Intuitive Surgical first-quarter net profit beats expectations

(Reuters) - Intuitive Surgical Inc on Tuesday reported a first-quarter net profit that topped Wall Street expectations, helped by expanded use of its da Vinci surgical robots in U.S. general surgery procedures. Analysts on average expected $4.33 a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net profit for the quarter rose to $136 million, or $3.54 a share, from $97 million, or $2.57 a share, a year ago. The company's net quarterly profit had been projected at $3.43 a share, according to Thomson