[5] In 1972, F. Brantley Scott and colleagues from Baylor College of Medicine designed the first precursor of contemporary artificial urinary sphincter.

[8][9] It is a 3-component device with a cuff placed around the urethra, a pump inserted in the scrotum and a pressure generating reservoir placed in the pelvis, which comes as a kit to prepare and to fill up before implantation.

[14][15] Another advantage of the ZSI 375 model is the possibility to increase or decrease the pressure inside the device after implantation to meet the desired continence rate and satisfaction of the patient.

These adjustments particularly help to control continence in cases of post-implantation urethral atrophy or urinary retention (poor urine flow).

[18][19] In both models, sterile saline solution inside the system is used to generate pressure and compress the urethra (to prevent urine from leaking).

[8][4][3] There are several case reports published in the literature of AUS implantation in children for secondary incontinence resulting from traumatic urethral injury.

[25][26] The European Association of Urology provides limited recommendation on AUS use in women, stating that although cure is possible the risk of complication is high.

[22] Nonetheless, AUS has been used as a last resort for treating urinary incontinence in women due to congenital causes and secondary to neurological diseases.

The success rate, generally defined as achieving total (no pad use) or social continence (use of ≤1 pad/day) with the implanted device, ranges from 61% to 100% in the literature.

[2] A randomised controlled trial found that the artificial urinary sphincter was non-inferior to the male or synthetic sling with respect to improving incontinence.

[citation needed] In the largest available series evaluating 1082 patients that underwent primary AUS placement, the 5-year device survival rate was 74% which is consistent with the reported outcomes in the literature, ranging from 59% to 79%.

[37] Notably, in all series, over time some patients needed to undergo a repeat surgery for recurrent urinary incontinence or infection of the device.