic-assisted devices and other treatment options, progresses in various markets, longer selling cycles and pricing pressures 
are  likely  to  result.  As  of  the  date  of  issuance  of  these  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  the  extent  to  which  these 
macroeconomic factors may materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations is 
uncertain.

The  Company  maintains  the  majority  of  its  cash  and  cash  equivalents  in  accounts  with  major  U.S.  and  multi-national 
financial institutions, and our deposits exceed insured limits. Market conditions could impact the viability of these institutions. 
To date, these market conditions and liquidity concerns have not impacted our results of operations. However, in the event of 
the failure of any of the financial institutions where we maintain our cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that 
we would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all. Any inability to access or delay in accessing these 
funds could adversely affect our business and financial position.

The Company is also subject to additional risks and uncertainties due to COVID-19. When COVID-19 infection rates have 
spiked in a particular region in the past, procedure volumes were often negatively impacted and the diagnoses of new conditions 
and  their  related  treatments  were  sometimes  deferred.  The  Company’s  customers  may  divert  resources  to  treat  COVID-19 
patients and defer some elective surgical procedures, both of which may impact the Company’s customers’ ability to meet their 
obligations, including to the Company. The severity of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business will depend on a 
number of factors, including, but not limited to, the extent and severity of the impact on the Company’s customers, which is 
uncertain and cannot be predicted.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity from the date of purchase of 90 days or less 

to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

As  of  December  31,  2023,  and  2022,  the  Company  had  $20.0  million  and  $19.5  million,  respectively,  of  restricted  cash 
primarily  associated  with  its  insurance  programs.  Restricted  cash  was  included  in  prepaids  and  other  current  assets  and 
intangible and other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Investments

Available-for-sale  debt  securities.    The  Company’s  investments  may  consist  of  money  market  funds,  U.S.  treasury  and 
U.S.  government  agency  securities,  high-quality  corporate  notes  and  bonds,  commercial  paper,  non-U.S.  government  agency 
securities, and taxable and tax-exempt municipal notes. The Company has designated all investments as available-for-sale and, 
therefore,  the  investments  are  subject  to  periodic  impairment  under  the  available-for-sale  debt  security  impairment  model. 
Available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position are written down to fair value through a charge to interest and 
other income, net, if the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell 
the  security  before  recovery  of  its  amortized  cost  basis.  The  Company  evaluates  the  remaining  securities  to  determine  what 
amount of the excess, if any, is caused by expected credit losses. A decline in fair value attributable to expected credit losses is 
recorded to interest and other income, net, while any portion of the loss related to non-credit factors is recorded in accumulated 
other comprehensive income (loss). For securities sold prior to maturity, the cost of the securities sold is based on the specific 
identification method. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are recorded in interest and other income, net in the 
Consolidated  Statements  of  Income.  Investments  with  remaining  maturities  at  the  date  of  purchase  greater  than  90  days  and 
remaining maturities as of the reporting period of less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Investments with 
remaining maturities greater than one year are classified as long-term investments.

Equity investments.  The Company holds equity investments with readily determinable fair values and equity investments 
without readily determinable fair values. The Company recognizes equity investments with readily determinable fair values at 
the quoted market price with changes in value recorded in interest and other income, net. The Company generally recognizes 
equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes 
resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company measures the fair value of money market funds, certain U.S. treasury securities, and equity investments with 
readily  determinable  value  based  on  quoted  prices  in  active  markets  for  identical  assets  as  Level  1  securities.  Marketable 
securities measured at fair value using Level 2 inputs are, or have been, primarily comprised of commercial paper, corporate 
notes  and  bonds,  U.S.  and  non-U.S.  government  agencies,  municipal  notes,  and  equity  investments  without  readily 
determinable value. The Company reviews trading activity and pricing for these investments as of the measurement date. When 
sufficient quoted pricing for identical securities is not available, the Company uses market pricing and other observable market 
inputs  for  similar  securities  obtained  from  various  third-party  data  providers.  These  inputs  either  represent  quoted  prices  for 
similar  assets  in  active  markets  or  have  been  derived  from  observable  market  data.  This  approach  results  in  the  Level  2 
classification of these securities within the fair value hierarchy.

Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory costs include direct 
materials,  direct  labor,  and  normal  manufacturing  overhead.  The  cost  basis  of  the  Company’s  inventory  is  reduced  for  any 
products  that  are  considered  excessive  or  obsolete  based  upon  assumptions  about  future  demand  and  market  conditions. 
Additionally, the cost basis of the Company’s inventory does not include any unallocated fixed overhead costs associated with 
abnormally low utilization of its factories.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on a straight-

line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally, as follows:

Building

Building improvements

Leasehold improvements

Equipment and furniture

Operating lease assets

Computer and office equipment
Enterprise-wide software
Purchased software

Useful Lives

Up to 30 years 

Up to 15 years 

Lesser of useful life or term of lease

5 years 

Greater of lease term or 1 to 5 years 

3 to 5 years 
5 to 8 years 
Lesser of 3 years or life of license

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, was $382 million, $326 million, and $280 

million, respectively.

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Capitalized Software Costs for Internal Use

The Company capitalizes direct costs associated with developing or obtaining internal use software, including enterprise-
wide business software, which are incurred during the application development stage. These capitalized costs are recorded as 
capitalized  software  within  property,  plant,  and  equipment.  Costs  related  to  preliminary  project  activities  and  post-
implementation  activities  are  expensed  as  incurred.  Once  the  software  is  ready  for  its  intended  use,  amounts  capitalized  are 
amortized over an estimated useful life of up to 8 years on a straight-line basis.

Implementation Costs in a Cloud Computing Arrangement 

The  Company  capitalizes  qualified  implementation  costs  incurred  in  a  hosting  arrangement  that  is  a  service  contract  for 
which it is the customer in accordance with the requirements for capitalizing costs incurred to develop internal-use software. 
These capitalized implementation costs are recorded within intangible and other assets, net, and are generally amortized over 
the fixed, non-cancellable term of the associated hosting arrangement on a straight-line basis.

During  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021,  the  Company  recognized  $10.2  million,  $6.4  million,  and 

$2.9 million of amortization expense associated with capitalized implementation costs, respectively.

Business Combinations

The  Company  accounts  for  business  acquisitions  in  accordance  with  ASC  805,  Business  Combinations.  This  standard 
requires  the  acquiring  entity  in  a  business  combination  to  recognize  the  assets  acquired,  liabilities  assumed,  and  any 
noncontrolling interest in the acquiree using acquisition-date fair values. Certain provisions of this standard prescribe, among 
other  things,  the  determination  of  acquisition-date  fair  value  of  consideration  paid  in  a  business  combination,  including 
contingent  consideration.  The  excess  of  the  acquisition-date  fair  value  of  consideration  paid  over  the  fair  values  of  the 
identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Acquisition-related costs are recognized separately from the business 
combination and are expensed as incurred. The Company includes the results of operations of the businesses that are acquired 
as of the acquisition date.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment at least annually 
during the fourth quarter, or if circumstances indicate their value may no longer be recoverable. Goodwill represents the excess 
of  the  purchase  price  over  the  fair  value  of  net  identifiable  assets  and  liabilities.  The  Company  continues  to  operate  in  one 
segment, which is considered to be the sole reporting unit and, therefore, goodwill was tested for impairment at the enterprise 
level.

Intangible assets are carried at cost, net of accumulated amortization. The Company does not have intangible assets with 
indefinite useful lives other than goodwill. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the intangible assets’ useful 
lives, which range from approximately 3 to 9 years.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The  Company  evaluates  long-lived  assets,  which  include  finite-lived  intangible  and  tangible  assets,  for  impairment 
whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  value  of  long-lived  assets  may  not  be  recoverable. 
Recoverability is measured by comparing the net book value to the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to such assets. 
The  Company  recognizes  an  impairment  charge  equal  to  the  amount  by  which  the  net  book  value  exceeds  its  fair  value.  No 
material impairment losses were incurred in the periods presented.

Revenue Recognition

The  Company’s  revenue  consists  of  product  revenue,  resulting  from  the  sale  of  systems,  system  components,  and 
instruments and accessories, and service revenue. The Company accounts for a contract with a customer when there is a legally 
enforceable contract between the Company and its customer, the rights of the parties are identified, the contract has commercial 
substance, and the collectability of the contract consideration is probable. The Company’s revenues are measured based on the 
consideration specified in the contract with each customer, net of any sales incentives and taxes collected from customers that 
are remitted to government authorities.

The  Company’s  system  sale  arrangements  generally  contain  multiple  products  and  services.  For  these  bundled  sale 
arrangements,  the  Company  accounts  for  individual  products  and  services  as  separate  performance  obligations  if  they  are  a 
distinct  product  or  service  that  is  separately  identifiable  from  other  items  in  bundled  packages  and  if  a  customer  can  benefit 
from the product or service on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer. The Company’s system 
sale  arrangements  include  a  combination  of  the  following  performance  obligations:  system(s);  system  components;  system 
accessories; instruments; accessories; and system service. The Company’s system sale arrangements generally include a five-
year period of service. The first year of service is generally free and included in the system sale arrangement, and the remaining 
four years are generally included at a stated service price. The Company considers the service terms in the arrangements that are 

100

legally enforceable to be performance obligations. Other than service, the Company generally satisfies all of the performance 
obligations at a point in time. System components, system accessories, instruments, accessories, and service are also sold on a 
stand-alone basis.

For  multiple-element  arrangements,  revenue  is  allocated  to  each  performance  obligation  based  on  its  relative  standalone 
selling price. Standalone selling prices are based on observable prices at which the Company separately sells the products or 
services.  If  a  standalone  selling  price  is  not  directly  observable,  then  the  Company  estimates  the  standalone  selling  price 
considering market conditions and entity-specific factors including, but not limited to, features and functionality of the products 
and services, geographies, and type of customer. The Company regularly reviews standalone selling prices and updates these 
estimates, as necessary.

The  Company  recognizes  revenue  as  the  performance  obligations  are  satisfied  by  transferring  control  of  the  product  or 

service to a customer. The Company generally recognizes revenue for the performance obligations in the following manner:

System  sales.    For  systems  (including  system  components  and  system  accessories)  sold  directly  to  end  customers, 
revenue  is  recognized  when  the  Company  transfers  control  to  the  customer,  which  is  generally  at  the  point  when 
acceptance  occurs  that  indicates  customer  acknowledgment  of  delivery  or  installation,  depending  on  the  terms  of  the 
arrangement.  For  systems  sold  through  distributors,  revenue  is  recognized  generally  at  the  time  of  shipment.  The 
Company’s system arrangements generally do not provide a right of return. The systems are generally covered by a one-
year warranty. Warranty costs were not material for the periods presented.

Instruments  and  accessories.    Revenue  from  sales  of  instruments  and  accessories  is  recognized  when  control  is 
transferred to the customers, which generally occurs at the time of shipment but also could occur at the time of delivery, 
depending on the customer arrangement. The Company generally allows its customers in the normal course of business to 
return  unused  products  for  a  limited  period  of  time  subsequent  to  the  initial  purchase  and  records  an  allowance  against 
revenue for estimated returns.

Service.  Service revenue is recognized over the term of the service period, as the customer benefits from the services 
throughout  the  service  period.  Revenue  related  to  services  performed  on  a  time-and-materials  basis  is  recognized  when 
performed.

The  Company  offers  its  customers  the  opportunity  to  trade  in  their  older  systems  for  a  credit  towards  the  purchase  of  a 
newer generation system. Such trade-in or upgrade transactions are separately negotiated based on the circumstances at the time 
of the trade-in or upgrade, based on the then-fair value of the system, and are generally not based on any pre-existing rights 
granted by the Company. Accordingly, such trade-ins and upgrades are not considered separate performance obligations in the 
arrangement for a system sale. The Company generally does not provide specified-price trade-in rights or upgrade rights at the 
time of a system purchase; however, when they are provided, it is typically a specified trade-in credit that declines over time 
and requires the customer to enter into a new purchase agreement to exercise the right. The Company accounts for such rights 
as guarantees and, first, reduces the total consideration by the fair value of the guarantee; the remaining consideration is then 
allocated to each performance obligation. The liability associated with these guarantees was not material for any of the years 
presented.

Traded-in  systems  can  generally  be  reconditioned  and  resold.  The  Company  accounts  for  the  fair  value  of  the  traded-in 
system in the total consideration in the arrangement for the purchase of the newer generation system. When there is no market 
for the traded-in units, no value is assigned. The value of the traded-in units is reported as a component of inventory until resold 
or otherwise disposed.

In addition, customers may also have the opportunity to add additional features to their systems at a price that is separately 
negotiated, for example, by adding a second surgeon console for use with the da Vinci surgical system. Revenue is recognized 
when the component level features are provided and all revenue recognition criteria are met.

