PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photoacoustic apparatus having a mechanism for protecting a probe in a subject information acquisition apparatus using acoustic waves.SOLUTION: A subject information acquisition apparatus comprises: a support part 70 for supporting a subject, which has an insertion port 71 through which the subject is inserted downward a liquid tank 20 located below the insertion port 71 a probe for receiving acoustic waves coming from the inside of the subject, which is disposed at a position facing the insertion port inside the liquid tank and a protective part disposed between the insertion port 71 and the probe and having a protective member 81 for protecting the probe. The protective member 81 provided in the protective part is configured to be movable so that a projection area on the protective member is variable when the insertion port 71 is projected in an insertion direction of the subject.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3COPYRIGHT: (C)2017,JPO&INPIT【課題】音響波を利用した被検体情報取得装置において探触子を保護する機構を有する光音響装置を提供する。【解決手段】被検体を下向きに挿入する挿入口71を有し、被検者を支持する支持部70と、挿入口71の下方に位置する液槽20と、液槽内の挿入口と向き合った位置に配置され、被検体内から到来する音響波を受信する探触子と、挿入口71と探触子との間に配置され、探触子を保護する保護部材81を有する保護部と、を有し、保護部が有する保護部材81は、挿入口71を被検体の挿入方向に投影した際の、保護部材上の射影面積が可変となるように、移動可能に構成される。【選択図】図3
