A blood flow controlling apparatus (42) comprising: a valve means (52), the valve means movable between an open state and a closed state, the valve means in the open state extending primarily in a direction along blood flow, the valve means in the closed state extending in a direction transverse to blood flow, the valve means including a plurality of flaps (344) arranged side-by-side with adjacent surfaces having coaptation areas in close contact with each other to prevent leakage between the flaps; an anchoring means (54) arranged to fix the position of the apparatus in a circulatory system, the anchoring means disposed on an outflow side of the valve means; and an elongate connecting means (46) extending between the valve means and the anchoring means, the connecting means axially spacing the valve means from the anchoring means.