Assets Recognized from the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

The  Company  has  determined  that  certain  sales  incentives  provided  to  the  Company’s  sales  team  are  required  to  be 
capitalized  when  the  Company  expects  to  generate  future  economic  benefits  from  the  related  revenue-generating  contracts 
subsequent  to  the  initial  system  sales  transaction.  When  determining  the  economic  life  of  the  contract  acquisition  assets 
recognized, the Company considers historical contract renewal rates, expectations of future contract renewals, and other factors 
that  could  impact  the  economic  benefits  that  the  Company  expects  to  generate  from  the  relationship  with  its  customers.  The 
amounts  capitalized  as  contract  acquisition  costs,  which  are  included  in  intangible  and  other  assets,  net  in  the  Consolidated 
Balance Sheets, were $89.3 million and $72.3 million as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Company did not 
incur any impairment losses during the periods presented.

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Intuitive System Leasing

The Company enters into lease arrangements with certain qualified customers. Leases have terms that generally range from 
24 to 84 months and are usually collateralized by a security interest in the underlying assets. The Company also leases systems 
to certain qualified customers under usage-based arrangements that have terms of up to 84 months. For these usage-based lease 
arrangements,  the  lease  fee  is  generally  billed  monthly  in  arrears  based  on  a  contractual  per-use  fee,  and  usage  is  generally 
defined as the number of procedures performed with the system.

Revenue  related  to  multiple-element  arrangements  are  allocated  to  lease  and  non-lease  elements  based  on  their  relative 
standalone  selling  prices  as  prescribed  by  the  Company’s  revenue  recognition  policy.  Lease  elements  generally  include  a 
system or system component, while non-lease elements generally include service. For some lease arrangements, customers are 
provided with the right to purchase the leased system at some point during and/or at the end of the lease term. Except for usage-
based lease arrangements, lease arrangements generally do not provide rights for the customers to exit or terminate the lease 
without incurring a penalty. Certain lease arrangements may also include upgrade rights that allow customers to upgrade the 
leased  system  to  newer  technology  at  some  point  during  the  lease  term.  Generally,  these  upgrade  rights  do  not  specify  the 
terms,  including  the  price  or  structure  of  the  future  upgrade  transactions,  as  those  terms  are  negotiated  based  on  the 
circumstances at the time of the upgrade, including the then-fair value of the system as well as other factors.

In  determining  whether  a  transaction  should  be  classified  as  a  sales-type  or  operating  lease  (whether  fixed-payment  or 
usage-based),  the  Company  considers  the  following  terms  at  lease  commencement:  (1)  whether  title  of  the  system  transfers 
automatically or for a nominal fee by the end of the lease term; (2) whether the present value of the minimum lease payments 
equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the leased system; (3) whether the lease term is for the major part of the 
remaining economic life of the leased system; (4) whether the lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the leased system 
that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise; and (5) whether the underlying system is of such a specialized nature that it is 
expected to have no alternative use to the Company at the end of the lease term.

The Company generally recognizes revenue from sales-type lease arrangements at the time the system is accepted by the 
customer,  assuming  all  other  revenue  recognition  criteria  have  been  met.  Revenue  related  to  lease  elements  from  sales-type 
leases is presented as product revenue. Revenue related to lease elements from fixed-payment operating lease arrangements is 
generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is presented as product revenue. Revenue related to lease 
elements from usage-based arrangements is recognized as the customers utilize the systems and is presented as product revenue.

Other Leasing Arrangements

The  Company  determines  if  an  arrangement  contains  a  lease  at  inception.  For  arrangements  where  the  Company  is  the 
lessee, operating leases are included in intangible and other assets, net, other accrued liabilities, and other long-term liabilities 
on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023. The Company currently does not have any finance leases.

Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the 
future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. ROU assets also include any initial direct costs 
incurred and any lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, less lease incentives received. The Company 
uses  its  incremental  borrowing  rate  based  on  the  information  available  at  the  commencement  date  in  determining  the  lease 
liabilities,  as  the  Company  does  not  have  insight  into  the  inputs  necessary  to  calculate  the  implicit  rate  of  the  leases.  Lease 
terms may include options to extend or terminate when the Company is reasonably certain the option will be exercised. Lease 
expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The  Company  also  has  lease  arrangements  with  lease  and  non-lease  components.  The  Company  elected  the  practical 
expedient not to separate non-lease components from lease components for the Company’s real estate and automobile leases. 
Additionally,  the  Company  applied  a  portfolio  approach  to  effectively  account  for  the  operating  lease  ROU  assets  and  lease 
liabilities  for  the  Company’s  automobile  leases.  The  Company  also  elected  to  apply  the  short-term  lease  measurement  and 
recognition exemption in which ROU assets and lease liabilities are not recognized for leases with terms of 12 months or less.

Credit Losses

Trade accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability 
of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit 
quality, age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. 
For the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, bad debt expense was not material.

Net investment in sales-type leases. The Company enters into sales-type leases with certain qualified customers to purchase 
its systems. Sales-type leases have terms that generally range from 24 to 84 months and are usually collateralized by a security 
interest  in  the  underlying  assets.  The  allowance  for  loan  loss  is  based  on  the  Company’s  assessment  of  the  current  expected 
lifetime  loss  on  lease  receivables.  The  Company  regularly  reviews  the  allowance  by  considering  factors  such  as  historical 

102

experience, credit quality, age of the lease receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s 
ability to pay. Lease receivables are considered past due 90 days after invoice.

The Company manages the credit risk of the net investment in sales-type leases using a number of factors relating to our 
customers,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  following:  size  of  operations;  profitability,  liquidity,  and  debt  ratios;  payment 
history; and past due amounts. The Company also uses credit scores obtained from external providers as a key indicator for the 
purposes of determining credit quality. The following table summarizes the amortized cost basis by year of origination and by 
credit quality for the net investment in sales-type leases as of December 31, 2023 (in millions):

Credit Rating:

High

Moderate

Low

Total

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Prior

Net 
Investment

$ 

39.6  $ 

70.2  $ 

60.3  $ 

24.4  $ 

6.5  $ 

0.2  $ 

37.6 

1.5 

51.4 

4.6 

43.1 

3.5 

22.2 

0.8 

4.5 

— 

1.0 

0.2 

$ 

78.7  $ 

126.2  $ 

106.9  $ 

47.4  $ 

11.0  $ 

1.4  $ 

201.2 

159.8 

10.6 

371.6 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, credit losses related to the net investment in sales-type leases were not 

material.

The  Company’s  exposure  to  credit  losses  may  increase  if  its  customers  are  adversely  affected  by  changes  in  healthcare 
laws,  procedure  coverage,  and  reimbursement,  economic  pressures  or  uncertainty  associated  with  local  or  global  economic 
recessions,  disruption  associated  with  COVID-19,  or  other  customer-specific  factors.  Although  the  Company  has  historically 
not experienced significant credit losses, it is possible that there could be a material adverse impact from potential adjustments 
of the carrying amount of trade and lease receivables as hospital cash flows are impacted by macroeconomic factors, including 
inflation, high interest rates, and staffing shortages.

Available-for-sale  debt  securities.  The  Company  regularly  reviews  the  securities  in  an  unrealized  loss  position  and 
evaluates the current expected credit loss by considering factors such as historical experience, market data, financial condition 
and near-term prospects of the investee, the extent of the loss related to the credit of the issuer, and the expected cash flows 
from the security. The Company segments its portfolio based on the underlying risk profiles of the securities and has a zero-loss 
expectation for U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities. The basis for this assumption is that these securities have 
consistently  high  credit  ratings  by  rating  agencies,  have  a  long  history  with  no  credit  losses,  are  explicitly  guaranteed  by  a 
sovereign entity, which can print its own currency, and are denominated in a currency that is routinely held by central banks, 
used in international commerce, and commonly viewed as a reserve currency. Additionally, all of the Company’s investments 
in corporate debt securities are in securities with high-quality credit ratings, which have historically experienced low rates of 
default. For the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities were not 
material.

Allowance for Sales Returns

The allowance for sales returns is based on the Company’s estimates of potential future returns of certain products related 
to current period product revenue. The Company analyzes historical returns, current economic trends, and changes in customer 
demand and acceptance of the Company’s products.

Share-Based Compensation

The  Company  grants  long-term  equity  awards  under  its  stock-based  compensation  plans  to  certain  employees  of  the 
Company. These awards include restricted stock units, stock options, and performance stock units. The Company accounts for 
share-based  compensation  plans  using  the  fair  value  recognition  and  measurement  provisions  under  GAAP.  The  Company’s 
share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense 
on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company estimates expected forfeitures at the time of grant and 
revises the estimate, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimated.

Restricted stock units.  The fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) is determined based on the closing quoted price of 

the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant.

103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock options.  The Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model is used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted 
and utilizes the following inputs: (1) closing quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant; (2) expected 
term; (3) expected volatility; and (4) risk-free interest rate.

Expected Term: The expected term represents the weighted-average period that the stock options are expected to be 
outstanding prior to being exercised. The Company determines expected term based on historical exercise patterns 
and its expectation of the time that it will take for employees to exercise options still outstanding.

Expected  Volatility:  The  Company  uses  market-based  implied  volatility  for  purposes  of  valuing  stock  options 
granted.  Market-based  implied  volatility  is  derived  based  on  actively  traded  options  with  expirations  greater  than 
one year on the Company’s common stock. The extent to which the Company relies on market-based volatility when 
valuing options depends, among other things, on the availability of traded options on the Company’s stock and the 
term of such options. Due to a sufficient volume of traded options, the Company used 100% market-based implied 
volatility to value options granted, which the Company believes is more representative of future stock price trends 
than historical volatility.

Risk-Free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect at the time of 
grant for the expected term of the stock option.

Performance stock units.  Performance stock units (“PSUs”) include predefined performance and market conditions. The 
fair  value  of  performance  stock  units  with  performance  conditions  is  based  on  the  closing  quoted  price  of  the  Company’s 
common stock on the date of the grant. The Company estimates the number of awards with performance conditions that will 
ultimately  vest  based  on  the  probability  of  achievement  each  quarter  to  determine  the  amount  of  compensation  expense  to 
recognize each reporting period. The fair value of performance stock units that include a market condition is determined using a 
Monte Carlo valuation model.

Employee stock purchase plan.  The fair value of shares to be issued under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
(the “ESPP”) is computed using the Black-Scholes-Merton model at the commencement of an offering period in February and 
August of each year utilizing the following inputs: (1) closing quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the initial date 
of the offering period; (2) expected term; (3) expected volatility; and (4) risk-free interest rate. Share-based compensation for 
the ESPP is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the two-year offering period.

See  “Note  10.  Share-Based  Compensation”  for  a  detailed  discussion  of  the  Company’s  stock  plans  and  share-based 

compensation expense.

Computation of Net Income per Share

Basic net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is computed using the weighted-average number of shares 
outstanding  during  the  period.  Diluted  net  income  per  share  attributable  to  Intuitive  Surgical,  Inc.  is  computed  using  the 
weighted-average  number  of  the  Company’s  shares  and  dilutive  potential  shares  outstanding  during  the  period.  Dilutive 
potential shares primarily consist of restricted stock units, stock options, performance stock units, and shares to be purchased by 
employees under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.

Employee equity share options, non-vested shares, and similar equity instruments granted by the Company are treated as 
potential common shares outstanding in computing diluted earnings per share. Diluted shares outstanding include the dilutive 
effect  of  equity  awards,  which  is  calculated  based  on  the  average  share  price  for  each  fiscal  period  using  the  treasury  stock 
method. Under the treasury stock method, the amount the employee must pay for exercising stock options and the amount of 
compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized are assumed to be used to repurchase shares.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and include amortization of intangible assets, costs associated 
with  co-development  research  and  development  licensing  arrangements,  costs  of  prototypes,  salaries,  benefits  and  other 
headcount-related costs, contract and other outside service fees, and facilities and overhead costs.

Foreign Currency and Other Hedging Instruments

For subsidiaries whose local currency is their functional currency, their assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars 
at exchange rates at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are translated using exchange rates in effect during the 
period.  Gains  and  losses  from  foreign  currency  translation  are  included  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  (loss) 
within stockholders’ equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For all non-functional currency monetary account balances, the 
re-measurement of such balances to the functional currency results in either a foreign exchange gain or loss, which is recorded 
to  interest  and  other  income,  net  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income  in  the  same  accounting  period  that  the  re-
measurement occurred.

