An ultrasonic transducer assembly (12, 42) for diagnostic imaging is provided. The ultrasonic transducer assembly (12, 42) includes a housing (24, 54), a plurality of image data acquisition transducer arrays (30, 32, 60, 62), a transducer controller assembly (36, 66), selection means (34, 64) for indicating a selected one of the plurality of ultrasonic image data acquisition transducer arrays (30, 32, 60, 62) to the transducer controller assembly (36, 66), and a communications assembly (16, 70) for sending ultrasound image data and for receiving transmit waveforms and/or control data. The ultrasonic transducer assembly (12, 42) could also include a multiplexer assembly (38) and/or a microbeamformer assembly (68). The ultrasonic image data acquisition transducer arrays (30, 32, 60, 62) could be of different types, have different operating characteristics, and/or have different modes of operation.
