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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:


[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement           [ ]  Confidential, for use of the 
                                                Commission Only (as permitted by
                                                Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                        INTEGRATED SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required.

[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(l) and 0-11.
         (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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         (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
             pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: 

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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         (5) Total fee paid:

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[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

         (1)  Amount Previously Paid:

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                                       2
   3
 
                       INTEGRATED SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD ON APRIL 27, 1999
 
To the Stockholders of Integrated Surgical Systems, Inc.:
 
     Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Integrated Surgical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will
be held on April 27, 1999, at the Company's executive offices, 1850 Research
Park Drive, Davis, California 95616-4884, at the hour of 9:00 A.M., for the
following purposes.
 
     1. To elect six Directors of the Company to serve until the next annual
        meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and
        qualified.
 
   
     2. To approve an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
        Incorporation to increase the authorized capital stock by increasing the
        number of authorized shares of common stock from 15 million to 50
        million shares.
    
 
     3. To approve the issuance upon conversion of the Company's Series A
        Convertible Preferred Stock of more than 1,127,674 shares of common
        stock, representing 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the
        date of the sale of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, as
        required by Nasdaq rules.
 
   
     4. To approve the issuance upon conversion of the Company's Series B
        Convertible Preferred Stock of more than 1,148,807 shares of common
        stock, representing 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the
        date of the sale of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, as
        required by Nasdaq rules.
    
 
     5. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's
        independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 1999.
 
     6. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
        Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
     Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 1998 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
 
     A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be open
to examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting, at the
executive offices of the Company, 1850 Research Park Drive, California
95616-4884, for a period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting. Such list also
shall be available during the Annual Meeting.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          MARK W. WINN
                                          Secretary
 
Davis, California
March 26, 1999
 
                                   IMPORTANT:
 
     WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY, WHICH IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND RETURN IT TO THE COMPANY. THE PROXY MAY BE REVOKED
AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED, AND STOCKHOLDERS EXECUTING PROXIES MAY ATTEND
THE MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON SHOULD THEY SO DESIRE.
   4
 
                       INTEGRATED SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                            1850 RESEARCH PARK DRIVE
                          DAVIS, CALIFORNIA 95616-4884
                                 (530) 792-2600
                            ------------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                            ------------------------
 
   
     The Board of Directors of Integrated Surgical Systems, Inc. (the "Company")
presents this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card to all stockholders
and solicits their proxies for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
Tuesday, April 27, 1999. The record date of this proxy solicitation is March 17,
1999. All proxies duly executed and received will be voted on all matters
presented at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions given by
such proxies. In the absence of specific instructions, proxies so received will
be voted FOR the named nominees for election to the Company's Board of Directors
(Proposal 1), FOR the amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the authorized capital stock by increasing the number
of authorized shares of Common Stock from 15 million to 50 million shares
(Proposal 2), FOR the approval of the issuance upon conversion of the Company's
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of more than 1,127,674 shares of Common
Stock, representing 20% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of
the sale of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, as required by the rules
of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (Proposal 3), FOR the approval of the issuance
upon conversion of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of more
than 1,148,807 shares of Common Stock, representing 20% of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock on the date of the sale of the Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock, as required by Nasdaq rules (Proposal 4), and FOR ratification
of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent auditors
for the year ending December 31, 1999 (Proposal 5). The Board of Directors does
not anticipate that any of its nominees will be unavailable for election and
does not know of any matters that may be brought before the Annual Meeting other
than those listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting.
    
 
     In the event that any other matter should come before the Annual Meeting or
that any nominee is not available for election, the persons named in the
enclosed proxy will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies not marked
to the contrary with respect to such matter in accordance with their best
judgment. A proxy may be revoked at any time before being voted by sending a new
proxy bearing a later date or a revocation notice to the Company at the above
address, attn: Secretary, or by notifying the Secretary of the Company at the
Annual Meeting. The Company is soliciting these proxies and will pay the entire
expense of solicitation which will be made by use of the mails. This Proxy
Statement is being mailed on or about March 26, 1999.
 
     The total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 17,
1999, was 5,744,037 shares. The Common Stock is the only outstanding class of
securities of the Company entitled to vote. Each share of Common Stock has one
vote. Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 17, 1999
will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
   
     The affirmative vote by holders of a plurality of the votes cast for the
election of directors at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of
Directors. The affirmative vote by the majority of the votes present at the
Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is required to approve the issuance of more
than 1,127,674 shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock and the issuance of more than 1,148,807 shares of
Common Stock upon conversion of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and
the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP. The affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock is required for approval of the amendment to
the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized
capital stock by increasing the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from
15 million to 50 million shares. All proxies will be counted for determining the
presence of a quorum. Votes withheld in connection with the election of one or
more nominees for Director will not be counted as votes cast for such
individuals and shares represented by proxies which are marked "abstain" for any
other proposal on the proxy card and proxies which are marked to deny
discretionary authority on all other matters will only be counted for the
purpose of determining the presence of a quorum on such proposals. In addition,
where
    
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brokers are prohibited from exercising discretionary authority for beneficial
owners who have not provided voting instructions (commonly referred to as
"broker non-votes"), those shares will not be included in the vote totals.
 
     A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be
available at the Company's principal office, 1850 Research Park Drive, Davis,
California 95616-4884 during business hours, for a period of ten (10) days prior
to the Annual Meeting for examination by any stockholder. Such list shall also
be available at the Annual Meeting.
 
