PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a more accurate photoacoustic image that can clearly identify a real image of a light absorber to be acquired.SOLUTION: A photoacoustic imaging apparatus includes: a light source drive control unit which performs photo-driven control of a light source including first and second light sources that are provided opposite on both sides of a detection part outputting detection signals of photoacoustic waves generated by a light absorber in a subject a tomographic image generation part which generates a tomographic image on the basis of the detection signal of the photoacoustic wave generated every time pulse light irradiated to the subject from the light source is absorbed by the light absorber and an image forming part forming a photoacoustic image displayed to a display on the basis of the tomographic image. The tomographic image generation part generates a differential signal between first signal intensity of a first detection signal when the pulse light is irradiated from the first light source and second signal intensity of a second detection signal when the pulse light is irradiated from the second light source, and generates a tomographic image on the basis of a detection signal component corresponding an effective differential signal component where the differential signal intensity is within a prescribed numerical value range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT【課題】光吸収体の実像を明確に識別できるより正確な光音響画像を取得することができる。【解決手段】光音響画像化装置は、被検体内の光吸収体で発生する光音響波の検出信号を出力する検出部を挟んで対向して設けられる第1及び第2光源を含む光源の光駆動制御を行う光源駆動制御部と、光源から被検体に照射されるパルス光が光吸収体に吸収される度に発生する光音響波の検出信号に基づいて断層像を生成する断層像生成部と、断層像に基づいて表示部に表示する光音響画像を形成する画像形成部と、を備える。断層像生成部は、パルス光が第1光源から照射される場合の第1検出信号の第1信号強度と、パルス光が第2光源から照射される場合の第2検出信号の第2信号強度との差分信号を生成し、その差分信号強度が所定の数値範囲内となる有効差分信号成分に対応する検出信号成分に基づいて断層像を生成する。【選択図】図8
