An object of the present invention is to accurately estimate a course in a traveling direction of a flexible insertion device. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus having a photoacoustic imaging function, which irradiates a photoacoustic signal generation source fixed to the tip of a device inserted into a body with light at a predetermined timing and generates a photoacoustic signal. Ultrasonic imaging is performed alternately with detection, and a photoacoustic signal and an ultrasonic image are obtained in time series. The three-dimensional position change (movement information) of the tip of the device is obtained from the time-series photoacoustic signal, and the path in the traveling direction of the device is estimated. Further, the traveling direction of the blood vessel into which the device is inserted is calculated, and the estimated device path is displayed on an image of a cross section orthogonal to the traveling direction. [Selection] Figure 6【課題】フレキシブルな体内挿入デバイスについて、その進行方向の進路を精度よく推定する。【解決手段】光音響イメージング機能を備えた超音波撮像装置であって、体内に挿入したデバイス先端に固定した光音響信号発生源に所定のタイミングで光を照射すると共に、光音響信号の発生・検出と交互に超音波撮像を行い、時系列で光音響信号と超音波画像とを得る。時系列の光音響信号からデバイス先端の三次元位置変化（移動情報）を得て、デバイスの進行方向の進路を推定する。さらにデバイスが挿入された血管の走行方向を算出し、走行方向と直交する断面の画像上に、推定したデバイス進路を表示する。【選択図】図６