104

The Company uses derivatives to partially offset its business exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. The terms of the 
Company’s  derivative  contracts  are  generally  thirteen  months  or  shorter.  The  Company  typically  hedges  portions  of  its 
forecasted foreign currency exposure associated with revenue and expenses. The Company may also enter into foreign currency 
forward contracts to offset the foreign currency exchange gains and losses generated by the re-measurement of certain assets 
and  liabilities  denominated  in  non-functional  currencies.  The  hedging  program  is  not  designated  for  trading  or  speculative 
purposes.

The Company’s accounting policies for these instruments are based on whether the instruments are designated as hedging 
or  non-hedging  instruments.  The  Company  records  all  derivatives  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  at  fair  value.  The 
effective  portions  of  cash  flow  hedges  are  recorded  in  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  (“OCI”)  until  the  hedged  item  is 
recognized in earnings. Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are de-designated as hedges when it is probable 
that the forecasted hedged transaction will not occur in the initially identified time period or within a subsequent two-month 
time  period.  Gains  and  losses  in  OCI  associated  with  such  derivative  instruments  are  reclassified  immediately  into  earnings 
through  interest  and  other  income,  net.  Any  subsequent  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  such  derivative  instruments  also  are 
reflected  in  current  earnings.  Derivatives  that  are  not  designated  as  hedging  instruments  and  the  ineffective  portions  of  cash 
flow hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings in interest and other income, net.

Income Taxes

Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  recognized  for  the  future  tax  consequences  attributable  to  differences  between  the 
financial  statement  carrying  amounts  of  existing  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  respective  tax  bases.  Deferred  tax  assets  and 
liabilities  are  measured  using  enacted  tax  rates  expected  to  apply  to  taxable  income  in  the  year  in  which  those  temporary 
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is 
recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to 
reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts that are expected more likely than not to be realized in the future.

The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will 
be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized 
in the Consolidated Financial Statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater 
than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company includes interest and penalty on unrecognized 
tax benefits as a component of its income tax expense.

The Company recognizes excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the provision for income taxes as discrete items in the 
period  when  the  awards  vest  or  are  settled.  The  Company  accounts  for  Global  Intangible  Low-Taxed  Income  (“GILTI”)  as 
period costs when incurred.

Segments

The Company operates in one segment. The chief operating decision maker regularly reviews the operating results of the 
Company on a consolidated basis as part of making decisions for allocating resources and evaluating performance. As of both 
December  31,  2023,  and  2022,  84%  of  long-lived  assets  were  in  the  United  States.  Revenue  from  external  customers  is 
attributed to individual countries based on customer location.

Legal Contingencies

From  time  to  time,  the  Company  is  involved  in  a  number  of  legal  proceedings  involving  product  liability,  intellectual 
property, shareholder derivative actions, securities class actions, and other matters. A liability and related charge are recorded to 
earnings in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for legal contingencies when the loss is considered probable and 
the amount can be reasonably estimated. The assessment is re-evaluated each period and is based on all available information, 
including  discussion  with  outside  legal  counsel.  If  a  reasonable  estimate  of  a  known  or  probable  loss  cannot  be  made,  but  a 
range of probable losses can be estimated, the low-end of the range of losses is recognized if no amount within the range is a 
better estimate than any other. If a material loss is reasonably possible but not probable and can be reasonably estimated, the 
estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company expenses legal 
fees as incurred.

When determining the estimated probable loss or range of losses, significant judgment is required to be exercised in order 
to  estimate  the  amount  and  timing  of  the  loss  to  be  recorded.  Estimates  of  probable  losses  resulting  from  litigation  are 
inherently difficult to make, particularly when the matters are in early procedural stages with incomplete facts and information. 
The final outcome of legal proceedings is dependent on many variables that are difficult to predict and, therefore, the ultimate 
cost  to  entirely  resolve  such  matters  may  be  materially  different  than  the  amount  of  current  estimates.  Consequently,  new 
information or changes in judgments and estimates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial 
condition, and results of operations or cash flows.

105

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures

In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 
2022-02,  Financial  Instruments-Credit  Losses  (Topic  326):  Troubled  Debt  Restructurings  and  Vintage  Disclosures  (“ASU 
2022-02”), which eliminates the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors while enhancing disclosure 
requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. 
Additionally, the standard requires disclosure of current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables 
and  net  investments  in  leases  within  the  scope  of  Subtopic  ASC  326-20,  Financial  Instruments-Credit  Losses-Measured  at 
Amortized Cost. The Company adopted ASU 2022-02 on January 1, 2023, on a prospective basis. There was no impact of the 
adoption of ASU 2022-02 on the Company’s Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment 
Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires all public entities, including public entities with a single reportable segment, to 
provide  in  interim  and  annual  periods  one  or  more  measures  of  segment  profit  or  loss  used  by  the  chief  operating  decision 
maker  to  allocate  resources  and  assess  performance.  Additionally,  the  standard  requires  disclosures  of  significant  segment 
expenses  and  other  segment  items  as  well  as  incremental  qualitative  disclosures.  The  guidance  in  this  update  is  effective  for 
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently in the 
process of evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on our related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures 
(“ASU  2023-09”),  which  requires  enhanced  income  tax  disclosures,  including  specific  categories  and  disaggregation  of 
information in the effective tax rate reconciliation, disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from 
continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The 
requirements of the ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. 
The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on our related disclosures. 

The  Company  continues  to  monitor  new  accounting  pronouncements  issued  by  the  FASB  and  does  not  believe  any 
accounting  pronouncements  issued  through  the  date  of  this  report  will  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company’s  Financial 
Statements.

NOTE 3.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments

The  following  tables  summarize  the  Company’s  cash  and  available-for-sale  debt  securities’  amortized  cost,  gross 
unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, allowance for credit loss, and fair value by significant investment category reported as 
cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, or long-term investments as of December 31, 2023, and 2022 (in millions):

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Allowance 
for Credit 
Loss

Fair
Value

Cash and
Cash
Equivalents

Short-term
Investments

Long-term
Investments

Reported as:

$ 

526.2  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

526.2  $ 

526.2  $ 

—  $ 

— 

December 31, 2023

Cash

Level 1:

Money market funds

  2,223.9 

U.S. treasuries

Subtotal

  2,850.2 

  5,074.1 

Level 2:

Corporate debt 
securities
U.S. government 
agencies
Municipal securities

Subtotal

Total assets measured 
at fair value

  1,300.4 

402.6 
79.4 
  1,782.4 

— 

20.1 

20.1 

— 

2.0 
— 
2.0 

— 

(25.4)   

(25.4)   

— 

— 

— 

  2,223.9 

  2,223.9 

— 

— 

  2,844.9 

— 

  1,276.0 

  1,568.9 

  5,068.8 

  2,223.9 

  1,276.0 

  1,568.9 

(25.8)   

(1.1)    1,273.5 

(7.3)   
(2.0)   
(35.1)   

— 
— 

397.3 
77.4 
(1.1)    1,748.2 

— 

— 
— 
— 

974.6 

298.9 

149.5 
73.0 
  1,197.1 

247.8 
4.4 
551.1 

$  7,382.7  $ 

22.1  $ 

(60.5)  $ 

(1.1)  $  7,343.2  $  2,750.1  $  2,473.1  $  2,120.0 

106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Allowance 
for Credit 
Loss

Fair
Value

Cash and
Cash
Equivalents

Short-term
Investments

Long-term
Investments

Reported as:

$ 

497.2  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

497.2  $ 

497.2  $ 

—  $ 

— 

December 31, 2022

Cash

Level 1:

Money market funds

  1,084.0 

U.S. treasuries

Subtotal

Level 2:

Commercial paper

Corporate debt 
securities
U.S. government 
agencies
Municipal securities

  2,715.2 

  3,799.2 

20.0 

  2,022.0 

447.2 

155.5 

Subtotal

  2,644.7 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(96.6)   

(96.6)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

20.0 

(76.0)   

(1.1)    1,944.9 

(19.9)   

(6.0)   

— 

— 

427.3 

149.5 

(101.9)   

(1.1)    2,541.7 

  1,084.0 

  1,084.0 

— 

— 

  2,618.6 

— 

  1,542.4 

  1,076.2 

  3,702.6 

  1,084.0 

  1,542.4 

  1,076.2 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

20.0 

— 

651.8 

  1,293.1 

247.8 

74.7 

179.5 

74.8 

994.3 

  1,547.4 

Total assets measured 
at fair value

$  6,941.1  $ 

—  $ 

(198.5)  $ 

(1.1)  $  6,741.5  $  1,581.2  $  2,536.7  $  2,623.6 

The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of the Company’s cash equivalents and available-for-sale debt 

securities (excluding money market funds), as of December 31, 2023 (in millions):

Mature in less than one year

Mature in one to five years

Total

Amortized
Cost

Fair
Value

$ 

$ 

2,512.5  $ 

2,120.1 

4,632.6  $ 

2,473.1 

2,120.0 

4,593.1 

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities, because certain borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain 
obligations.  Gross  realized  gains  and  losses  recognized  on  the  sale  of  investments  were  immaterial  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2023, and 2022.

As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, net unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax, of $29.7 million 
and  $154.2  million,  respectively,  were  included  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  in  the  accompanying  Consolidated 
Balance Sheets.

107

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  tables  present  the  breakdown  of  the  available-for-sale  debt  securities  with  unrealized  losses  as  of 

December 31, 2023, and 2022 (in millions):

December 31, 2023
U.S. treasuries 

Corporate debt securities

U.S. government agencies

Municipal securities

Total

December 31, 2022
U.S. treasuries

Corporate debt securities

U.S. government agencies

Municipal securities

Total

Unrealized losses less
than 12 months

Unrealized losses 12
months or greater

Total

Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Unrealized
Losses

$ 

48.5  $ 

—  $  1,112.9  $ 

(25.4)  $  1,161.4  $ 

54.2 

29.8 

— 

(0.1)   

1,219.2 

(25.8)   

1,273.4 

— 

— 

185.6 

77.4 

(7.3)   

(1.9)   

215.4 

77.4 

(25.4) 

(25.9) 

(7.3) 

(1.9) 

$ 

132.5  $ 

(0.1)  $  2,595.1  $ 

(60.4)  $  2,727.6  $ 

(60.5) 

$ 

731.7  $ 

(26.0)  $  1,886.9  $ 

(70.6)  $  2,618.6  $ 

631.4 

102.7 

44.6 

(17.6)   

1,221.9 

(58.4)   

1,853.3 

(4.4)   

(1.1)   

324.6 

104.9 

(15.5)   

(4.9)   

427.3 

149.5 

(96.6) 

(76.0) 

(19.9) 

(6.0) 

$  1,510.4  $ 

(49.1)  $  3,538.3  $ 

(149.4)  $  5,048.7  $ 

(198.5) 

The current unrealized losses on the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities were caused by interest rate increases. 
The contractual terms of those investments do not permit the issuer to settle the securities at a price less than the amortized cost 
basis  of  the  investments.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  the  Company  does  not  intend  to  sell  the  investments  in  unrealized  loss 
positions, and it is not more-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell any of the investments before recovery of 
their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity. Therefore, the Company does not expect to realize any losses on these 
available-for-sale  debt  securities.  Additional  factors  considered  in  determining  the  treatment  of  unrealized  losses  include  the 
financial  condition  and  near-term  prospects  of  the  investee,  the  extent  of  the  loss  related  to  the  credit  of  the  issuer,  and  the 
expected cash flows from the security.

Equity Investments

The following table is a summary of the activity related to equity investments (in millions):

December 31, 
2022
Carrying Value

Changes 
in Fair 
Value (1)

Purchases
 / Sales / 
Other (2)

December 31, 
2023
Carrying Value

Prepaids and 
other current 
assets

Intangible 
and other 
assets, net

Reported as:

Equity investments with readily 
determinable value (Level 1)
Equity investments without readily 
determinable value (Level 2)

$ 

$ 

(1) Recorded in interest and other income, net.
(2) Other includes foreign currency translation gains/(losses).

4.3  $ 

(0.4)  $ 

(3.9)  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

— 

59.1  $ 

(5.9)  $ 

21.3  $ 

74.5  $ 

—  $ 

74.5 

In 2023, Company recognized a net decrease in fair value of $5.9 million primarily due to an impairment, partially offset 
by  net  increases  in  observable  prices  for  certain  equity  investments  that  lack  readily  determinable  market  values  (Level  2), 
which were also reflected in interest and other income, net.

Foreign Currency Derivatives

The objective of the Company’s hedging program is to mitigate the impact of changes in currency exchange rates on net 
cash flow from foreign currency-denominated sales, expenses, intercompany balances, and other monetary assets or liabilities 
denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar (“USD”). The terms of the Company’s derivative contracts are generally 
thirteen months or shorter. The derivative assets and liabilities are measured using Level 2 fair value inputs.

