A method for ultrasound imaging generates an interleaved ultrasound beam pattern that alternates transmission between a focused ultrasound signal and a plane wave ultrasound signal during a scan. Reflected signal data from the focused ultrasound signal is directed to a first signal processing path that executes delay/sum processing and generates successive lines of image data. Reflected signal data from the plane wave ultrasound signal is directed to a second signal processing path that generates a full plane of image data. Pixel location and timing for data from the first signal processing path are synchronized with location and timing for the second signal processing path. The combined, synchronized image data from the first and second signal processing paths can be displayed, stored, or transmitted.