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     The following table sets forth certain information concerning the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock at March 17, 1999 by (i) each
stockholder known by the Company to be a beneficial owner of more than five
percent of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director of the Company,
(iii) each executive officer of the Company listed in the Summary Compensation
Table (see Proposal 1) and (iv) all directors and officers as a group.
 


                                                               AMOUNT AND
                                                               NATURE OF          PERCENTAGE OF
                                                               BENEFICIAL         COMMON STOCK
NAME                                                          OWNERSHIP(1)    BENEFICIALLY OWNED(2)
- ----                                                          ------------    ---------------------
                                                                        
International Business Machines Corporation.................   2,274,066(3)          28.31%
  Old Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504
EJ Financial Investments V, L.P. ...........................   1,039,792             18.10%
  225 East Deerpath Road, Suite 250
  Lake Forest, IL 60045
Sutter Health and Sutter Health Venture Partners, L.P. .....     467,607(4)           8.14%
  One Capitol Mall
  Sacramento, CA 95814
Ramesh C. Trivedi(5)........................................     338,510(6)           5.57%
John N. Kapoor(7)...........................................   1,039,792(8)          18.10%
James C. McGroddy(9)........................................      47,365(10)              *
Paul A.H. Pankow(11)........................................       9,163(12)              *
Patrick G. Hays(13).........................................       5,250(14)              *
Gerald D. Knudson(15).......................................       5,250(14)              *
Mark Winn (5)...............................................       1,000(16)*             *
All directors and officers as a group (7 persons)...........   1,446,330             23.64%

 
- ---------------
  *  Less than one percent.
 
 (1) Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole investment and voting
     power with respect to the shares indicated, subject to community property
     laws, where applicable.
 
 (2) For purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares held by each
     person or group of persons named above on March 17, 1999, any security
     which such person or group of persons has the right to acquire within 60
     days after such date is deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of
     computing the percentage ownership for such person or persons, but is not
     deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
     ownership of any other person.
 
   
 (3) Includes warrants to purchase 2,206,479 shares of Common Stock at an
     exercise price of $0.01 per share exercisable until December 31, 2005, and
     warrants to purchase 67,587 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
     $0.07 per share exercisable until December 31, 2000. which warrants are
     presently exercisable.
    
 
   
 (4) Includes 449,538 shares of Common Stock owned by Sutter Health and 18,069
     shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Sutter Health Venture Partners
     L.P. ("Sutter Partners"), an affiliate of Sutter Health.
    
 
 (5) Address is c/o the Company, 1850 Research Park, Davis, California
     95616-4884
 
                                        2
   6
 
 (6) Includes 4,000 shares owned by Dr. Trivedi and 334,510 shares that he may
     acquire upon exercise of stock options exercisable within 60
     days -- 316,907 shares at an exercise price of $0.07 per share and 17,603
     shares at an exercise price of $3.00 per share. Dr. Trivedi may acquire an
     additional 102,397 shares upon exercise of stock options that become
     exercisable over the remaining term of the options at an exercise price of
     $3.00 per share.
 
   
 (7) Address is c/o EJ Financial Enterprises, 225 East Deerpath Road, Suite 250,
     Lake Forest, Illinois 60045.
    
 
 (8) Represents shares of Common Stock owned by EJ Financial Investments V,
     L.P., a limited partnership of which Mr. Kapoor is the managing general
     partner. Mr. Kapoor disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
 
 (9) Address is 200 Business Park Drive, Armonk, New York 10504.
 
(10) Includes 26,000 shares owned by Dr. McGroddy, 1,000 shares beneficially
     owned by his daughter, and 20,365 shares that he may acquire upon exercise
     of stock options exercisable within 60 days -- 16,032 shares at an exercise
     price of $5.00 per share, 833 shares at an exercise price of $5.625 and
     3,500 shares at an exercise price of $3.9375. Dr. McGroddy may acquire an
     additional 11,770 shares upon exercise of stock options that become
     exercisable over the remaining term of the options at exercise prices
     ranging from $5.00 to $5.625.
 
(11) Address is 7840 East Lake Carlos Drive N.E., Carlos, Minnesota 56319.
 
   
(12) Represents shares that Mr. Pankow may acquire upon exercise of stock
     options exercisable within 60 days -- 2,028 shares at an exercise price of
     $2.07 per share, 1,666 shares at an exercise price of $5.625 per
     share,1,969 shares at an exercise price of $5.00 per share, and 3,500
     shares at an exercise price of $3.9375 per share. Mr. Pankow may acquire an
     additional 2,207 shares upon exercise of stock options that become
     exercisable over the remaining term of the options at exercise prices
     ranging from $2.07 to $5.00 per share.
    
 
(13) Address is c/o Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, 225 North Michigan, 9th
     Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60601-7680.
 
(14) Represents shares that he may acquire upon exercise of options exercisable
     within 60 days -- 1,750 shares at an exercise price of $5.625 per share and
     3,500 shares at an exercise price of $3.9375. He may acquire an additional
     1,750 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options that become
     exercisable over the remaining term of the options an exercise price of
     $5.625 per share.
 
(15) Address is c/o Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, Inc., 10 South Academy Street,
     Greenville, South Carolina 29602.
 