Cash Flow Hedges.  The Company enters into currency forward contracts as cash flow hedges to hedge certain forecasted 
revenue transactions denominated in currencies other than the USD, primarily the Euro (“EUR”), the British Pound (“GBP”), 
the Japanese Yen (“JPY”), the Korean Won (“KRW”), and the New Taiwan Dollar (“TWD”). The Company also enters into 

108

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
currency forward contracts as cash flow hedges to hedge certain forecasted expense transactions denominated in EUR and the 
Swiss Franc (“CHF”).

For  these  derivatives,  the  Company  reports  the  unrealized  after-tax  gain  or  loss  from  the  hedge  as  a  component  of 
accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity and reclassifies the amount into earnings in the same period in 
which  the  hedged  transaction  affects  earnings.  The  amounts  reclassified  to  revenue  and  expenses  related  to  the  hedged 
transactions and the ineffective portions of cash flow hedges were not material for the periods presented.

Other  Derivatives  Not  Designated  as  Hedging  Instruments.    Other  derivatives  not  designated  as  hedging  instruments 
consist  primarily  of  forward  contracts  that  the  Company  uses  to  hedge  intercompany  balances  and  other  monetary  assets  or 
liabilities  denominated  in  currencies  other  than  the  USD,  primarily  the  EUR,  GBP,  JPY,  KRW,  CHF,  TWD,  Indian  Rupee 
(“INR”), Mexican Peso (“MXN”), Chinese Yuan (“CNY”), and Canadian Dollar (“CAD”), and Swedish Kronor (“SEK”).

These  derivative  instruments  are  used  to  hedge  against  balance  sheet  foreign  currency  exposures.  The  related  gains  and 

losses were as follows (in millions):

Recognized gains in interest and other income, net

Foreign exchange losses related to balance sheet re-measurement

$ 

$ 

4.8  $ 

(8.5)  $ 

26.9  $ 

(54.2)  $ 

15.5 

(16.4) 

The  notional  amounts  for  derivative  instruments  provide  one  measure  of  the  transaction  volume.  Total  gross  notional 
amounts (in USD) for outstanding derivatives and the aggregate gross fair value at the end of each period were as follows (in 
millions):

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

Notional amounts:

Forward contracts

Gross fair value recorded in:

Prepaids and other current assets

Other accrued liabilities

Derivatives Designated as 
Hedging Instruments

Derivatives Not Designated as 
Hedging Instruments

December 31,
2023

December 31,
2022

December 31,
2023

December 31,
2022

$ 

$ 

$ 

292.1  $ 

188.4  $ 

699.7  $ 

496.3 

3.1  $ 

5.9  $ 

1.8  $ 

5.3  $ 

5.0  $ 

6.6  $ 

4.3 

4.2 

NOTE 4.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT DETAILS

The following tables provide details of selected consolidated financial statement items (in millions):

Accounts receivable, net

Trade accounts receivable, net

Unbilled accounts receivable and other

Sales returns and allowances

Total accounts receivable, net

Inventory

Raw materials

Work-in-process

Finished goods

Total inventory

109

December 31,

2023

2022

$ 

1,042.2  $ 

105.0 

(17.0)   

$ 

1,130.2  $ 

864.9 

91.7 

(14.5) 

942.1 

December 31,

2023

2022

$ 

$ 

454.7  $ 

159.9 

606.0 
1,220.6  $ 

382.9 

159.9 

350.4 
893.2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepaids and other current assets

Net investment in sales-type leases – short-term

Other prepaids and other current assets

Total prepaids and other current assets

Property, plant, and equipment, net

Land

Building and building/leasehold improvements

Machinery and equipment

Operating lease assets – Intuitive System Leasing

Computer and office equipment

Capitalized software

Construction-in-process

Gross property, plant, and equipment

Less: Accumulated depreciation*

December 31,

2023

2022

137.3 

176.7 

$ 

314.0  $ 

131.2 

168.6 

299.8 

December 31,

2023

2022

$ 

457.3  $ 

1,002.1 

724.2 

1,149.7 

153.8 

257.8 

1,354.7 

5,099.6 

388.6 

866.5 

566.4 

806.4 

134.7 

240.9 

608.6 

3,612.1 

(1,562.0)   

(1,237.9) 

Total property, plant, and equipment, net

$ 
*Accumulated depreciation associated with operating lease assets – Intuitive System Leasing $ 

3,537.6  $ 

2,374.2 

(434.3)  $ 

(285.8) 

Implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements

Capitalized implementation costs

Less: Accumulated depreciation

Total capitalized implementation costs in intangible and other assets, net

Other accrued liabilities – short-term

Income and other taxes payable

Accrued construction-related capital expenditures

Other accrued liabilities

Total other accrued liabilities – short-term

Other long-term liabilities

Income taxes – long-term

Deferred revenue – long-term

Other long-term liabilities

Total other long-term liabilities

December 31,

2023

2022

50.7  $ 

(20.5)   

30.2  $ 

36.0 

(10.3) 

25.7 

December 31,

2023

2022

111.4  $ 

143.3 

332.8 

587.5  $ 

96.1 

50.3 

329.8 

476.2 

December 31,

2023

2022

233.8  $ 

45.6 

106.1 

385.5  $ 

288.0 

41.0 

110.3 

439.3 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

110

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following table provides supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities (in millions):

Income taxes paid

Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:

Equipment transfers, including operating lease assets, from inventory 
to property, plant, and equipment 
Acquisition of property, plant, and equipment in accounts payable and 
accrued liabilities

$ 

$ 

$ 

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

447.8  $ 

444.2  $ 

180.0 

422.4  $ 

279.2  $ 

302.4 

153.7  $ 

73.4  $ 

32.1 

NOTE 5. 

REVENUE

The following table presents revenue disaggregated by types and geography (in millions):

U.S.

Instruments and accessories

Systems

Services

Total U.S. revenue

OUS

Instruments and accessories

Systems

Services

Total OUS revenue

Total

Instruments and accessories

Systems

Services

Total revenue

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

3,059.8  $ 

2,507.2  $ 

2,225.1 

865.5 

763.3 

966.0 

684.4 

1,024.8 

603.3 

$ 

4,688.6  $ 

4,157.6  $ 

3,853.2 

$ 

1,216.8  $ 

1,010.7  $ 

814.2 

404.5 

714.1 

339.8 

875.4 

668.6 

312.9 

$ 

2,435.5  $ 

2,064.6  $ 

1,856.9 

$ 

4,276.6  $ 

3,517.9  $ 

3,100.5 

1,679.7 

1,167.8 

1,680.1 

1,024.2 

1,693.4 

916.2 

$ 

7,124.1  $ 

6,222.2  $ 

5,710.1 

Remaining Performance Obligations

The transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations relates to amounts allocated to products and services 
for  which  revenue  has  not  yet  been  recognized.  A  significant  portion  of  these  performance  obligations  relate  to  service 
obligations  in  the  Company’s  system  sale  and  lease  arrangements  that  will  be  satisfied  and  recognized  as  revenue  in  future 
periods. The transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations was $2.29 billion as of December 31, 2023. 
The  remaining  performance  obligations  are  expected  to  be  satisfied  over  the  term  of  the  system  sale,  lease,  and  service 
arrangements.  Approximately  45%  of  the  remaining  performance  obligations  are  expected  to  be  recognized  in  the  next  12 
months with the remainder recognized thereafter over the term of the system sale, lease, and service arrangements, which are 
generally up to 5 years.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

The following information summarizes the Company’s contract assets and liabilities (in millions):

Contract assets

Deferred revenue

111

December 31,

2023

2022

$ 
$ 

20.2  $ 
491.7  $ 

45.0 
438.3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company invoices its customers based on the billing schedules in its sales arrangements. Payments are generally due 
30 to 60 days from the date of invoice. Contract assets for the periods presented primarily represent the difference between the 
revenue that was recognized based on the relative standalone selling price of the related performance obligations satisfied and 
the  contractual  billing  terms  in  the  arrangements.  Deferred  revenue  for  the  periods  presented  primarily  relates  to  service 
contracts  where  the  service  fees  are  billed  up-front,  generally  quarterly  or  annually,  prior  to  those  services  having  been 
performed. The associated deferred revenue is generally recognized over the term of the service period. The Company did not 
have any significant impairment losses on its contract assets for the periods presented.

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  the  Company  recognized  $396  million  of  revenue  that  was  included  in  the 
deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $380 
million of revenue that was included in the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2021.

Intuitive System Leasing

The following table presents product revenue from Intuitive System Leasing arrangements (in millions):

Sales-type lease revenue

Operating lease revenue*

*Variable lease revenue relating to usage-based arrangements included within 
operating lease revenue

NOTE 6. 

LEASES

Lessor Information related to Intuitive System Leasing

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

78.4  $ 

500.5  $ 

156.4  $ 

376.5  $ 

220.3 

276.9 

216.5  $ 

133.0  $ 

78.1 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Sales-type Leases.  Lease receivables relating to sales-type lease arrangements are presented on the Consolidated Balance 

Sheets as follows (in millions):

Gross lease receivables

Unearned income

Subtotal

Allowance for credit loss

Net investment in sales-type leases

Reported as:

Prepaids and other current assets

Intangible and other assets, net

Net investment in sales-type leases

December 31,

2023

2022

384.5  $ 

(12.9)   

371.6 

(2.7)   

368.9  $ 

137.3  $ 

231.6 
368.9  $ 

449.4 

(14.4) 

435.0 

(3.0) 

432.0 

131.2 

300.8 
432.0 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Contractual maturities of gross lease receivables as of December 31, 2023, are as follows (in millions):

Fiscal Year
2024

2025

2026

2027

2028
2029 and thereafter

Total

112

Amount

143.3 

113.0 

74.1 

39.8 

10.9 
3.4 
384.5 

$ 

$ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating  Leases.    The  Company’s  fixed-payment  or  usage-based  operating  lease  terms  are  generally  less  than  seven 
years.  Future  lease  payments  (excluding  non-lease  elements  and  contingent  payments  related  to  usage-based  arrangements) 
related to the non-cancellable portion of operating leases as of December 31, 2023, are as follows (in millions):

Fiscal Year
2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029 and thereafter

Total

Lessee Information

Amount

277.2 

232.3 

169.4 

103.0 

43.6 

11.2 

836.7 

$ 

$ 

The Company enters into operating leases for real estate, automobiles, and certain equipment. Operating lease expense was 
$26.8  million,  $25.7  million,  and  $20.4  million  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021,  respectively.  For 
leases  with  terms  of  12  months  or  less,  the  related  expense  was  immaterial  for  each  of  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023, 
2022, and 2021.

Supplemental cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 related to operating leases 

was as follows (in millions):

Cash paid for leases that were included within operating cash outflows

Right-of-use assets recognized related to new lease obligations

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

$ 

30.2  $ 

27.8  $ 

33.8  $ 

34.0  $ 

23.2 

30.6 

Supplemental balance sheet information, as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, related to operating leases was as follows (in 

millions, except lease term and discount rate):

Intangible and other assets, net (Right-of-use assets)

Other accrued liabilities

Other long-term liabilities

Total lease liabilities

Weighted-average remaining lease term
Weighted-average discount rate

December 31,

2023

2022

$ 

$ 

$ 

79.3  $ 

25.3  $ 

64.5 

89.8  $ 

82.2 

24.2 

69.6 

93.8 

3.7 years
3.4%

4.5 years
3.0%

As of December 31, 2023, the future payments related to the Company’s operating lease liabilities are scheduled as follows 

(in millions):

Fiscal Year

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028
2029 and thereafter

Total lease payments

Less: imputed interest

Total operating lease liabilities

113

Amount

27.4 

27.1 

22.9 

9.7 

5.9 
3.1 
96.1 
(6.3) 
89.8 

$ 

$ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 7.

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Acquisitions

There were no material acquisitions in 2023, 2022, or 2021.

Goodwill

The following table summarizes the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill (in millions):

Balance as of December 31, 2021

Acquisition activity

Translation and other

Balance as of December 31, 2022

Acquisition activity

Translation and other

Balance as of December 31, 2023

Amount

$ 

343.6 

6.5 

(1.6) 

348.5 

— 

0.2 

$ 

348.7 

The  Company  completed  its  annual  goodwill  impairment  test  and  determined  that  no  impairment  existed.  As  of 

December 31, 2023, there has been no impairment of goodwill.

