Beamforming in ultrasound imaging systems

An ultrasound probe, comprising:

• a transducer assembly;
• and
• a processing device coupled to the transducer assembly, the processing device configured to:
• transmit a set of ultrasound waves to towards a target area, wherein:
• the set of ultrasound waves are transmitted by a set of ultrasound elements;
• and
• the set of ultrasound elements are positioned at different locations in the transducer assembly;
• receive a set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves, wherein the set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves are received by the set of ultrasound elements;
• determine a set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements, wherein each correction value of the set of correction values represents a refraction of one reflection of the set of reflections as the one reflection passes through a respective ultrasound element of the set of ultrasound elements;
• and
• generate imaging data based on the set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves and the set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements.

An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

• an ultrasound probe configured to:
• transmit a set of ultrasound waves to towards a target area, wherein:
• the set of ultrasound waves are transmitted by a set of ultrasound elements;
• and
• the set of ultrasound elements are positioned at different locations in a transducer assembly;
• receive a set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves, wherein the set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves are received by the set of ultrasound elements;
• determine a set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements, wherein each correction value of the set of correction values represents a refraction of one reflection of the set of reflections as the one reflection passes through a respective ultrasound element of the set of ultrasound elements;
• and
• generate imaging data based on the set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves and the set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements;
• and
• an imaging system coupled to the ultrasound probe, the imaging system configured to generate one or more images of the target area based on the imaging data.