Multi-boundary array ultrasound imaging

An imaging system, comprising:

• a first rectangular boundary array being arranged in the shape of a rectangle, the first rectangular boundary array having two outer columns each including at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers and being opposite to one another and two outer rows each including at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers and being opposite to one another, the at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers on each of the two outer columns being transmit elements and the at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers on each of the two outer rows being receive elements;
• a second rectangular boundary array being arranged in the shape of a rectangle and positioned within the first rectangular boundary array, the second rectangular boundary array having two inner columns each including at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers and being opposite to one another and two inner rows each including at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers and being opposite to one another, the at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers on each of the two inner columns being transmit elements and the at least two adjacent independently controlled ultrasonic transducers on each of the two inner rows being receive elements;
• and
• a controller coupled to the transmit elements of the two outer columns and the two inner columns and to the receive elements of the two outer rows and the two inner rows and configured to:
• control an amount of energy delivered to the transmit elements.