<p>Intuitive Surgical reported higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday on increased sales of its da Vinci surgical robots and a rise in procedures using the pricy machines.</p><p>The Sunnyvale company reported a net profit of $175 million, or $4.25 per share, compared with a profit of $151 million, or $3.75 per share, a year ago. Analysts on average expected $4.04 per share, according to Thomson Reuters.</p><p>Revenue rose 23 percent to $609 million, exceeding Wall Street forecasts of $584.4 million, driven by the sale of 175 da Vinci systems in the quarter at a price of about $1.5 million each and procedure growth of 25 percent.</p><p>David Mendiola adjusts the arms of a da Vinci Surgical System as he conducts a system integration test at the headquarters and manufacturing plant of Intuitive Surgical in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Friday, Aug.10, 2012. (Gary Reyes/ Staff) (Gary Reyes)</p><p><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22426620/sunnyvales-intuitive-surgical-sees-profits-rise-robot-sales">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/ranch/news/new-robot-at-memorial-hermann-katy-hospital-expands-surgical-options/article_bc0edafa-d5af-5e3c-a152-f47133ab765a.html">New robot at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital expands surgical options for ...</a> (Your Houston News)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dA5jx5--b95bq8MvK8-314WYPy8GM&ned=us">26 additional articles.</a></p>