   
(16) Represents shares owned by Mr. Winn. Does not include 45,000 shares that
     Mr. Winn may acquire upon exercise of options at an exercise price of $3.00
     per share. None of these options are exercisable within 60 days.
    
 
                                        3
   7
 
                   ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
 
PROPOSAL 1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting will serve until the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. Proxies not marked to the contrary will be voted "FOR" the election
to the Board of Directors of the following six persons, all of whom are
incumbent Directors.
 
   
     Set forth below is certain information as of March 17, 1999 concerning each
nominee for Director, including his age, present principal occupation and
business experience during the past five years and the period he has served as a
director.
    
 


                                                                                    DIRECTOR
NAME                 AGE        PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND RELATED INFORMATION         SINCE
- ----                 ---   -------------------------------------------------------  --------
                                                                           
Ramesh C.
  Trivedi..........  59    Chief Executive Officer of the Company since November    November
                           1995; consultant to the Company from February 1995       1995
                           until November 1995; Principal of California Biomedical
                           Consultants (an international consulting firm) from
                           1987 to November 1995; President and Chief Executive
                           Officer of DigiRad Corporation (a medical imaging
                           company) from 1985 to 1986.
James C.
  McGroddy.........  61    Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since  November
                           November 1995; self-employed consultant since 1997;      1995
                           Senior Vice President and Special Advisor to the
                           Chairman of IBM from January 1996 through December
                           1996; Senior Vice President of Research of IBM from May
                           1989 to December 1995; Director of Paxar Corporation (a
                           manufacturer of apparel identification and related
                           printing products) since January 1998.
John N. Kapoor.....  55    President of EJ Financial Enterprises, Inc (a            December
                           healthcare consulting and investment company) since      1995
                           April 1990; Chairman of Option Care, Inc. (a franchiser
                           of home infusion therapy businesses) since October
                           1990; Chairman of Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a
                           specialty pharmaceutical company) since 1990; Chief
                           Executive Officer and Chairman of Akorn, Inc. (a
                           manufacturer and distributor of ophthalmic products)
                           since May 1996; and Chairman of NeoPharm, Inc. (cancer
                           drug research and development company).
Paul A.H. Pankow...  69    President of PAP Consulting (business and technical      May 1995
                           consulting firm) since March 1995; held various
                           positions with 3M Corporation, including Vice President
                           and Chief Executive Officer of its Imaging Systems
                           Division, from September 1959 to March 1995.
Gerald D.
  Knudson..........  55    Executive Vice President of Sterling Diagnostic          May 1997
                           Imaging, Inc. (manufacturer and distributor of medical
                           diagnostic imaging products) since January 1997;
                           President, Medical Systems Division of Polaroid
                           (manufacturer of medical diagnostic imaging printers
                           and film) from 1994 to 1996; Chief Executive Officer of
                           Resonex, Inc. (manufacturer of MRI systems) from 1988
                           to 1994.
Patrick G. Hays....  56    President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross and  May 1997
                           Blue Shield Association (national coordinating body for
                           the United States' sixty-two community-based and
                           independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans) since
                           February 1996; President and Chief Executive Officer of
                           Sutter Health (vertically integrated provider of health
                           services in northern California) from 1980 to 1995

 
                                        4
   8
 
     On August 16, 1992, a lawsuit was filed against Dr. Kapoor in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Fujisawa
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Fujisawa USA, Inc. ("Fujisawa"). The complaint
alleged that Dr. Kapoor, while President and Chief Executive Officer of
Lyphomed, Inc., a company acquired by Fujisawa, violated provisions of the
Federal securities laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations
Act (RICO), and also asserted certain state law claims. The factual basis of the
complaints alleges that Dr. Kapoor filed false applications for generic drug
approvals with the FDA on behalf of Lyphomed, Inc. On July 25, 1996, the
complaint was dismissed in part, and Dr. Kapoor was granted summary judgment on
the remaining claims. On June 16, 1997, the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
reversed the District Court's order dismissing the RICO and state law claims and
remanded the case to the District Court. Dr. Kapoor vigorously denies the
allegations and has asserted counterclaims against Fujisawa for breach of
contract, defamation of character and other state law claims.
 
     All directors hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders of the
Company following their election or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
 
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND INFORMATION REGARDING COMMITTEES
 
     The Board of Directors has two standing committees, an Audit Committee and
a Compensation Committee.
 
     The Audit Committee is composed of Dr. Kapoor (Chairman), Mr. Hays and Mr.
Pankow. The duties of the Audit Committee include recommending the engagement of
independent auditors, reviewing and considering actions of management in matters
relating to audit functions, reviewing with independent auditors the scope and
results of its audit engagement, reviewing reports from various regulatory
authorities, reviewing the system of internal controls and procedures of the
Company, and reviewing the effectiveness of procedures intended to prevent
violations of law and regulations. The Audit Committee held one meeting in 1998.
 
     The Company's Compensation Committee is composed of Dr. McGroddy
(Chairman), Dr. Kapoor and Mr. Knudson. The duties of this Committee are to
recommend to the Board remuneration for officers of the Company, to determine
the number and issuance of options pursuant to the Company's stock option plans
and to recommend the establishment of and to monitor a compensation and
incentive program for all executives of the Company. The Compensation Committee
held five meetings in 1998.
 
     The Board of Directors held seven meetings in 1998. All six of the
Directors attended at least 75% of the total number of Board meetings and
meetings of committees on which they served during the period they served
thereon in 1998.
 
