Abstract: An ultrasound system comprises a front end subsystem and a back end subsystem. The back end subsystem processes data samples representative of the echo signals from the front end subsystem. The back end subsystem includes at least one microprocessor with registers that simultaneously store at least two data samples. The microprocessor performs parallel common arithmetic or logic instructions upon at least two ultrasound data samples in one register. The microprocessor may be configured to scan convert polar data samples to Cartesian pixel values. During scan conversion, one register simultaneously stores multiple polar data samples and another register simultaneously stores coefficients associated with the polar data samples. The microprocessor multiplies corresponding data samples and coefficients, and sums the product of the parallel multiplication operations in order to produce a Cartesian data sample associated with a pixel to be displayed on an image arranged in a Cartesian coordinate pattern.