Adaptive retrospective transmit beamforming (RTB) for a lowpower handheld ultrasound scanner

A method of generating an ultrasound image with a handheld ultrasound imaging device using adaptive retrospective transmit beamforming (RTB), comprising:

• transmitting a plurality of ultrasound waves into a medium;
• receiving ultrasound waves propagating through the medium that are generated by the plurality of ultrasound waves transmitted into the medium;
• receiving at least one input;
• processing of the received ultrasound waves by adaptively performing retrospective transmit beamforming (RTB) in the handheld ultrasound imaging device based on the at least one input;
• and
• adjusting, using an adaptive RTB controller, a target frame rate and at least one image format parameter to a desired value of a range of values based on the at least one input to adaptively select a RTB profile among a plurality of RTB profiles in order to optimize a balance between image quality, frame rate, and power usage based on the at least one input,
• wherein the at least one input includes a signal from a motion sensor indicative of a motion of the handheld ultrasound imaging device, and
• wherein each RTB profile comprises a set of RTB processing parameters including the target frame rate and the at least one image format parameter.