     The Company pays independent Directors $7,500 per annum, plus $500 for each
Board of Directors meeting attended in person and $250 for each Board of
Directors meeting attended by telephone. Members who serve on either the Audit
or Compensation Committees are paid $300 for each meeting attended in person and
$150 for each meeting attended by telephone. Committee chairmen also are paid
$500 per annum. Independent Directors (other than Dr. Kapoor) also receive
annually ten year non-qualified stock options to purchase 3,500 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date of grant.
 
                                        5
   9
 
     The following table sets forth information concerning stock options granted
to independent Directors since January 1, 1998.
 


                                              NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERLYING    EXERCISE PRICE    EXPIRATION
                    NAME                            OPTIONS GRANTED            PER SHARE          DATE
                    ----                      ---------------------------    --------------    ----------
                                                                                      
James C. McGroddy...........................             3,500                   $3.93          1/23/08
Paul A. H. Pankow...........................             3,500                   $3.93          1/23/08
Patrick G. Hays.............................             3,500                   $3.93          1/23/08
Gerald D. Knudson...........................             3,500                   $3.93          1/23/08

 
                     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT
                    STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE NOMINEES FOR
                       DIRECTOR NAMED ABOVE (PROPOSAL 1)
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
     The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by or
paid to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each other executive officer
of the Company whose salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1998.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 


                                                                                         LONG-TERM
                                                          ANNUAL COMPENSATION           COMPENSATION
                                                   ----------------------------------   ------------
                                                                           OTHER         SECURITIES
                                                                          ANNUAL         UNDERLYING
           NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION             YEAR     SALARY     COMPENSATION       OPTIONS
           ---------------------------             ----    --------   ---------------   ------------
                                                                            
Ramesh C. Trivedi................................  1998    $279,840       $42,501         120,000
Chief Executive Officer and President              1997    $264,000       $50,400          20,000
                                                   1996    $264,000       $50,000         316,907
Mark W. Winn.....................................  1998    $118,833       --               --
Chief Financial Officer                            1997(1) $ 38,333       $ 8,316          45,000

 
- ---------------
(1) Mr. Winn commenced employment with the Company on September 2, 1997.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
     Dr. Ramesh Trivedi serves as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and
President pursuant to an employment agreement terminable at will by either
party. Dr. Trivedi's annual salary is $279,840 ($23,320 per month). Upon
termination by the Company, other than for cause (as defined in the employment
agreement), Dr. Trivedi is entitled to receive his monthly salary for a period
of eighteen months following the date of termination.
 
                                        6
   10
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
     The following table contains information concerning the grant of stock
options under the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan to Dr. Trivedi and Mr. Winn
(collectively, the "Named Executive Officers") during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998.
 
                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                              (INDIVIDUAL GRANTS)
 
   


                                                                      PERCENT OF
                                                        NUMBER OF       TOTAL
                                                          SHARES       OPTIONS
                                                        UNDERLYING    GRANTED TO    EXERCISE
                                                         OPTIONS     EMPLOYEES IN   PRICE PER   EXPIRATION
                         NAME                           GRANTED(1)   FISCAL YEAR    SHARE(2)       DATE
                         ----                           ----------   ------------   ---------   ----------
                                                                                    
Ramesh C. Trivedi.....................................   120,000         16.6%        $3.00      8/27/08
Mark W. Winn..........................................    45,000          6.2%        $3.00      8/27/08

    
 
- ---------------
(1) Stock options are granted at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of
    the Company's Board of Directors. Stock options have a 10-year term and vest
    periodically over a period not to exceed five years.
 
(2) The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors may elect to
    reduce the exercise price of any option to the current fair market value of
    the Common Stock if the value of the Common Stock has declined from the date
    of grant.
 
     The following table summarizes for each of the Named Executive Officers the
total number of unexercised options, if any, held at December 31, 1998, and the
aggregate dollar value of in-the-money, unexercised options, held at December
31, 1998. The value of the unexercised, in-the-money options at December 31,
1998, is the difference between their exercise or base price and the value of
the underlying Common Stock on December 31, 1998. The closing sale price of the
Common Stock on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market on December 31, 1998 was $3.125 per
share.
 
    AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY END OPTION VALUES
 
   


                                          SHARES ACQUIRED        NUMBER OF SECURITIES          VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                           UPON EXERCISE              UNDERLYING                   IN-THE-MONEY
                                            OF OPTIONS            UNEXERCISED OPTIONS               OPTIONS AT
                                        DURING FISCAL 1998       AT DECEMBER 31, 1998            DECEMBER 31, 1998
                                        -------------------   ---------------------------   ---------------------------
                                                    VALUE
                 NAME                   NUMBER    REALIZED    EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
                 ----                   -------   ---------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
                                                                                        
Ramesh C. Trivedi.....................   None       None        334,510        102,397       $985,754(1)     $12,800(2)
Mark W. Winn..........................   None       None              0         45,000              0        $ 5,625(3)

    
 
- ---------------
(1) Represents value of options to purchase 316,907 shares at an exercise price
    of $0.07 per share and options to purchase 17,603 shares at an exercise
    price of $3.00 per share.
 
(2) Represents value of options to purchase 102,397 shares at an exercise price
    of $3.00 per share.
 
(3) Represents value of options to purchase 45,000 shares at an exercise price
    of $3.00 per share.
 
