BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS

摘要

A biological information acquisition apparatus and a biological information acquisition method, both capable of radiating a uniform and efficient light to the whole living body tissue as an object of the detection are provided. The biological information acquisition apparatus of the present invention includes a light source and an acoustic wave detector detecting an acoustic wave generated by making a light from the light source enter the object through an object holding member. Furthermore, one or more light transmitting members are provided, and the light enters the light transmitting member from a side surface side of the acoustic wave detector, and enters the object holding member through the light transmitting member at an angle other than one perpendicular to the object holding member.

主权项

1. An information acquisition apparatus for detecting an acoustic wave generated from an object by causing light from a light source to enter the object, comprising:
an acoustic wave detector having a width L in a first direction, the detector comprising acoustic wave detection elements arranged in an array; a prism arranged alongside the acoustic wave detector in the first direction so as to form an irradiation area based on the light from the light source incident on the object at a position opposing to the acoustic wave detection elements; and a member having a thickness D, the member being configured to allow light emitted from the prism to pass through the member to lead the light to the irradiation area on the object, wherein, when an advancing angle of light advancing toward the irradiation area via the prism is denoted by α, a relation of D×tan(α)≧L is satisfied such that the size of the irradiation area in the first direction is larger than the width L of the acoustic wave detector.