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Guthart Rule Trading Arrangement, Common Stock [Member] Gary S. 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Guthart Rule Trading Arrangement, Stock Option [Member] Gary S. 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Excluding Goodwill, before Accumulated Amortization REVENUE AND CONTRACT ACQUISITION COSTS Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Financial Instruments Disclosure [Text Block] Amy L. Ladd, M.D. [Member] Amy L. 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Guthart [Member] Gary S. Guthart Allowance for Credit Loss Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale, Allowance for Credit Loss Unrealized losses more than 12 months, gross unrealized losses Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss Equity Components [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Product and Service [Domain] Product and Service [Domain] Class of Stock [Line Items] Class of Stock [Line Items] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Interactive Data Current Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Compensation Actually Paid vs. Other Measure Compensation Actually Paid vs. Other Measure [Text Block] Mature in one to five years Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale, Amortized Cost, Maturity, Allocated and Single Maturity Date, after Year One Through Five Entity Small Business Entity Small Business Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] Total comprehensive income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 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Charlton Rule Trading Arrangement, Common Stock [Member] Henry L. 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Cover [Abstract] Moderate Moderate [Member] Moderate Proceeds from sale of assets Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets Fredrik Widman [Member] Fredrik Widman Concentration risk (as a percent) Concentration Risk, Percentage Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Deferred revenue – long-term Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Derivative Contract [Domain] Derivative Contract [Domain] Amortization of intangible and other assets Amortization Of Intangible Assets, Contract Acquisition, And Other Assets Amortization Of Intangible Assets, Contract Acquisition, And Other Assets Equity Awards Adjustments Equity Awards Adjustments [Member] Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items] Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items] Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity Liabilities and Equity Gross realized gains (losses) Realized Investment Gains (Losses) Employee Stock Option Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] Noncontrolling interest in joint venture Equity, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Other liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Additional 402(v) Disclosure Additional 402(v) Disclosure [Text Block] Plan Name [Axis] Plan Name [Axis] Related Party [Domain] Related and Nonrelated Parties [Domain] Geographic Distribution [Domain] Geographic Distribution [Domain] Accounts Receivable, Net Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block] Tabular List, Table Tabular List [Table Text Block] Vesting [Axis] Vesting [Axis] Summary of Share-Based Compensation Expense Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Cost by Plan [Table Text Block] Expected volatility (percent) Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Weighted Average Volatility Rate Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 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