                                        7
   11
 
   
                              REPRICING OF OPTIONS
    
 


                                                                                                           LENGTH OF
                                                 NUMBER OF       MARKET         EXERCISE                   ORIGINAL
                                                SECURITIES      PRICE OF        PRICE OF                  OPTION TERM
                                                UNDERLYING      STOCK AT        STOCK AT                   REMAINING
                                                  OPTIONS       TIME OF         TIME OF         NEW       AT DATE OF
                                   REPRICE/     REPRICED OR   REPRICING OR    REPRICING OR    EXERCISE   REPRICING OR
NAME                             REGRANT DATE     AMENDED      AMENDMENT       AMENDMENT       PRICE       AMENDMENT
- ----                             ------------   -----------   ------------   --------------   --------   -------------
                                                                                       
Ramesh C. Trivedi..............    8/28/98        120,000        $3.00         20,000@$6.13    $3.00     8 yrs. 7 mos.
                                                                              100,000@$4.75              9 yrs. 6 mos.
Mark W. Winn...................    8/28/98         45,000        $3.00         25,000@$8.25    $3.00     9 yrs. 1 mo.
                                                                              20,000@$4.875              9 yrs. 8 mos.

 
     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the
replacement of these options to Dr. Trivedi and Mr. Winn, and options to other
employees of the Company, at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, having
concluded that the principal purpose of the Company's stock option program
(i.e., to provide an equity incentive to employees to remain in the employment
of the Company and to work diligently in its best interests) would not be
achieved for those employees holding options exercisable above the market price
of the Common stock.
 
   
PROPOSAL 2.  AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
             INCREASE AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
             AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FROM 15 MILLION TO 50 MILLION
             SHARES.
    
 
   
     The Board of Directors has adopted, subject to shareholder approval, an
amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the
authorized capital stock by increasing the number of authorized shares of Common
Stock from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares.
    
 
   
     The Company is presently authorized to issue 15,000,000 shares of Common
Stock and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share
("Preferred Stock"). As of March 17, 1999, there were 5,744,037 shares of Common
Stock outstanding and an additional 8,011,996 shares of Common Stock reserved
for issuance upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and
upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options granted pursuant to the
Company's stock options plans. As of March 17, 1999, there were 3,300 shares of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding. On March 24, 1999, the Company
issued 1,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. See Proposal 4.
    
 
   
     The additional 35,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be authorized would
provide needed flexibility for future financial and capital requirements so that
proper advantage could be taken of favorable market conditions and possible
business acquisitions, and in the event the market price of the Common Stock
decreases from present levels, for issuance upon conversion of the Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock and the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.
Additional shares of Common Stock would also be available to the Company for
stock dividends or splits should the Board of Directors decide that it would be
desirable, in light of market conditions then prevailing, to broaden the public
ownership of, and to enhance the market for, the shares of the Company's Common
Stock. The additional shares would be available for issuance for these and other
purposes, subject to the laws of Delaware and Nasdaq rules, at the discretion of
the Company's Board of Directors without, in most cases, the delays and expenses
attendant to obtain further stockholder approval.
    
 
     Although the Company's Board of Directors does not consider the proposed
amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be an
antitakeover proposal, the ability to issue additional shares of Common Stock
could also be used to discourage hostile takeover attempts of the Company. Among
other things, the additional shares could be privately placed thereby diluting
the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of the Company, or the
Board could adopt a stockholders' rights plan that would provide for the
issuance of additional shares of Common Stock in the event of certain purchases
not approved by the Board of Directors.
 
   
     Although the Board of Directors has no current plans to propose measures to
the Company's stockholders that may have the effect of discouraging takeovers,
such measures may be proposed if warranted from time to time in the judgment of
the Board of Directors. In addition, the Board of Directors may, from time to
time,
    
 
                                        8
   12
 
adopt other measures or enter into agreements that could have the effect of
discouraging takeovers, but that do not require stockholder approval.
 
     Approval of this amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation
requires approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon. As a result, any shares not voted (whether by
abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) will have the same effect as a vote
against the proposal.
 
            THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS
      VOTE "FOR" THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE
            OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK BY
                 INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF
         COMMON STOCK FROM 15 MILLION TO 50 MILLION SHARES (PROPOSAL 2)
 
   
PROPOSAL 3.  TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE UPON CONVERSION OF SERIES A CONVERTIBLE
             PREFERRED STOCK OF MORE THAN 1,127,674 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, AS
             REQUIRED BY NASDAQ RULES.
    
 
     Nasdaq rules require the Company to obtain stockholder approval for the
issuance of securities involving the sale of 20% or more of its Common Stock at
less than fair market value. Nasdaq may delist the securities of any issuer that
fails to obtain such stockholder approval before the issuance of such
securities.
 
   
     On September 10, 1998, the Company sold 3,520 shares of the Company's
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, together with warrants to purchase 44,000
shares of its Common Stock at an exercise price above the then market value of
the Common Stock, to two institutional investors for an aggregate purchase price
of $3,520,000. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into
shares of Common Stock, at the option of the holder thereof, subject to the
limitations discussed below. The number of shares of Common Stock into which the
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted is equal to $1,000 times
the number of shares to be converted, divided by the conversion price. The
conversion price is equal to the lower of $4.97 and 85% of the lowest sale price
of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market during the five trading days
preceding the date of conversion. There is no minimum conversion price.
Consequently, the lower the market price of the Common Stock, the greater the
number of shares of Common Stock the holders of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock will receive upon conversion. No holder may convert the Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock to the extent such conversion would result in a
holder becoming the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the then
outstanding Common Stock, or the holders in the aggregate acquiring more than
1,127,674 shares of Common Stock, representing 20% of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding on the date upon which the shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock were issued, unless such issuance is approved by
stockholders.
    
