Intuitive Surgical ($ISRG) disclosed that fourth-quarter revenue hit higher than analysts had expected, offering a shot of good news after months of controversy over quality problems and adverse event reports concerning its da Vinci surgical robots. Investors were pleased, driving the stock price up nearly 7% on Jan. 14 to a $419.88 close. According to Reuters, the California company said it generated approximately $576 million in revenue in the fourth quarter (ending Dec. 31), versus an average analyst estimate of about $548.6 million as compiled by Thomson Reuters. But da Vinci robot sales only hit $205 million during the quarter, a drop of about 23%, according to the story. A Morningstar analyst told Reuters that the results reflect a leveling off in the drop of da Vinci sales, thanks to international sales countering larger declines in the U.S. Story