PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS

摘要

The photoacoustic imaging apparatus disclosed in the present application is provided with: an acoustic wave source (1); an acoustic lens system (6) that converts scattered waves (5), which are generated as a result of acoustic waves (2) emitted from the acoustic wave source (1) irradiating the object, to a prescribed state of convergence; a photoacoustic medium unit (8) disposed so that the scattered waves passing through the acoustic lens system (6) enter therein; a light source (19) that emits a beam in which multiple monochromatic lights of mutually differing directions of travel are superposed and the beam enters the photoacoustic medium unit at an angle that is not perpendicular and not parallel to the sound beam axis of the acoustic lens system; an image-forming lens system (16) that collects the multiple plane wave monochromatic diffracted lights generated in the photoacoustic medium unit; and an image-receiving unit (17) that detects the light collected by the image-forming lens system and outputs an electric signal.