 
   
     The conversion price and the number of shares of Common Stock that may be
acquired upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is subject
to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, reorganization or
reclassification. In addition, if prior to January 14, 2000 the Company issues
shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or
exchangeable, for Common Stock) at less than the conversion price in a
transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and
the Company grants the purchasers of such shares or other securities the right
to demand registration of such shares, the conversion price of the Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock will be adjusted to such lower price.
    
 
     The conversion, or the potential conversion, of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock at a discount of approximately 15% of the then prevailing market
price of the Common Stock and the immediate resale of the shares of Common Stock
acquired upon conversion into the public market may depress the market price of
the Common Stock and will have a dilutive impact on other stockholders.
 
   
     If this proposal is not approved by stockholders, upon any conversion that,
together with prior conversions, would result in the issuance of more than
1,127,674 shares of Common Stock but for the 20% limitation discussed above, the
Company will be required to pay the holder requesting conversion an amount in
cash equal to the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of conversion
times the number of shares in excess of 1,127,674 shares. The Company's ability
to make such cash payments will depend on its available cash resources at the
time of a request for conversion. The payment of such amounts instead of the
issuance of
    
 
                                        9
   13
 
shares of Common Stock upon conversion may adversely affect the liquidity and
financial condition of the Company.
 
              THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS
              VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF MORE THAN
            1,127,674 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UPON CONVERSION OF THE
               SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, AS REQUIRED
                          BY NASDAQ RULES (PROPOSAL 3)
 
   
PROPOSAL 4.  TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE UPON CONVERSION OF SERIES B CONVERTIBLE
             PREFERRED STOCK OF MORE THAN 1,148,807 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, AS
             REQUIRED BY NASDAQ RULES.
    
 
     Nasdaq rules require the Company to obtain stockholder approval for the
issuance of securities involving the sale of 20% or more of its Common Stock at
less than fair market value. Nasdaq may delist the securities of any issuer that
fails to obtain such stockholder approval before the issuance of such
securities.
 
   
     On March 26, 1999, the Company sold 1,000 shares of the Company's Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock together with warrants to purchase 12,500 shares of
its Common Stock, to four institutional investors for an aggregate purchase
price of $1,000,000. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible
into shares of Common Stock, at the option of the holder thereof, commencing
June 24, 1999, as to 250 shares; commencing July 24, 1999 as to a cumulative
total of 500 shares; commencing August 23, 1999 as to a cumulative total of 750
shares; and commencing September 22, 1999, or such earlier date from which the
market price of the Common Stock exceeds $3.06, as to all 1,000 shares, in each
case subject to the limitations discussed below. The number of shares of Common
Stock into which the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted is
equal to $1,000 times the number of shares to be converted, divided by the
conversion price. The conversion price is equal to the lower of $3.06 and 85% of
the lowest sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market during
the five trading days preceding the date of conversion. There is no minimum
conversion price. Consequently, the lower the market price of the Common Stock,
the greater the number of shares of Common Stock the holders of the Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock will receive upon conversion. No holder may convert
the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to the extent such conversion would
result in a holder becoming the beneficial owner of more than five percent of
the then outstanding Common Stock, or the holders in the aggregate acquiring
more than 1,148,807 shares of Common Stock, representing 20% of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date upon which the shares of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock were issued, unless such issuance is approved by
stockholders.
    
 
   
     The conversion price and the number of shares of Common Stock that may be
acquired upon conversion of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is subject
to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, reorganization or
reclassification. In addition, if prior to the earlier of the first anniversary
of the date upon which a registration statement for the resale of the shares of
Common Stock that may be acquired upon conversion of the Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock and the warrants is declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the closing of a registered firm commitment underwritten
secondary offering of the Company's securities, the Company issues shares of
Common Stock (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable
for, Common Stock) at less than the conversion price in a transaction exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the Company grants
the purchasers of such shares or other securities the right to demand
registration of such shares, the conversion price of the Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock will be adjusted to such lower price.
    
 
   
     The conversion, or the potential conversion, of the Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock at a discount of approximately 15% of the then prevailing market
price of the Common Stock and the immediate resale of the shares of Common Stock
acquired upon conversion into the public market may depress the market price of
the Common Stock and will have a dilutive impact on other stockholders.
    
 
   
     If this proposal is not approved by stockholders, upon any conversion that,
together with prior conversions, would result in the issuance of more than
1,148,807 shares of Common Stock but for the 20% limitation discussed above, the
Company will be required to pay the holder requesting conversion an amount
    
 
                                       10
   14
 
   
in cash equal to the greater of (1) the closing price of the Common Stock on the
date of conversion times the number of shares in excess of 1,148,807 shares, and
(2) $1,200 per share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock requested to be
converted. The Company's ability to make such cash payments will depend on its
available cash resources at the time of a request for conversion. The payment of
such amounts instead of the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion
may adversely affect the liquidity and financial condition of the Company.
    