Intangible Assets

The  following  table  summarizes  the  components  of  gross  intangible  asset,  accumulated  amortization,  and  net  intangible 

asset balances as of December 31, 2023, and 2022 (in millions):

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2022

Gross 
Carrying 
Amount

Accumulated 
Amortization

Net
Carrying
Amount

Gross 
Carrying 
Amount

Accumulated 
Amortization

Net
Carrying
Amount

Patents and developed technology

$ 

206.3  $ 

(178.4)  $ 

27.9  $ 

199.1  $ 

(167.4)  $ 

Distribution rights and others

Customer relationships
Total intangible assets

10.8 

32.5 

(9.2)   

(22.9)   

1.6 

9.6 

11.0 

32.6 

(7.4)   

(18.1)   

$ 

249.6  $ 

(210.5)  $ 

39.1  $ 

242.7  $ 

(192.9)  $ 

31.7 

3.6 

14.5 

49.8 

Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $20.2 million, $27.8 million, and $27.4 million for the years ended 

December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

The estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets as of December 31, 2023, is as follows (in millions):

Fiscal Year

2024
2025

2026

2027

2028

2029 and thereafter

Total

$ 

Amount

16.9 
12.0 

5.3 

2.9 

1.3 

0.7 

$ 

39.1 

The  preceding  expected  amortization  expense  is  an  estimate.  Actual  amounts  of  amortization  expense  may  differ  from 
estimated amounts due to additional intangible asset acquisitions, measurement period adjustments to intangible assets, changes 
in  foreign  currency  exchange  rates,  impairments  of  intangible  assets,  accelerated  amortization  of  intangible  assets,  and  other 
events.

114

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 8. 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

As  of  December  31,  2023,  the  Company’s  commitments  include  an  estimated  amount  of  approximately  $2.37  billion 
relating  to  the  Company’s  open  purchase  orders  and  contractual  obligations  that  occur  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business, 
including  commitments  with  contract  manufacturers  and  suppliers  for  which  the  Company  has  not  received  the  goods  or 
services, commitments for capital expenditures and construction-related activities for which the Company has not received the 
services, and acquisition and licensing of intellectual property. Although open purchase orders are considered enforceable and 
legally binding, the terms generally allow the Company the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust its requirements based on 
its  business  needs  prior  to  the  delivery  of  goods  or  performance  of  services.  Additionally,  the  Company  has  committed  to 
making  certain  future  milestone  payments  to  third  parties  as  part  of  licensing,  collaboration,  and  development  arrangements. 
Payments  under  these  arrangements  generally  become  due  and  payable  only  upon  the  achievement  of  certain  specified 
developmental, regulatory, and/or commercial milestones. For instances in which the achievement of these milestones is neither 
probable nor reasonably estimable, such contingencies are not included in the estimated amount.

Contingencies

From  time  to  time,  the  Company  is  involved  in  a  variety  of  claims,  lawsuits,  investigations,  and  proceedings  relating  to 
securities laws, product liability, intellectual property, commercial, insurance, contract disputes, employment, and other matters. 
Certain of these lawsuits and claims are described in further detail below. It is not possible to predict what the outcome of these 
matters will be, and the Company cannot guarantee that any resolution will be reached on commercially reasonable terms, if at 
all.

A  liability  and  related  charge  to  earnings  are  recorded  in  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  legal  contingencies 
when  the  loss  is  considered  probable  and  the  amount  can  be  reasonably  estimated.  The  assessment  is  re-evaluated  each 
accounting period and is based on all available information, including the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of 
legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to each case. Nevertheless, it is possible that additional future legal 
costs (including settlements, judgments, legal fees, and other related defense costs) could have a material adverse effect on the 
Company’s business, financial condition, or future results of operations.

During the years ended 2023 and 2021, pre-tax litigation charges were insignificant. The Company incurred $28.1 million 

of pre-tax litigation charges in 2022.

Product Liability Litigation

The Company is currently named as a defendant in a number of individual product liability lawsuits filed in various state 
and federal courts. The plaintiffs generally allege that they or a family member underwent surgical procedures that utilized the 
da  Vinci  surgical  system  and  sustained  a  variety  of  personal  injuries  and,  in  some  cases,  death  as  a  result  of  such  surgery. 
Several of the filed cases have trial dates in the next 12 months.

The  cases  raise  a  variety  of  allegations  including,  to  varying  degrees,  that  plaintiffs’  injuries  resulted  from  purported 
defects  in  the  da  Vinci  surgical  system  and/or  failure  on  the  Company’s  part  to  provide  adequate  training  resources  to  the 
healthcare  professionals  who  performed  plaintiffs’  surgeries.  The  cases  further  allege  that  the  Company  failed  to  adequately 
disclose and/or misrepresented the potential risks and/or benefits of the da Vinci surgical system. Plaintiffs also assert a variety 
of  causes  of  action,  including,  for  example,  strict  liability  based  on  purported  design  defects,  negligence,  fraud,  breach  of 
express and implied warranties, unjust enrichment, and loss of consortium. Plaintiffs seek recovery for alleged personal injuries 
and, in many cases, punitive damages. The Company disputes these allegations and is defending against these claims.

The Company’s estimate of the anticipated cost of resolving the pending cases is based on negotiations with attorneys for 
the  claimants.  The  final  outcome  of  the  pending  lawsuits  and  claims,  and  others  that  might  arise,  is  dependent  on  many 
variables that are difficult to predict, and the ultimate cost associated with these product liability lawsuits and claims may be 
materially  different  than  the  amount  of  the  current  estimate  and  accruals  and  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
Company’s business, financial condition, or future results of operations. Although there is a reasonable possibility that a loss in 
excess of the amount recognized exists, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss in excess of the 
amount recognized at this time.

Patent Litigation

On  June  30,  2017,  Ethicon  LLC,  Ethicon  Endo-Surgery,  Inc.,  and  Ethicon  US  LLC  (collectively,  “Ethicon”)  filed  a 
complaint for patent infringement against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint, 
which was served on the Company on July 12, 2017, alleges that the Company’s EndoWrist Stapler instruments infringe several 
of  Ethicon’s  patents.  Ethicon  asserts  infringement  of  U.S.  Patent  Nos.  9,585,658  (“’658”);  8,479,969  (“’969”);  9,113,874 
(“’874”);  8,998,058  (“’058”);  8,991,677  (“’677”);  9,084,601  (“’601”);  and  8,616,431  (“’431”).  A  claim  construction  hearing 
occurred on October 1, 2018, and the Court issued a scheduling order on December 28, 2018. On March 20, 2019, the Court 

115

granted the Company’s Motion to Stay pending an Inter Partes Review to be held at the Patent Trademark and Appeals Board 
(“PTAB”)  to  review  patentability  of  six  of  the  seven  patents  noted  above  and  vacated  the  trial  date.  On  August  1,  2019,  the 
Court  granted  the  parties’  joint  stipulation  to  modify  the  stay  in  light  of  Ethicon’s  U.S.  International  Trade  Commission 
(“USITC”) complaint against Intuitive involving U.S. Patent Nos. 8,479,969 and 9,113,874. The PTAB has issued final written 
decisions finding the asserted claims of Patent Nos. ’658, ’058, ’677, ’601, and ’431 unpatentable. On October 3, 2023, Ethicon 
confirmed that it would not further appeal the decisions by the USITC in that proceeding that claim 24 of the ’969 Patent and 
claim 19 of the ’874 Patent were not infringed by the asserted Intuitive products and that those patents were invalid. Outside of 
the above USITC proceeding, on October 4, 2023, the parties filed a Joint Status Report in the district court in which Ethicon 
stated that it was prepared to proceed in this case with respect to its allegations that the accused EndoWrist Stapler instruments 
infringe asserted claim 24 of the ’969 Patent and asserted claim 20 of the ’874 Patent. The parties are currently briefing whether 
the record before the court can be supplemented with the evidence developed before the USITC. Based on currently available 
information, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of loss or range of losses, if any, arising from this matter.

On October 19, 2022, a jury rendered a verdict against the Company awarding $10 million in damages to Rex Medical, 
L.P. in a patent infringement lawsuit. On September 20, 2023, the court granted the Company’s post-trial motion and reduced 
the damages to Rex Medical L.P. to nominal damages of $1. On October 18, 2023, Rex Medical filed a notice of appeal to the 
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and, on October 31, 2023, Intuitive filed its notice of cross appeal. Based 
on currently available information, the Company does not believe that any losses arising from this matter would be material.

Commercial Litigation

On  May  10,  2021,  Surgical  Instrument  Service  Company,  Inc.  (“SIS”)  filed  a  complaint  in  the  Northern  District  of 
California  Court  alleging  antitrust  claims  against  the  Company  relating  to  EndoWrist  service,  maintenance,  and  repair 
processes. The Court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s Motion to Dismiss, and discovery has commenced. The 
Company filed an answer denying the antitrust allegations and filed counterclaims against SIS. The counterclaims allege that 
SIS violated the Federal Lanham Act, California’s Unfair Competition Law, and California’s False Advertising Law and that 
SIS  is  also  liable  to  the  Company  for  Unfair  Competition  and  Tortious  Interference  with  Contract.  The  parties  have  filed 
summary  judgment  and  Daubert  motions,  and  the  court  held  a  hearing  on  these  motions  on  September  7,  2023.  Based  on 
currently available information, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of loss or range of losses, if any, arising 
from this matter.

Three class action complaints were filed against the Company in the Northern District of California Court alleging antitrust 
allegations  relating  to  the  service  and  repair  of  certain  instruments  manufactured  by  the  Company.  A  complaint  by  Larkin 
Community Hospital was filed on May 20, 2021, a complaint by Franciscan Alliance, Inc. and King County Public Hospital 
District  No.  1  was  filed  on  July  6,  2021,  and  a  complaint  by  Kaleida  Health  was  filed  on  July  8,  2021.  The  Court  has 
consolidated the Franciscan Alliance, Inc. and King County Public Hospital District No. 1 and Kaleida Health cases with the 
Larkin Community Hospital case, which is now captioned on the Larkin docket as “In Re: da Vinci Surgical Robot Antitrust 
Litigation.” A Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint has been filed on behalf of each plaintiff named in the earlier-
filed cases. On January 14, 2022, Kaleida Health voluntarily dismissed itself as a party to this case. On January 18, 2022, the 
Company filed an answer against the plaintiffs in this matter, and discovery has commenced. The parties have filed summary 
judgment  and  Daubert  motions,  and  the  court  held  a  hearing  on  these  motions  on  September  7,  2023.  Based  on  currently 
available information, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of loss or range of losses, if any, arising from this 
matter.

NOTE 9. 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Stock Repurchase Program

Through  December  31,  2023,  the  Board  has  authorized  an  aggregate  of  $10.0  billion  of  funding  for  the  Company’s 
common stock Repurchase Program since its establishment in March 2009. The most recent authorization occurred in July 2022 
when the Board increased the authorized amount available under the Repurchase Program to $3.5 billion, including amounts 
remaining under previous authorization. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining amount of share repurchases authorized by 
the Board under the Repurchase Program was approximately $1.1 billion.

The following table summarizes stock repurchase activities (in millions, except per share amounts):

Shares repurchased
Average price per share
Value of shares repurchased

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

1.7 
241.38  $ 
416.3  $ 

11.2 
233.70  $ 
2,607.4  $ 

$ 
$ 

— 
— 
— 

116

 
 
 
 
 
In  August  2022,  the  Company  entered  into  an  accelerated  share  repurchase  program  (the  “August  ASR  Program”)  with 
Goldman,  Sachs  &  Co.  (“Goldman”)  to  repurchase  $1.0  billion  of  the  Company’s  common  stock.  In  September  2022,  the 
August  ASR  Program  was  completed,  and,  in  total,  4.6  million  shares  of  common  stock  were  received  and  retired.  In  total, 
4.6 million shares were repurchased at an average price per share of $217.52. The total cost of the August ASR Program was 
reflected as a reduction to equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In October 2022, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase program (the “October ASR Program”) with 
Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”) to repurchase $1.0 billion of the Company’s common stock. In December 2022, the October ASR 
Program was completed, and, in total, 3.9 million shares were repurchased at an average price per share of $254.48. The total 
cost of the October ASR Program was reflected as a reduction to equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company uses the par value method of accounting for its stock repurchases. As a result of share repurchase activities 
during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Company reduced common stock and additional paid-in capital 
by  an  aggregate  of  $19  million,  $211  million,  and  zero,  respectively,  and  charged  $0.4  billion,  $2.4  billion,  and  zero, 
respectively, to retained earnings.

