An impeller for a centrifugal pump comprising a vane extending in a Z-direction between an front side shroud which is annular in shape, and a rear side shroud which is annular in shape; the vane comprising a radially inward leading edge, a radially outward trailing edge, a pressure side which is generally convex in shape, and a suction side which is generally concave in shape, the vane further being connected to the front side shroud and to the rear side shroud, the impeller further comprising a front side blending and optionally a rear side blending; the front side blending being provided proximate a central region of the impeller and adjacent to the front side shroud between a surface of the vane and a surface of the front side shroud; the front side blending extending from a first point on the pressure side of the vane, circumferentially along the vane's perimeter, and peripherally around the leading edge of the vane, to a second point on the suction side of the vane along the vane's perimeter; the rear side blending being provided proximate a central region of the impeller and adjacent to the rear side shroud between a surface of the vane and a surface of the rear side shroud; the rear side blending extending from a first point on the pressure side of the vane, circumferentially along the vane's perimeter, and peripherally around the leading edge of the vane, to a second point on the suction side of the vane along the vane's perimeter; each of the front side blending and rear side blending being provided proximate to and extending from the leading edge of the vane; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each of the front side blending and rear side blending being configured with a bulbous geometry which geometrically differs from a conventional radius fillet (r), the bulbous geometry of each of the front side blending and the rear side blending being adapted to optimize flow patterns adjacent the vane and between the respective front and rear side shrouds in a manner which discourages the formation of horseshoe vortices proximate the leading edge of the vane during operation; and in that a width of the front side blending increases from a first width of the front side blending near the first point of the front side blending, to a larger fourth width of the front side blending near the second point of the front side blending as the front side blending progresses circumferentially along the vane's perimeter and peripherally around the leading edge from the first point of the front side blending to the second point of the front side blending; and wherein the front side blending further comprises a transitional second width between the first width of the front side blending and the fourth width of the front side blending at a point along the vane's perimeter which is circumferentially disposed between the first point of the front side blending and the second point of the front side blending; wherein the leading edge is substantially encompassed between the first point of the front side blending and the second point of the front side blending when viewed along said Z-direction in an X-Y plane which is perpendicular to said Z-direction; and wherein the transitional second width of the front side blending is equal to or larger than the first width and smaller than the fourth width. each of the front side blending and rear side blending being configured with a bulbous geometry which geometrically differs from a conventional radius fillet (r), the bulbous geometry of each of the front side blending and the rear side blending being adapted to optimize flow patterns adjacent the vane and between the respective front and rear side shrouds in a manner which discourages the formation of horseshoe vortices proximate the leading edge of the vane during operation; and in that a width of the front side blending increases from a first width of the front side blending near the first point of the front side blending, to a larger fourth width of the front side blending near the second point of the front side blending as the front side blending progresses circumferentially along the vane's perimeter and peripherally around the leading edge from the first point of the front side blending to the second point of the front side blending; and wherein the front side blending further comprises a transitional second width between the first width of the front side blending and the fourth width of the front side blending at a point along the vane's perimeter which is circumferentially disposed between the first point of the front side blending and the second point of the front side blending; wherein the leading edge is substantially encompassed between the first point of the front side blending and the second point of the front side blending when viewed along said Z-direction in an X-Y plane which is perpendicular to said Z-direction; and wherein the transitional second width of the front side blending is equal to or larger than the first width and smaller than the fourth width.