PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a puncture needle for a photoacoustic imaging apparatus capable of confirming the position of a puncture needle on a photoacoustic image by more efficiently generating acoustic waves even in the case of using a light discharging semiconductor element, such as an LED element (light-emitting diode element) as a light source.SOLUTION: The puncture needle 50 for a photoacoustic imaging apparatus is a puncture needle 50 for a photoacoustic imaging apparatus provided with an LED light source part 10, and includes a puncture needle body 51, and a coating layer 52 formed on the external surface 51d of the puncture needle body 51 and comprising a coating material containing a material whose light absorptivity is larger than that of the puncture needle body 51 and a resin material whose linear expansion coefficient is larger than that of the puncture needle body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2【課題】ＬＥＤ素子（発光ダイオード素子）などの光放出半導体素子を光源として用いる場合にも、音響波をより効率的に発生させて、光音響画像上で穿刺針の位置を確認することが可能な光音響画像化装置用の穿刺針を提供する。【解決手段】この光音響画像化装置用の穿刺針５０は、ＬＥＤ光源部１０を備える光音響画像化装置用の穿刺針５０であって、穿刺針本体５１と、穿刺針本体５１の外表面５１ｄに形成され、穿刺針本体５１よりも光吸収性が大きい材料と、穿刺針本体よりも線膨張係数が大きい樹脂材料とを含む被覆材料により構成される被覆層５２とを備える。【選択図】図２