As a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act enacted in the U.S. during 2022, the Company is subject to an excise tax on 
corporate stock repurchases, which is assessed as one percent of the fair market value of net stock repurchases after December 
31,  2022.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  no  excise  tax  was  accrued,  as  the  aggregate  fair  market  value  of  the  Company’s  stock 
issuances exceeded the fair market value of stock repurchases.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. are as 

follows (in millions):

Year Ended December 31, 2023

Gains (Losses)
on Hedge
Instruments

Unrealized 
Gains (Losses)
on
Available-for-
Sale Securities

Foreign
Currency
Translation
Gains
(Losses)

Employee 
Benefit Plans

Total

Beginning balance

$ 

(2.9)  $ 

(154.2)  $ 

(6.6)  $ 

1.2  $ 

(162.5) 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before 

reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other 

comprehensive income (loss)

Net current-period other comprehensive income 
(loss)
Ending balance

(6.6)   

124.6 

7.0 

0.4 

(0.1)   

124.5 

26.0 

— 

26.0 

$ 

(2.5)  $ 

(29.7)  $ 

19.4  $ 

(0.6)   

143.4 

— 

6.9 

(0.6)   

0.6  $ 

150.3 

(12.2) 

Year Ended December 31, 2022

Gains (Losses)
on Hedge
Instruments

Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on
Available-for-
Sale Securities

Foreign
Currency
Translation
Gains
(Losses)

Employee 
Benefit Plans

Total

Beginning balance

$ 

4.5  $ 

(16.0)  $ 

(7.9)  $ 

(4.8)  $ 

(24.2) 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before 

reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other 

comprehensive income (loss)

Net current-period other comprehensive income 
(loss)
Ending balance

(35.0)   

(138.2)   

27.6 

— 

(7.4)   

(138.2)   

1.3 

— 

1.3 

5.8 

0.2 

6.0 

$ 

(2.9)  $ 

(154.2)  $ 

(6.6)  $ 

1.2  $ 

(166.1) 

27.8 

(138.3) 

(162.5) 

117

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  tax  impacts  for  amounts  recognized  in  other  comprehensive  income  before  reclassifications  were  as  follows  (in 

millions):

Available-for-sale securities
Income tax benefit (expense) for net gains (losses) recorded in other comprehensive income 
(loss)

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

$ 

(35.7)  $ 

39.1 

The  tax  impacts  for  amounts  recognized  in  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  before  reclassifications  for  hedge 
instruments, foreign currency translation gains (losses), and employee benefit plans in 2023 and 2022 were not material to the 
Company’s  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.  The  tax  impacts  for  amounts  reclassified  from  accumulated  other 
comprehensive loss relating to hedge instruments, available-for-sale securities, foreign currency translation gains (losses), and 
employee benefit plans in 2023 and 2022 were not material to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTE 10.

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Plans

2010 Incentive Award Plan.  In April 2010, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2010 Incentive Award Plan (“2010 
Plan”).  Under  this  plan,  the  Company  can  issue  RSUs,  nonqualified  stock  options  (“NSOs”),  and  PSUs  to  employees,  non-
employee directors, and consultants. Equity awards granted to employees and non-employee directors include a mix of RSUs, 
stock options, and, as applicable, PSUs. The 2010 Plan generally permits NSOs to be granted at no less than the fair market 
value of the common stock on the date of grant. Prior to 2022, NSOs were granted with terms of 10 years from the date of the 
grant. In January 2022, the Company changed the term of its new NSO grants to 7 years from the date of the grant. The 2010 
Plan expires in 2032. In April 2022, the Company’s shareholders approved an amended and restated 2010 Plan to provide for an 
increase in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder from 103,350,000 to 110,350,000. As of 
December 31, 2023, approximately 20.6 million shares were reserved for future issuance under the 2010 Plan. A maximum of 
approximately 8.9 million of these shares can be awarded as RSUs.

2009  Employment  Commencement  Incentive  Plan.    In  October  2009,  the  Board  adopted  the  2009  Employment 
Commencement Incentive Plan (“New Hire Plan”). The New Hire Plan provides for the shares to be used exclusively for the 
grant  of  RSUs  and  NSOs  to  new  employees  (“New  Hire  Options”),  who  were  not  previously  employees  or  non-employee 
directors  of  the  Company.  The  Compensation  Committee  approves  all  equity  awards  under  the  New  Hire  Plan,  which  are 
granted to newly-hired employees once a month on the fifth business day of each month after their hire. Options are granted at 
an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant and have a term not to exceed 10 years.

In April 2015, the Board of Directors amended and restated the New Hire Plan to provide for an increase in the number of 
shares  of  common  stock  authorized  for  issuance  pursuant  to  awards  granted  under  the  New  Hire  Plan  from  10,395,000  to 
13,095,000. The New Hire Plan expired in October 2019 and, therefore, there are no shares reserved for future grants under the 
New  Hire  Plan.  However,  awards  granted  prior  to  the  plan’s  expiration  continue  to  remain  outstanding  until  their  original 
expiration date.

Restricted Stock Units.  The RSUs granted to employees vest in one-fourth increments annually over a four-year period. 
The RSUs granted to existing non-employee directors vest one year from the date of grant or at the next Annual Shareholders 
Meeting, whichever comes first. New non-employee directors receive pro-rated RSU grants that vest on the same term as the 
annual RSU grants. The number of shares issued on the date the RSUs vest is net of the minimum statutory tax withholdings, 
which are paid in cash to the appropriate taxing authorities on behalf of the Company’s employees.

Nonqualified  Stock  Options.    Prior  to  2020,  annual  NSO  grants  were  made  to  employees  on  February  15  (or  the  next 
business day if the date is not a business day) and on August 15 (or the next business day if the date is not a business day). In 
2020, the Company changed the timing of its annual NSO grants to the last trading day of February and on the same date in 
August or, if that date is not a trading day, the next trading day. Beginning in 2023, the Company changed the timing of its 
annual NSO grants to the last trading day of February and August 10 or, if that date is not a trading day, the next trading day. 
Prior  to  2023,  the  February  NSO  grants  vest  1/8  upon  completion  of  6  months  of  service  and  1/48  per  month  thereafter. 
Beginning in 2023, the February NSO grants vest 1/8 on August 10 and 1/48 per month thereafter. The August NSO grants vest 
7/48  at  the  end  of  one  month  and  1/48  per  month  thereafter  through  a  3.5-year  vesting  period.  NSOs  granted  to  new  hires 
generally  vest  1/4  upon  completion  of  one  year  of  service  and  1/48  per  month  thereafter.  NSOs  granted  to  existing  non-
employee directors vest one year from the date of grant or at the next Annual Shareholders Meeting, whichever comes first. 
New non-employee directors receive pro-rated NSO grants that vest on the same term as the annual NSO grants. Option vesting 
terms are determined by the Board and, in the future, may vary from past practices.

118

 
Performance  Stock  Units.    In  February  2022,  the  Company  began  granting  PSUs  to  officers  and  other  key  employees, 
subject to three-year cliff vesting and pre-established, quantitative goals. Whether any PSUs vest, and the amount that do vest, 
is tied to completion of service over three years and the achievement of three equally-weighted, quantitative goals that directly 
align with or help drive the Company’s strategy and long-term total shareholder return.

2000  Non-Employee  Directors’  Stock  Option  Plan.    In  March  2000,  the  Board  of  Directors  adopted  the  2000  Non-
Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”). In October 2009, the automatic evergreen increase provisions 
were eliminated so that no further automatic increases would be made to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 
Directors’  Plan.  In  addition,  the  common  stock  authorized  for  issuance  under  the  Directors’  Plan  was  reduced  to  1,350,000. 
Options are granted at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant and have a term not 
to exceed 10 years. Prior to 2016, initial stock option grants to new non-employee directors vested over a three-year period with 
1/3 of the shares vesting after one year from the date of grant and 1/36 of the shares vesting monthly thereafter. Annual stock 
option  grants  vested  one  year  from  the  date  of  the  grant.  Since  2016,  new  non-employee  directors  received  pro-rated  stock 
option grants that vest on the same term as the annual stock option grants. The Directors’ Plan was terminated in November 
2020 and, therefore, there are no shares reserved for future grants under the Directors’ Plan. However, options granted prior to 
the plan’s termination continue to remain outstanding until their original expiration date.

2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  In March 2000, the Board adopted the ESPP. Employees are generally eligible to 
participate in the ESPP if they are customarily employed by the Company for more than 20 hours per week and more than 5 
months in a calendar year and are not 5% stockholders of the Company. Under the ESPP, eligible employees may select a rate 
of payroll deduction up to 15% of their eligible compensation subject to certain maximum purchase limitations. The duration 
for each offering period is 24 months and is divided into four purchase periods of approximately six months in length. Offerings 
are concurrent. The purchase price of the shares under the offering is the lesser of 85% of the fair market value of the shares on 
the offering date or 85% of the fair market value of the shares on the purchase date. A two-year look-back feature in the ESPP 
causes  the  offering  period  to  reset  if  the  fair  value  of  the  Company’s  common  stock  on  the  first  or  last  day  of  the  purchase 
period is less than that on the original offering date. ESPP purchases by employees are settled with newly-issued common stock 
from the ESPP’s previously authorized and available pool of shares. In April 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved an 
amended  and  restated  ESPP  to  provide  for  an  increase  in  the  number  of  shares  of  common  stock  reserved  for  issuance 
from  18,270,945  to  22,770,945.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  there  were  approximately  1.8  million  shares  reserved  for  future 
issuance under the ESPP.

Restricted Stock Units

RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):

Unvested balance as of December 31, 2022

Granted

Vested

Forfeited

Unvested balance as of December 31, 2023

Weighted-
Average
Grant Date Fair 
Value Per Share

Shares

4.6  $ 

2.5  $ 

(1.8)  $ 

(0.3)  $ 
5.0  $ 

241.47 

237.37 

223.52 

247.21 
245.75 

As  of  December  31,  2023,  4.5  million  shares  of  RSUs  were  expected  to  vest  with  an  aggregate  intrinsic  value  of  $1.52 
billion. The aggregate vesting date fair value of RSUs vested was $454 million, $536 million, and $578 million during the years 
ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

119

 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock Options

NSO activity for the year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):

Balance as of December 31, 2022

Options granted

Options exercised

Options forfeited/expired

Balance as of December 31, 2023

Stock Options Outstanding

Number
Outstanding

Weighted-
Average 
Exercise Price 
Per Share

10.8  $ 

1.4  $ 

(2.3)  $ 

(0.1)  $ 

9.8  $ 

144.86 

267.38 

83.97 

261.39 

174.90 

The  aggregate  intrinsic  value  of  stock  options  exercised  under  the  Company’s  stock  plans  determined  as  of  the  date  of 
option exercise was $476 million, $315 million, and $613 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, 
respectively.  Cash  received  from  stock  option  exercises  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021,  was  $192 
million, $146 million, and $201 million, respectively. The income tax benefit from stock options exercised was $109 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2023.

The  following  table  summarizes  significant  ranges  of  outstanding  and  exercisable  options  as  of  December  31,  2023 

(number of shares and aggregate intrinsic value in millions):

Range of
Exercise Prices

Number
of Shares

Options Outstanding

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share

Options Exercisable

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (1)

Number
of Shares

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (1)

$39.22-$57.11

$57.85-$77.00

$77.04-$139.52

$143.49-$174.26

$175.53-$182.83

$182.90-$229.39

$235.20-$262.70

$271.22-$304.67

$313.64-$341.16

$347.42-$347.42

Total

1.1 

1.3 

1.3 

1.1 

1.0 

1.3 

1.0 

1.2 

0.0 

0.5 

9.8 

0.8

2.2

3.6

5.1

5.6

5.9

6.8

6.0

6.6

7.6

4.6

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

53.14 

65.86 

108.66 

169.00 

179.98 

216.85 

244.47 

297.47 

323.28 

347.42 

174.89  $  1,589 

1.1 

1.3 

1.3 

1.1 

1.0 

0.5 

0.7 

0.4 

0.0 

0.3 

7.7 

4.2

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

53.14 

65.86 

108.66 

169.01 

180.02 

209.47 

244.09 

294.41 

334.66 

347.42 

151.68  $  1,441 

(1) The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $337.36 as of December 31, 2023, 

which would have been received by the option holders had all in-the-money option holders exercised their options as of that date.

As of December 31, 2023, a total of 9.6 million shares of stock options vested and expected to vest had a weighted-average 
remaining contractual life of 4.6 years, an aggregate intrinsic value of $1.58 billion, and a weighted-average exercise price of 
$173.14.

Performance Stock Units

The 2022 PSU grant metrics are focused on relative total shareholder return (“TSR”), year-over-year da Vinci procedure 
growth for 2023, and two-year compound annual da Vinci procedure growth for 2024. The 2023 PSU grant metrics are focused 
on relative TSR, da Vinci and Ion procedure growth in 2024 compared to 2022, and da Vinci and Ion procedure growth in 2025 
compared  to  2022.  The  TSR  metric  is  considered  a  market  condition,  and  the  expense  is  determined  at  the  grant  date.  The 
procedure  growth  metrics  are  considered  performance  conditions,  and  the  expense  is  recorded  based  on  the  forecasted 
performance, which is reassessed each reporting period based on the probability of achieving the performance conditions. The 
number of shares earned at the end of the three-year period will vary, based on actual performance, from 0% to 125% of the 
target number of PSUs granted. PSUs are subject to forfeiture if employment terminates prior to the vesting date. PSUs are not 
considered issued or outstanding shares of the Company.