 
              THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS
              VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF MORE THAN
            1,148,807 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UPON CONVERSION OF THE
               SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, AS REQUIRED
   
                          BY NASDAQ RULES (PROPOSAL 4)
    
 
PROPOSAL 5.  RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     The Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, to continue as the Company's auditors and to audit the consolidated
financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31,
1999. Ernst & Young LLP has audited the Company's financial statements since the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1991. They have no financial interest, either
direct or indirect, in the Company. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are
expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions
from stockholders and to make a statement if they desire to do so.
 
                   THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE
            STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
   
                      OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS (PROPOSAL 5)
    
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     The Board of Directors is not aware of any business to be presented at the
Annual Meeting except the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting and
described in this Proxy Statement. Unless otherwise directed, all shares
represented by Board of Directors' proxies will be voted in favor of the
proposals of the Board of Directors described in this Proxy Statement. If any
other matters come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the
accompanying Proxy will vote on those matters according to their best judgment.
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES
 
     The names, ages and business backgrounds of the executive officers and
other significant employees of the Company who are not nominees for Director are
as follows:
 
     MARK W. WINN, 48, has been Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the
Company since September 1997. Mr. Winn served as the Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Research Medical, Inc. (a manufacturer and developer
of specialty cardiovascular and pharmaceutical products) from November 1991 to
August 1997. Mr. Winn was the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gory
Associated Industries (a south Florida building products manufacturer) from 1984
to 1991.
 
   
     LELAND WITHERSPOON, 46, has been Vice President, Engineering since April
1997. Mr. Witherspoon was Director Product Research and Development for Sorin
Biomedicals, Inc. (a developer and manufacturer of cardiopulmonary and
cardiovascular products) from February 1992 to April 1997. He was Manager of
Research and Development for Pfizer/Shiley (a developer and manufacturer of
cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular equipment and disposables) from October 1990
to February 1992. Mr. Witherspoon held various technical and management
positions with Xerox Medical Systems (a manufacturer and developer of diagnostic
medical electronic and mechanical systems) from March 1979 to October 1990.
    
 
     PETER KAZANZIDES, PH.D., 36, a co-founder of the Company, has been an
employee of the Company since November 1990 and Director of Robotics and
Software of the Company since December 1995. He received
 
                                       11
   15
 
Sc.B., Sc.M., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Brown University
in 1983, 1985, and 1988, respectively. His dissertation focused on force control
and multiprocessor systems for robotics. He performed post-doctoral research in
surgical robotics from March 1989 to March 1990 at the IBM T.J. Watson Research
Center.
 
     HANS WEYENSCHENK, 48, has been Director of Marketing, Orthopaedics, of the
Company since February 1997. Prior thereto, he was employed by Vitatron Medical,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc. (a manufacturer of cardiac
products), as Director of Marketing, Communications and Services from 1996 to
February 1997 and Director of International Sales from 1987 to 1995.
 
   
     MARK JENSEN, 51, joined the Company as Director of Quality Systems in July
1998. Prior to joining the Company, he held Quality/Regulatory management
positions with Medtronic, Inc., Nellcor Puritan Bennett (a developer and
marketer of products for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of respiratory
disorders), and Novo Nordisk A/S (a biotech based manufacturer and distributor
of pharmaceutical and industrial enzyme products) in Copenhagen Denmark.
    
 
     SCOTT M. BURKHART, 44, has been Director of Sales and Marketing since
January 1999. Prior to joining the Company, he served as Vice President of Sales
for Instromedix (manufacturer of cardiac telemedicine products) from 1988 to
1999 and as Marketing Manager Imaging Systems Division -- 3M Company from 1978
to 1984.
 
     RD HIBBERT, 50, has been Director, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs since
February 1998. Prior to joining the Company, he was Director, Clinical and
Regulatory Affairs of Research Medical, Inc. from August 1985 to February 1998.
 
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
     On October 29, 1997, the Company amended warrants to purchase 2,079,584
shares of Series D Preferred Stock owned by IBM so that they were exercisable
for an equal number of shares of Common Stock and on such other terms of
conditions stated in such warrants. In April 1998, the Company amended warrants
to purchase 2,274,066 shares of Common Stock owned by IBM to permit IBM to
exercise those warrants without payment of cash for a lesser number of shares,
based upon the difference between market price of the Common Stock at the time
of exercise and the exercise prices. In consideration for such cashless exercise
rights, IBM agreed to limit sales of shares acquired upon exercise of warrants
to the volume limitations of Rule 144, whether or not applicable, and granted
the Company a right of first refusal with respect to such sales.
 
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
   
     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
officers, Directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered
class of the Company's equity securities within specified time periods to file
certain reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Officers, Directors and ten percent stockholders are
required by regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely on a review of copies of such reports received by
the Company and written representations from such persons concerning the
necessity to file such reports, the Company is not aware of any failures to file
reports or report transactions in a timely manner during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998.
    
 
EXPENSES
 
     The entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy
Statement, the enclosed Proxy and other materials, and the cost of soliciting
Proxies with respect to the Annual Meeting, will be borne by the Company. The
Company will request banks and brokers to solicit their customers who
beneficially own shares listed of record in names of nominees, and will
reimburse those banks and brokers for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of
such solicitations. The original solicitation of proxies by mail may be
supplemented by
 
                                       12
   16
 
telephone and telegram by officers and other regular employees of the Company,
but no additional compensation will be paid to such individuals.
 
