The success of robotic surgery company Intuitive Surgical has cut a path for other robotic medical device and health care companies. Intuitive Surgical (NasdaqGS:ISRG - News), maker of the da Vinci surgical system, was a top stock last year, with shares rising 237%. Shares were also up in 2008 until April 18, when they plummeted 17% on disappointing sales guidance for the year. The firm says it expects sales growth of 42%, while analysts were expecting 46%.