120

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company calculates the fair value for each component of the PSUs individually. The fair value for the component with 
the TSR metric was determined using Monte Carlo simulation. The fair value per share for the components with the procedure 
growth metrics is equal to the closing stock price on the grant date.

PSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2023, was as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):

Unvested balance as of December 31, 2022

Granted

Vested

Performance change

Forfeited

Unvested balance as of December 31, 2023

Weighted-
Average
Grant Date Fair 
Value Per Share

Shares

0.1  $ 

0.1  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

0.2  $ 

299.32 

240.45 

— 

— 

235.84 

259.60 

As  of  December  31,  2023,  0.2  million  shares  of  PSUs  were  expected  to  vest  with  an  aggregate  intrinsic  value  of 

$70 million.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Under  the  ESPP,  employees  purchased  approximately  0.5  million,  0.4  million,  and  0.5  million  shares,  representing 
approximately $104.5 million, $87.9 million, and $75.9 million in employee contributions for the years ended December 31, 
2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense (in millions):

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

Cost of sales – products (before capitalization)
Amounts capitalized into inventory (1)
Amounts recognized in income for amounts previously capitalized in inventory  

$ 

Cost of revenue—product

Cost of revenue—service

Total cost of revenue

Selling, general and administrative

Research and development

Share-based compensation expense before income taxes

Income tax benefit

92.7  $ 

(84.3)   

79.0  $ 

(17.2)   

75.0 

83.4 

28.2 

111.6 

274.8 

211.8 

598.2 
117.4 

5.8 

67.6 

23.6 

91.2 

261.1 

164.2 

516.5 
101.7 

Share-based compensation expense after income taxes

$ 

480.8  $ 

414.8  $ 

68.9 

— 

— 

68.9 

22.2 

91.1 

231.6 

134.1 

456.8 
93.7 

363.1 

(1) Share-based  compensation  expense  subject  to  capitalization  into  inventory  was  not  material  during  2021  and  the  first  three  quarters  of  2022,  and, 
therefore, not recorded. The Company commenced capitalization of share-based compensation expense into inventory during the quarter ended December 
31, 2022, on a prospective basis.

121

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Black-Scholes-Merton  option  pricing  model  is  used  to  estimate  the  fair  value  of  stock  options  granted  under  the 
Company’s  share-based  compensation  plans  and  the  rights  to  acquire  stock  granted  under  the  ESPP.  The  weighted-average 
estimated  fair  values  of  stock  options  and  the  rights  to  acquire  stock  under  the  ESPP,  as  well  as  the  weighted-average 
assumptions used in calculating the fair values of stock options and the rights to acquire stock under the ESPP that were granted 
during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, were as follows:

RSUs

Fair value at grant date

STOCK OPTIONS

Risk-free interest rate

Expected term (in years)

Expected volatility

Fair value at grant date

PSUs

Fair value at grant date

ESPP

Risk-free interest rate

Expected term (in years)

Expected volatility

Fair value at grant date

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$237.37

$272.97

$256.52

4.6%

3.2

33%

$77.45

2.6%

3.2

38%

$73.65

0.8%

4.1

32%

$78.23

$240.45

$299.32

$—

5.0%

1.2

33%

$89.42

2.1%

1.2

39%

$80.61

0.1%

1.2

29%

$89.98

As  share-based  compensation  expense  recognized  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income  during  the  years  ended 
December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021,  is  based  on  awards  ultimately  expected  to  vest,  it  has  been  reduced  for  estimated 
forfeitures.

As  of  December  31,  2023,  there  was  $761  million,  $134  million,  $38  million,  and  $22  million  of  total  unrecognized 
compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock units, unvested stock options, unvested performance stock units, and 
rights granted to acquire common stock under the ESPP, respectively. The unrecognized compensation expense is expected to 
be  recognized  over  a  weighted-average  period  of  2.4  years  for  unvested  restricted  stock  units,  2.5  years  for  unvested  stock 
options, 1.8 years for unvested performance stock units, and 0.6 years for rights granted to acquire common stock under the 
ESPP.

NOTE 11.

INCOME TAXES

Income  before  provision  for  income  taxes  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021,  consisted  of  the 

following (in millions):

U.S.

Foreign

Total income before provision for income taxes

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

$ 

1,251.1  $ 

956.7  $ 

1,298.7 

707.8 

650.1 

591.6 

1,958.9  $ 

1,606.8  $ 

1,890.3 

122

 
 
 
 
The  provision  for  income  taxes  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021,  consisted  of  the  following  (in 

millions):

Current

Federal

State

Foreign

Total current income tax expense

Deferred

Federal

State

Foreign

Total deferred income tax expense

Total income tax expense

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

315.2  $ 

350.4  $ 

32.8 

74.4 

422.4 

(122.4)   

(25.1)   

(133.3)   

(280.8)   

49.2 

48.1 

447.7 

(188.8)   

(16.4)   

19.9 

(185.3)   

$ 

141.6  $ 

262.4  $ 

158.8 

17.3 

50.1 

226.2 

(21.4) 

0.5 

(43.1) 

(64.0) 

162.2 

The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, reflected the impact of a change in U.S. 
tax law effective January 1, 2022, which requires the capitalization and amortization of research and development expenditures 
incurred after December 31, 2021.

The Company’s provision for income taxes for 2023 reflected Swiss tax benefits of $92.3 million, net of a $67.3 million 
valuation  allowance,  related  to  certain  tax  assets  recorded  by  our  Swiss  entity.  In  addition,  a  one-time  net  benefit  of 
$67.1  million  was  recorded  from  the  re-measurement  of  the  Company’s  Swiss  deferred  tax  assets  resulting  from  the  Swiss 
cantonal tax rate increase enacted in December 2023 for years after 2024 as well as a Swiss cantonal tax rate increase from the 
discontinuation of the Company’s 2017 Swiss tax ruling, which was deemed effective as of January 1, 2023. The Company’s 
provision  for  income  taxes  for  2021  also  included  a  one-time  benefit  of  $66.4  million  from  the  re-measurement  of  its  Swiss 
deferred tax assets resulting from the extension of the economic useful life of certain intangible assets.

In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) was enacted in the United States. The IRA introduces a 
15%  alternative  minimum  tax  based  on  the  financial  statement  income  of  certain  large  corporations,  effective  for  tax  years 
beginning  after  December  31,  2022.  The  Company  considered  the  applicable  tax  law  changes,  and  there  is  no  impact  to  the 
Company’s tax provision for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

Income  tax  expense  differs  from  amounts  computed  by  applying  the  statutory  federal  income  rate  of  21%  for  the  years 

ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, as a result of the following (in millions):

Federal tax at statutory rate

Increase (reduction) in tax resulting from:

State taxes, net of federal benefits

Foreign rate differential

U.S. tax on foreign earnings

Research and development credit

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation 

Share-based compensation not benefited

Unrecognized tax benefits related to share-based compensation

Reversal of unrecognized tax benefits
Swiss tax benefits, net of valuation allowance
Deferred tax re-measurement
Other

Total income tax expense

$ 

123

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

$ 

411.4  $ 

337.4  $ 

397.0 

35.0 

(64.4)   

70.9 

(48.6)   

(107.9)   

29.5 

4.4 

(20.9)   
(92.3)   
(67.1)   
(8.4)   
141.6  $ 

34.9 

(64.2)   

75.4 

(41.7)   

(98.7)   

24.1 

3.3 

(11.1)   
— 
— 
3.0 
262.4  $ 

33.1 

(54.3) 

40.1 

(30.7) 

(185.8) 

17.8 

13.6 

(3.0) 
— 
(66.4) 
0.8 
162.2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred  income  taxes  reflect  tax  carryforwards  and  the  net  tax  effects  of  temporary  differences  between  the  carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components 
of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in millions):

Deferred tax assets:

Intangible assets

Capitalized research and development expenditures

Research and development credits

Share-based compensation expense

Swiss tax credits

Expenses deducted in later years for tax purposes

Lease liabilities

Net operating losses

Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities and other

Gross deferred tax assets

Valuation allowance

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:

Property, plant, and equipment

Right-of-use assets

Intangible assets

Other

Deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax assets

December 31,

2023

2022

$ 

420.9  $ 

306.4 

193.2 

135.1 

122.4 

55.9 

16.5 

2.8 

9.2 

1,262.4 

(269.8)   

992.6 

(60.3)   

(11.8)   

(9.8)   

(0.2)   

(82.1)   

910.5  $ 

$ 

342.8 

172.5 

156.7 

121.3 

— 

57.5 

16.6 

6.4 

45.5 

919.3 

(168.6) 

750.7 

(64.1) 

(11.8) 

(9.3) 

(1.0) 

(86.2) 

664.5 

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $38.2 million of federal, state, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, 
certain of which will expire starting in 2025 if not utilized. Utilization of these net operating loss carryforwards may be subject 
to certain limitations. The Company does not expect the limitations to result in any permanent loss of these tax benefits. As of 

December  31,  2023,  the  Company  had  $122.4  million  of  Swiss  tax  credit  carryforwards,  which  will  expire  in  2028.  As  of 
December 31, 2023, the Company had $267.7 million of California research and development credit carryforwards, which do 
not expire, and $5.2 million of other state research and development credit carryforwards, which begin to expire in 2029.

As  of  December  31,  2023,  the  Company  had  a  valuation  allowance  of  $269.8  million,  primarily  related  to  California 
deferred tax assets and certain Swiss deferred tax assets, for which the Company does not believe a tax benefit is more likely 
than not to be realized. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a valuation allowance of $168.6 million, primarily related 
to California deferred tax assets, for which the Company does not believe a tax benefit is more likely than not to be realized. 
The increase in the valuation allowance during 2023 is primarily related to certain Swiss tax assets and California research and 
development  credits.  These  valuation  allowances  would  result  in  a  reduction  to  the  income  tax  provision  in  the  consolidated 
statements of income if they are ultimately not necessary.

The Company intends to repatriate earnings from its Swiss subsidiary and joint venture in Hong Kong, as needed, and the 
U.S.  and  foreign  tax  implications  of  such  repatriations  are  not  expected  to  be  significant.  The  Company  will  continue  to 
indefinitely reinvest earnings from the rest of its foreign subsidiaries and does not expect the tax implications of repatriating 
these earnings to be significant.

124

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A  reconciliation  of  the  beginning  and  ending  amounts  of  gross  unrecognized  income  tax  benefits  for  the  years  ended 

December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, are as follows (in millions):

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

Beginning balance

$ 

252.6  $ 

222.5  $ 

Increases related to tax positions taken during the current year

Increases related to tax positions taken during a prior year

Decreases related to tax positions taken during a prior year

Decreases related to settlements with tax authorities

Decreases related to expiration of statute of limitations

48.5 

— 

(18.9)   

(1.0)   

(20.8)   

49.5 

4.9 

(16.5)   

(1.2)   

(6.6)   

176.3 

40.6 

11.2 

(1.3) 

(0.2) 

(4.1) 

Ending balance

$ 

260.4  $ 

252.6  $ 

222.5 

As of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, gross interest related to unrecognized tax benefits accrued was $31.2 million, 
$21.0 million, and $14.9 million, respectively. The Company’s net unrecognized tax benefits and related interest are presented 
in other long-term liabilities and long-term deferred tax assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Total  gross  unrecognized  tax  benefits  as  of  December  31,  2023,  were  $260.4  million,  of  which  $181.8  million,  if 

recognized, would have an impact on the Company’s effective tax rate.

A charge of $13.6 million was recorded to income tax expense in 2021, after additional IRS guidance was issued in July 
2021  related  to  a  Ninth  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  opinion  involving  an  independent  third  party  related  to  charging  foreign 
subsidiaries  for  share-based  compensation.  The  Company  will  continue  to  monitor  future  IRS  actions  or  other  developments 
regarding this matter and will assess the impact of any such developments on its income tax provision in the quarter that they 
occur.

The Company files federal, state, and foreign income tax returns in many U.S. and OUS jurisdictions. Years before 2016 
are closed for the significant jurisdictions. Certain of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits could change due to activities of 
various  tax  authorities,  including  evolving  interpretations  of  existing  tax  laws  in  the  jurisdictions  in  which  the  Company 
operates, potential assessment of additional tax, possible settlement of audits, or through normal expiration of various statutes 
of limitations, which could affect the Company’s effective tax rate in the period in which they change. Due to the uncertainty 
related to the timing and potential outcome of audits, the Company cannot estimate the range of reasonably possible changes in 
unrecognized tax benefits that may occur in the next 12 months.

