An artificial sphincter comprises a gripping body (2) presenting two walls (5, 6) which face each other to define a seat (2c) for receiving an anatomical duct (3), and elastically movable respectively approaching and/or distancing each other between a mutually proximal position, in which they occlude the anatomical duct (3), and a mutually distal position, in which they allow a flow through the anatomical duct (3). The artificial sphincter also comprises a switching element (13), of the shape-memory type, connected to the gripping body (2) and selectively deformable between a first configuration, in which it maintains the walls (5, 6) in proximal position by elastic return of the gripping body (2), and a second configuration, in which it maintains the walls (5, 6) in distal position. The gripping body (2) also presents two projections (7, 8) that develop away from each other, each starting from a respective wall (5, 6), and the switching element (13) presents a substantially wire-like shape and is connected to the gripping body (2) at the projections (7, 8) transversely thereto.
