Embodiments of catheters, imaging systems and methods for intravascular ultrasound imaging are presented. At least one miniaturized transducer element adapted to be inserted into a vascular structure and configured to produce signals for use in generating one or more ultrasound images of a desired region within the vascular structure is used. Further, one or more apodizing structures operably coupled to the transducer element and configured to decrease the responsiveness of the transducer element at one or more boundaries of the transducer element with respect to the center of the transducer element are used. Particularly, the apodizing structures reduce sidelobe amplitude of an ultrasound beam profile in the region of interest, thereby generating improved ultrasound images.