**Notes/Thanks/Other declarations**

The author wishes to thank the people who made this project possible:

G. Baert MD and B. Trifan MD from Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Gilly, Belgium;

A.M. Calafiore MD from Department of Cardiac Surgery, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

N. Al-Attar MD from Department of Cardiac Surgery, Golden Jubilee Hospital, Glasgow, UK; A. Silvestri ECCP and S. Mercurio ECCP from Department of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Grand Hôspital de Charleroi, Gilly, Belgium;

A. Pappalardo MD, M. Gabrielli MD, C. Gripari CCP, G. Gustin CCP, D. Fasolo CCP, and A. Scala CCP from Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ospedali Riuniti, Trieste, Italy;

F. Perron CCP from Department of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Kelowna General Hospital, BC, Canada;

Mr. Dominique Bourgeois, professional welder.
