RBR50 company Intuitive Surgical reported first quarter 2014 earnings dropped to $465 million from $611 million during the first quarter of 2013.

RBR50 company Intuitive Surgical expects first quarter 2014 revenue to be down 24% to approximately $465 million. Revenue from da Vinci systems fell from $256 million to $106.

So far it does not look like “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Shares of Intuitive Surgical are on the rise as the FDA approves the company’s new da Vinci Xi fourth-generation surgical robot. We examine the sales outlook for the new and improved device.

Shares take hit in after-hours trading.

Why has the stock fallen from its past high-growth trajectory?

More cases pending, but some plaintiffs are expected to fold after Intuitive’s recent win.

Under scrutiny by the FDA, the da Vinci surgical robot maker reveals its “cracks”

The recent probe by U.S Regulators to investigate the cause of adverse incidents has also contributed to Intuitive’s share decline.

Quarterly sales rose 23 percent to $609 million yet lawsuits and potential lawsuits keep mounting.

iRobot’s RP-VITA receives FDA clearance, new 3-D printing patent in the works

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s 2.3% excise tax on medical device revenues slated to hit next year.

New surgical robot developed as part of the $10 million (EUR 8.1 million), European Commission funded Araknes project.

Intuitive Surgical also purchased $10M in Hansen Medical stock

The global market for robotic surgeries is poised to achieve sizeable growth in the times to come, replacing the traditional methods of invasive surgery.

The center?s partnership with Mimic Technologies tests the value of robotic surgery simulation while stimulating the local economy

Robotics technology has evolved from providing limited medical care to offering a broad range of functions including patient rehabilitation and surgical procedures with more efficacy and competence.

According to expert analyst Dan Kara, Rethink Robotics is very well positioned, in terms of executive leadership, financing and first-to-market advantage to monopolize the market for its unique class of manufacturing robots for the foreseeable future.

Management expects growth of 25 percent to 27 percent in procedures, up from the previously forecast 24 percent to 26 percent. Also impressive were sales of 140 Da Vinci systems for the quarter compared to 120 during the same period last year and 126 forecast by JMP Securities. Whopping year-on-year increase of $107.10 million.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG), an industry leader in surgical robotics, reported first quarter of 2011 revenue of $388 million, up 18% compared with $329 million for the first quarter of 2010. First quarter of 2011 revenue growth was driven by continued robotic procedure adoption and higher da Vinci Surgical System sales. [Editor’s Note: Read our March 2011…