Abstract: A medical ultrasound diagnostic imaging system includes a delay system that applies a composite delay profile to signals to or from respective transducer elements. One composite delay profile includes a first, substantially point-focus delay profile for a first set of the transducer elements and a second, substantially point-focus delay profile for a second set of the transducer elements. The first and second delay profiles cause ultrasonic energy from the respective first and second sets of the transducer elements to constructively add at first and second respective spaced focal zones in either transmit or receive. Another composite delay profile includes first and second portions that substantially correspond to respective parts of a point-focus delay profile, and third and fourth portions that are intermediate the point-focus delay profile and respective tangents.