The  Company  is  subject  to  the  examination  of  its  income  tax  returns  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  and  other  tax 
authorities. The outcome of these audits cannot be predicted with certainty. The Company’s management regularly assesses the 
likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of the Company’s provision for 
income taxes. If any issues addressed in the Company’s tax audits are resolved in a manner not consistent with management’s 
expectations, the Company could be required to adjust its provision for income taxes in the period such resolution occurs.

NOTE 12.

NET INCOME PER SHARE

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, 

Inc. (in millions, except per share amounts):

Years Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2021

Numerator:

Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

$ 

1,798.0  $ 

1,322.3  $ 

1,704.6 

Denominator:

Weighted-average shares outstanding used in basic calculation

Add: dilutive effect of potential common shares
Weighted-average shares outstanding used in diluted calculation

Net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.:

Basic
Diluted

351.2 

6.2 
357.4 

355.7 

6.3 
362.0 

$ 
$ 

5.12  $ 
5.03  $ 

3.72  $ 
3.65  $ 

356.1 

9.7 
365.8 

4.79 
4.66 

125

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share-based  compensation  awards  of  approximately  1.9  million,  3.4  million,  and  0.8  million  shares  for  the  years  ended 
December  31,  2023,  2022,  and  2021,  respectively,  were  outstanding  but  were  not  included  in  the  computation  of  diluted  net 
income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. common stockholders, because the effect of including such shares would 
have been anti-dilutive in the periods presented.

NOTE 13.  

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 100% of their annual compensation to the Plan on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis. Employee contributions are 
limited  to  a  maximum  annual  amount  as  set  periodically  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Code.  The  Company  matches  200%  of 
employee contributions up to $1,500 per calendar year per person. All matching employer contributions vest immediately.

126

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(IN MILLIONS)

SCHEDULE II

Balance at
Beginning of
Year

Additions

Deductions (1)

Balance at
End of Year

$ 

$ 

$ 

14.5  $ 

13.1  $ 

15.5  $ 

58.8  $ 

44.4  $ 

41.7  $ 

(56.3)  $ 

(43.0)  $ 

(44.1)  $ 

17.0 

14.5 

13.1 

Sales returns and allowances

Year ended December 31, 2023

Year ended December 31, 2022

Year ended December 31, 2021

(1) Primarily represents products returned.

127

ITEM  9. 

CHANGES  IN  AND  DISAGREEMENTS  WITH  ACCOUNTANTS  ON  ACCOUNTING  AND 

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 9A. 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our 
Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and 
forms  and  that  such  information  is  accumulated  and  communicated  to  our  management,  including  our  principal  executive 
officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our 
management,  including  our  principal  executive  officer  and  principal  financial  officer,  of  the  effectiveness  of  the  design  and 
operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 
Based on the foregoing, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and 
procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Inherent Limitations Over Internal Controls

Our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of 
financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with 
GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

(i) pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and 

dispositions of our assets;

(ii) provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  the  Consolidated 
Financial  Statements  in  accordance  with  GAAP  and  that  our  receipts  and  expenditures  are  being  made  only  in 
accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

(iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition 

of our assets that could have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Management,  including  our  principal  executive  officer  and  principal  financial  officer,  does  not  expect  that  our  internal 
controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide 
only  reasonable,  not  absolute,  assurance  that  the  objectives  of  the  control  system  are  met.  Further,  the  design  of  a  control 
system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their 
costs.  Because  of  the  inherent  limitations  in  all  control  systems,  no  evaluation  of  internal  controls  can  provide  absolute 
assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Also, any evaluation of the effectiveness of 
controls  in  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  those  internal  controls  may  become  inadequate  because  of  changes  in 
business conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such 
term  is  defined  in  the  Exchange  Act  Rules  13a-15(f).  Under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  our  management, 
including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our 
internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by 
the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on the results of our assessment under the 
framework  in  the  Internal  Control—Integrated  Framework  (2013),  our  management  concluded  that  our  internal  control  over 
financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.

The  effectiveness  of  our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2023,  has  been  audited  by 
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP,  an  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  as  stated  in  their  report,  which  is  included 
under “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 

2023, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

128

ITEM 9B. 

OTHER INFORMATION

Rule 10b5-1 Plans

On November 8, 2023, David J. Rosa, the Company’s President, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Mr. Rosa’s trading 
plan  provides  for  the  potential  exercise  and  sale  of  up  to  140,850  shares  of  the  Company’s  common  stock  subject  to  stock 
options, until February 14, 2025. This trading plan was entered into during an open insider trading window and is intended to 
satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company’s 
policies regarding transactions in the Company’s securities.

On November 15, 2023, Marshall L. Mohr, the Company’s Executive Vice President, Global Business Services, adopted a 
Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Mr. Mohr’s trading plan provides for the potential exercise and sale of up to 129,810 shares of the 
Company’s common stock subject to stock options, until November 15, 2024. This trading plan was entered into during an open 
insider trading window and is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, as amended, and the Company’s policies regarding transactions in the Company’s securities.

On  December  8,  2023,  Bob  DeSantis,  the  Company’s  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief  Strategy  and  Corporate 
Operations  Officer,  adopted  a  Rule  10b5-1  trading  plan.  Mr.  DeSantis’s  trading  plan  provides  for  the  potential  sale  of  up  to 
29,868  shares  of  the  Company’s  common  stock,  including  the  potential  exercise  and  sale  of  up  to  24,106  shares  of  the 
Company’s common stock subject to stock options, until December 9, 2024. This trading plan was entered into during an open 
insider trading window and is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, as amended, and the Company’s policies regarding transactions in the Company’s securities.

On  December  15,  2023,  Frederik  C.  Widman,  the  Company’s  Vice  President,  Corporate  Controller,  and  Principal 
Accounting  Officer,  adopted  a  Rule  10b5-1  trading  plan.  Mr.  Widman’s  trading  plan  provides  for  the  potential  sale  of  up  to 
7,593 shares of the Company’s common stock, including the potential exercise and sale of up to 1,224 shares of the Company’s 
common stock subject to stock options, until March 7, 2025. This trading plan was entered into during an open insider trading 
window  and  is  intended  to  satisfy  the  affirmative  defense  of  Rule  10b5-1(c)  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as 
amended, and the Company’s policies regarding transactions in the Company’s securities.

ITEM 9C. 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

Not applicable.

129

PART III

Certain information required by Part III is omitted from this report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference to 
our definitive Proxy Statement for our next Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”), which we intend to file 
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within 120 days after December 31, 2023.

ITEM 10. 

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this item concerning our directors and corporate governance is incorporated by reference to 
the  information  set  forth  in  the  section  titled  “Directors  and  Corporate  Governance”  in  our  Proxy  Statement.  Information 
required by this item concerning our executive officers is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in the section 
entitled  “Executive  Officers  of  the  Company”  in  our  Proxy  Statement.  Information  regarding  our  Section  16  reporting 
compliance  and  code  of  business  conduct  and  ethics  is  incorporated  by  reference  to  the  information  set  forth  in  the  section 
entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in our Proxy 
Statement.

ITEM 11. 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item regarding executive compensation is incorporated by reference to the information set 

forth in the sections titled “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation for Directors” in our Proxy Statement.

ITEM  12. 

SECURITY  OWNERSHIP  OF  CERTAIN  BENEFICIAL  OWNERS  AND  MANAGEMENT  AND 
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The  information  required  by  this  item  regarding  security  ownership  of  certain  beneficial  owners  and  management  is 
incorporated by reference to the information set forth in the section titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners 
and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in our Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be 
filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2023.

ITEM 

13. 

CERTAIN  RELATIONSHIPS  AND  RELATED  TRANSACTIONS  AND  DIRECTOR 

INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this item regarding certain relationships and related transactions and director independence is 
incorporated  by  reference  to  the  information  set  forth  in  the  sections  titled  “Certain  Relationships  and  Related  Transactions” 
and “Directors and Corporate Governance” in our Proxy Statement.

ITEM 14. 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this item regarding principal accountant fees and services is incorporated by reference to the 

information set forth in the section titled “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” in our Proxy Statement.

130

ITEM 15. 

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PART IV

1) Financial Statements—See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.

2) The following financial statement schedule of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. for 2023, 2022, and 2021 is filed as part 
of this report and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of Intuitive 
Surgical, Inc.:

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Page

127

All other schedules have been omitted, because they are not applicable, not required under the instructions, or 
the information requested is set forth in the Consolidated Financial Statements or related notes thereto.

3) Exhibits

The exhibits filed as part of this report are listed under “Exhibits” at subsection (b) of this Item 15.

(b) Exhibits

131

3.1(1)

3.2(2)

3.3(3)

4.1(4)

4.2(5)

10.1(6)

10.2(7)

10.3(8)

10.4(9)

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as Amended.

Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.

Specimen Stock Certificate.

Description of the Registrant’s Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934.

2000 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan. *

Form of Indemnity Agreement. *

2009 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan, as amended and restated. *

2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated. *

10.5(10)

2010 Incentive Award Plan, as amended and restated. *

10.6(11)

Severance Plan. *

10.7(12)

10.8(13)

10.9(14)

Form of Amended and Restated Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 2009 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan Stock 
Option Grant Notice. *

Form  of  Amended  and  Restated  Intuitive  Surgical,  Inc.  2009  Employment  Commencement  Incentive  Plan 
Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice. *

Form of Amended and Restated Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 2010 Incentive Award Plan Global Stock Option Grant 
Notice. *

10.10(15) Form of Amended and Restated Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 2010 Incentive Award Plan Global Restricted Stock Unit 

Grant Notice. *

10.11(16) Form of Amended and Restated Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 2010 Incentive Award Plan Global Performance Stock 

21.1

23.1

31.1

31.2

32.1

97.1

101

104

Unit Grant Notice. *

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Subsidiaries.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Certification of Principal Executive Officer.

Certification of Principal Financial Officer.

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as 
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Policy for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.

The  following  materials  from  Intuitive  Surgical,  Inc.’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2023,  formatted 
in  Inline  XBRL  (Inline  Extensible  Business  Reporting  Language): 
(i)  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets,  (ii)  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income,  (iii)  Consolidated  Statements  of 
Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of 
Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged at Level I through IV.

The cover page from Intuitive Surgical, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 
2023, formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 23, 2020 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 20, 2021 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 1, 2021 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.2  filed  with  the  Company’s  Registration  Statement  Amendment  on  Form  S-1/A  filed  on  May  2,  2000  (File 
No. 333-33016).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 3, 2022 (File No. 333-33016).

Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on March 22, 2000 (File No. 333-33016).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 3, 2015 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on May 1, 2015 (File No. 333-203793).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2017 (File No. 000-30713).

132

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 3, 2022 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 2, 2008 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 filed with the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 2, 2016 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 filed with the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 2, 2016 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 filed with the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 10, 2023 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 filed with the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 10, 2023 (File No. 000-30713).

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 filed with the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 10, 2023 (File No. 000-30713).

 *      Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

ITEM 16. 

FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

133

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly 

caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

SIGNATURES

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.

By:

/S/    GARY S. GUTHART        
Gary S. Guthart, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer

Date:  January 31, 2024

Power of Attorney

Each  person  whose  individual  signature  appears  below  hereby  authorizes  and  appoints  Gary  Guthart,  Ph.D.,  and  Jamie 
Samath, and each of them, with full power of substitution and re-substitution and full power to act without the other, as his or 
her  true  and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent  to  act  in  his  or  her  name,  place,  and  stead  and  to  execute  in  the  name  and  on 
behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this annual report 
on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do 
and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or 
their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  this  report  has  been  signed  below  by  the 

following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

/S/    GARY S. GUTHART
Gary S. Guthart, Ph.D.

/S/    JAMIE E. SAMATH
Jamie E. Samath

/S/    FREDRIK C. WIDMAN
Fredrik C. Widman

Chief Executive Officer and Director 
(Principal Executive Officer)

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 
(Principal Financial Officer)

Vice President, Corporate Controller 
(Principal Accounting Officer)

/S/    CRAIG H. BARRATT

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Craig H. Barratt, Ph.D.

/S/    JOSEPH C. BEERY

Director

Joseph C. Beery

/S/    AMAL M. JOHNSON

Director

Amal M. Johnson

/S/    DON R. KANIA

Director

Don R. Kania, Ph.D.
/S/    SREELAKSHMI KOLLI

Sreelakshmi Kolli

/S/    AMY L. LADD

Amy L. Ladd, Ph.D.

Director

Director

/S/    KEITH R. LEONARD JR.

Director

Keith R. Leonard Jr.

/S/    ALAN J. LEVY

Alan J. Levy, Ph.D.

Director

/S/    JAMI DOVER NACHTSHEIM

Director

Jami Dover Nachtsheim

/S/    MONICA P. REED

Director

Monica P. Reed

/S/    MARK J. RUBASH

Director

Mark J. Rubash

134

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

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Intuitive Annual Report 2023