PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a subject information acquisition apparatus capable of correcting variations in the transmission characteristics and reception characteristics of a CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer) element.SOLUTION: A subject information acquisition apparatus for use includes: an output means for outputting a pulse for transmission and a pulse for characteristic acquisition a capacitive transducer which includes a plurality of elements transmitting a corresponding acoustic wave when the pulse for the transmission is input and outputting a corresponding electric element when receiving the acoustic wave a first conversion means for converting an electric current into a voltage, which current is output when the pulse for the acquisition of the characteristics is input into the elements a characteristic acquisition means for acquiring reception characteristics of the elements from a signal output from the first conversion means a second conversion means for converting an electric current into a voltage, which current is output when the elements receive a reflected wave transmitted from a transmission/reception means and reflected from the subject a generation means for generating subject information from output produced by the second conversion means and a control means for reducing differences among the reception characteristics of the respective elements in the reception of the reflective wave.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】CMUTエレメントの送信特性および受信特性ばらつきを補正可能な被検体情報取得装置を提供する。【解決手段】送信用パルスと特性取得用パルスとを出力する出力手段と、送信用パルスを入力された場合は対応した音響波を送信し、音響波を受信した場合は対応した電流を出力する複数の素子を含む、静電容量型トランスデューサと、素子に特性取得用パルスが入力されたときに出力される電流を電圧に変換する第一の変換手段と、第一の変換手段から出力された信号から素子の受信特性を取得する特性取得手段と、送受信手段から送信され被検体で反射した反射波を素子が受信したときに出力する電流を電圧に変換する第二の変換手段と、第二の変換手段の出力から被検体情報を生成する生成手段と、反射波の受信の際に受信特性の素子ごとの差異を減少させる制御手段を有する被検体情報取得装置を用いる。【選択図】図2A
