A implantable blood pump system includes a pump unit, a first percutaneous cable section, a control unit, and a second cable section connecting the control unit to the first cable section. All components except the control unit are sterilized. The connection between cable sections is removable. The connection between the control unit and second cable section is unremovable once it is assembled. The second cable section has a length sufficient to place an end outside of the sterile field for mating with the control unit during implantation.