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
   
     No person who intends to present a proposal for action at a forthcoming
stockholders' meeting of the Company may seek to have the proposal included in
the proxy statement or form of proxy for such meeting unless that person (a) is
a record beneficial owner of at least 1% or $1,000 in market value of shares of
Common Stock, has held such shares for at least one year at the time the
proposal is submitted, and such person shall continue to own such shares through
the date on which the meeting is held, (b) provides the Company in writing with
his name, address, the number of shares held by him and the dates upon which he
acquired such shares with documentary support for a claim of beneficial
ownership, (c) notifies the Company of his intention to appear personally at the
meeting or by a qualified representative under Delaware law to present his
proposal for action, and (d) submits his proposal timely. A proposal to be
included in the proxy statement or proxy for the Company's next annual meeting
of stockholders, will be submitted timely only if the proposal has been received
at the Company's principal executive office no later than November 26, 1999. If
the date of such meeting is changed by more than 30 calendar days from the date
such meeting is scheduled to be held under the Company's By-Laws, or if the
proposal is to be presented at any meeting other than the next annual meeting of
stockholders, the proposal must be received at the Company's principal executive
office at a reasonable time before the solicitation of proxies for such meeting
is made.
    
 
     Even if the foregoing requirements are satisfied, a person may submit only
one proposal with a supporting statement of not more than 500 words, if the
latter is requested by the proponent for inclusion in the proxy materials, and
under certain circumstances enumerated in the Securities and Exchange
Commission's rules relating to the solicitation of proxies, the Company may be
entitled to omit the proposal and any statement in support thereof from its
proxy statement and form of proxy.
 
FORM 10-KSB FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
 
     Copies of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the financial statements, can be obtained without charge by
stockholders (including beneficial owners of the Company's Common Stock) upon
written request to Mark W. Winn, the Company's Secretary, Integrated Surgical
Systems, Inc.,1850 Research Park Drive, Davis, California 95616-4884 or on the
Commission's Web Site at www.sec.gov.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          Mark W. Winn, Secretary
 
Davis, California
March 26, 1999
 
                                       13
   17
 
                       INTEGRATED SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                            1550 RESEARCH PARK DRIVE
PROXY                     DAVIS, CALIFORNIA 95616-4884
 
    The undersigned, a holder of Common Stock of INTEGRATED SURGICAL SYSTEMS,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby appoints DR. RAMESH C.
TRIVEDI and MARK W. WINN, and each of them, the proxy of the undersigned, with
full power of substitution, to attend represent and vote for the undersigned,
all of the shares of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to
vote, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on April
27, 1999 and any adjournments thereof, as follows:
 
1. The election of six Directors of the Company to serve until the next annual
meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
 
  [ ] FOR all nominees listed below    [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all
                             nominees listed below.

(Instructions: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE
               A LINE THROUGH OR OTHERWISE STRIKE OUT HIS NAME BELOW)
 
Ramesh C. Trivedi, James C. McGroddy, John N. Kapoor, Paul A.H. Pankow, Gerald
D. Knudson and Patrick G. Hays
 
2. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the authorized capital stock by increasing the number
of authorized shares of Common Stock from 15 million to 50 million shares.
 

                                            
  [ ] FOR               [ ] AGAINST               [ ] ABSTAIN
                   

 
3. The approval of the issuance of more than 1,127,674 shares of Common Stock
upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, as required by Nasdaq
rules.
 

                                            
  [ ] FOR               [ ] AGAINST               [ ] ABSTAIN


 
4. The approval of the issuance of more than 1,148,807 shares of Common Stock
upon conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, as required by Nasdaq
rules.
 

                                            
  [ ] FOR               [ ] AGAINST               [ ] ABSTAIN


 
5. The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 1999.
 

                                            
  [ ] FOR               [ ] AGAINST               [ ] ABSTAIN


 
6. Upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournments thereof.
 
                  (continued, and to be signed, on other side)
   18
 
                          (continued from other side)
 
    The undersigned hereby revokes any other proxy to vote at such Annual
Meeting, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and proxies,
and each of them, may lawfully do by virtue hereof. With respect to matters not
known at the time of the solicitations hereby, said proxies are authorized to
vote in accordance with their best judgment.
 
    THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INSTRUCTIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE HEREOF. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SIX DIRECTORS NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR THE
ADOPTION OF PROPOSALS 2, 3, 4 AND 5, AND AS SAID PROXIES SHALL DEEM ADVISABLE ON
SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
 
  The undersigned acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Notice of Annual Meeting
dated March 26, 1999 relating to the Annual Meeting.
 
                                            Date:                         , 1999
 
                                              ----------------------------------
 
                                            ------------------------------------
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            SIGNATURE(S) OF STOCKHOLDER(S)
 
                                                The signature(s) hereon should
                                            correspond exactly with the name(s)
                                            of the Stockholder(s) appearing on
                                            the Stock Certificate. If stock is
                                            jointly held, all joint owners
                                            should sign. When signing as
                                            attorney, executor, administrator,
                                            trustee or guardian, please give
                                            full title as such. If signer is a
                                            corporation, please sign the full
                                            corporate name, and give title of
                                            signing officer.
 
    THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF INTEGRATED SURGICAL
                                 SYSTEMS, INC.
    PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
                                   ENVELOPE.