This disclosure generally relates to system design for a handheld ultrasound imaging system, which may generate an ultrasound image of tissue. The handheld ultrasound imaging system may comprise: an ultrasound transducer array to generate ultrasound waves comprising a wavelength a processor coupled to the ultrasound transducer array, the processor configured with instructions that when executed cause the processor to: receive ultrasound data derived from the ultrasound transducer array and generate the plurality of ultrasound images, the plurality of ultrasound images comprising an axial resolution capable of resolving the tissue structure no more than the wavelength, and output the plurality of ultrasound images.