A rotor for an axial-flow blood pump has blades (36) projecting outwardly from a hub (32) and channels (42) between the blades. The blades incorporate hydrodynamic bearing surfaces (48, 50) capable of suspending the rotor during operation. The rotor has a configuration which provides superior pumping action and reduced shear of blood passing through the pump. The forwardly facing pressure surfaces (38) of the blades may include outflow corner surface (70) at their downstream ends. The outflow corner surfaces desirably slope rearwardly and intersect the rearwardly-facing suction surfaces (40) of the blades at outflow ends of the blades.
