PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a subject information acquisition apparatus capable of suppressing discomfort caused to a subject by an acoustic matching liquid.SOLUTION: A subject information acquisition apparatus comprises: a support member 9 having an insertion opening into which an examination site, a part of a subject, is inserted a holding member 31 for storing an acoustic matching liquid 35 and holding the examination site inserted into the insertion opening a light source 1 a plurality of acoustic elements 331 for receiving acoustic waves generated inside the examination site due to light emitted by the light source and converting the received acoustic waves into electric signals a support body for carrying the plurality of acoustic elements such that the directional axes of at least part of the plurality of acoustic elements converge and signal processing means for acquiring the characteristic information inside the examination site, on the basis of the electric signals. The support member is such structured that the acoustic matching liquid overflowing from within the holding member is prevented from spreading to a top surface of the supporting member when the inserted examination site is held by the holding member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT【課題】被検体情報取得装置において、音響マッチング液によって被検者に与える不快感を抑制することができる装置を提供する。【解決手段】被検者を支持する支持部材9であって、被検者の一部である被検部位を挿入する挿入口を有する支持部材と、音響マッチング液35を貯留し、かつ、挿入口に挿入された被検部位を保持する保持部材31と、光源1と、光源で発生した光に起因して被検部位内で発生した音響波を受信し、電気信号に変換する複数の音響素子331と、複数の音響素子のうち、少なくとも一部の音響素子の指向軸が集まるように複数の音響素子を支持する支持体と、電気信号に基づいて、被検部位内の特性情報を取得する信号処理手段と、を有し、支持部材は、挿入された被検部位を保持部材が保持する際に、保持部材内からあふれ出た音響マッチング液の、支持部材上への拡散を防止する構成を有する。【選択図】図2
