a radially expandable and compressible frame having an inflow end and an outflow end, the frame comprising a plurality of struts defining openings between them;

a valvular structure comprising a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet comprising a main body having an inflow surface, an outflow surface opposing the inflow surface, an edge surface extending from the inflow surface to the outflow surface and defining a thickness of the leaflet, a coaptation edge portion, and a cusp edge portion, the cusp edge portion of each leaflet being folded toward the outflow end of the frame along a bending axis to form an outer fold layer that extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the frame such that the edge surface faces the outflow end of the frame;

a reinforcing member separate from the frame extending along the bending axis between the outer fold layer and the outflow surface of the main body of each leaflet of the plurality of leaflets;

a plurality of connecting skirts, wherein each connecting skirt is disposed between the cusp edge portion of an adjacent leaflet and the frame;

first stitching securing the reinforcing member and the connecting skirts to the cusp edge portions of the leaflets; and

second stitching securing the connecting skirts to selected struts of the frame.