Abstract: A skirt-reinforcement member for supporting or reinforcing an unsupported portion of a skirt that spans across a side opening of a stent or frame of a valve prosthesis. The skirt-reinforcement member is configured to prevent billowing of the skirt material that spans across the side opening of the inner frame of the valve prosthesis, as such billowing may undesirably result in contact between the skirt and leaflets of the valve prosthesis after the valve prosthesis is deployed in situ.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes a frame and a skirt coupled to a surface of the frame. The skirt extends over at least one side opening of a plurality of side openings of the frame. The prosthesis also includes a skirt-reinforcement member that spans the at least one side opening from a first crown or strut edge defining the at least one side opening to a second crown or strut edge defining the at least one side opening. The skirt-reinforcement member has a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween. The first end of the skirt-reinforcement member is attached to the first crown or strut edge and the second end of the skirt-reinforcement member is attached to the second crown or strut edge. The skirt-reinforcement member is attached to the skirt along an unsupported portion of the skirt that spans the at least one side opening.