A method includes generating an ultrasound image based on the harmonic components in the received echoes using multi-stage beam forming and data generated therefrom. An ultrasound imaging system (100, 200) includes a transducer array (108) including a plurality of transducer elements configured to emit ultrasound signals and receive echoes generated in response to the emitted ultrasound signals. The ultrasound imaging system further includes transmit circuitry (1 10) that generates a set of pulses that actuate a set of the plurality of transducer elements to emit ultrasound signals. The ultrasound imaging system further includes receive circuitry (1 12), including a first beam former (122) configured to process the second harmonic signal components extracted from the received echo signals, generating intermediate scan lines. Memory (126) stores the generated intermediate scan lines. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a synthetic aperture processor (128), including a second beam former (130) configured to process the stored intermediate scan lines, based on a synthetic aperture algorithm, generating a focused image.
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