A magnetic levitation pump apparatus, comprising: an inlet cannula defining an axial inlet; an annular magnetic rotor; an impeller coupled to the magnetic rotor, the impeller comprising: a flat peripheral ring including a first surface coupled to the annular magnetic rotor, a second surface facing away from the annular magnetic rotor and a central circular aperture concentrically aligned with the annular magnetic rotor; a plurality of blades extending from the peripheral ring inwardly towards an axis of rotation of the annular magnetic rotor; wherein each of the blades includes: a blade root surface facing the annular magnetic rotor and located in a first plane normal to the axis of rotation, and a blade tip surface facing away from the annular magnetic rotor and located in a second plane normal to the axis of rotation, wherein the blade root surface and the blade tip surface are disposed in parallel planes and define a radial inducerless characteristic of the blades; and a nose cone portion extending through the central circular aperture of the flat peripheral ring, wherein a substantially flat peripheral portion of the nose cone overlaps the leading edge portion of each of the blades and defines a constant gap between the nose cone portion and the blades, and wherein a curved central portion of the nose cone extends axially beyond the blades and into the axial inlet. an inlet cannula defining an axial inlet; an annular magnetic rotor; an impeller coupled to the magnetic rotor, the impeller comprising: a flat peripheral ring including a first surface coupled to the annular magnetic rotor, a second surface facing away from the annular magnetic rotor and a central circular aperture concentrically aligned with the annular magnetic rotor; a plurality of blades extending from the peripheral ring inwardly towards an axis of rotation of the annular magnetic rotor; wherein each of the blades includes: a blade root surface facing the annular magnetic rotor and located in a first plane normal to the axis of rotation, and a blade tip surface facing away from the annular magnetic rotor and located in a second plane normal to the axis of rotation, wherein the blade root surface and the blade tip surface are disposed in parallel planes and define a radial inducerless characteristic of the blades; and a flat peripheral ring including a first surface coupled to the annular magnetic rotor, a second surface facing away from the annular magnetic rotor and a central circular aperture concentrically aligned with the annular magnetic rotor; a plurality of blades extending from the peripheral ring inwardly towards an axis of rotation of the annular magnetic rotor; wherein each of the blades includes: a blade root surface facing the annular magnetic rotor and located in a first plane normal to the axis of rotation, and a blade tip surface facing away from the annular magnetic rotor and located in a second plane normal to the axis of rotation, wherein the blade root surface and the blade tip surface are disposed in parallel planes and define a radial inducerless characteristic of the blades; and a blade root surface facing the annular magnetic rotor and located in a first plane normal to the axis of rotation, and a blade tip surface facing away from the annular magnetic rotor and located in a second plane normal to the axis of rotation, wherein the blade root surface and the blade tip surface are disposed in parallel planes and define a radial inducerless characteristic of the blades; and a nose cone portion extending through the central circular aperture of the flat peripheral ring, wherein a substantially flat peripheral portion of the nose cone overlaps the leading edge portion of each of the blades and defines a constant gap between the nose cone portion and the blades, and wherein a curved central portion of the nose cone extends axially beyond the blades and into the axial inlet.