PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic device which can generate an ultrasonic wave having a desired intensity distribution or can generate an ultrasonic wave having an intensity distribution that can be approximated to a desired intensity distribution, in a photoacoustic induced ultrasonic imaging apparatus.SOLUTION: The ultrasonic device comprises: an ultrasonic wave generating member 104 that has an absorber 111 generating ultrasonic waves by light irradiation from a light source 103； and a probe 102 detecting the ultrasonic wave and converting it into an electric signal. The ultrasonic wave generating member 104 has an area different in light absorption rate in an irradiation area that is irradiated with light from the light source irradiated. When an area that is irradiated with the light from the light source 103 of areas in each of which the absorber 111 is arranged is represented as a transmission ultrasonic wave generation area, the transmission ultrasonic wave generation area functions as a plane sound source.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1【課題】光音響誘発型超音波イメージング装置において、所望の強度分布を有する超音波を発生させる、または、発生させる超音波の強度分布を所望の強度分布に近づけることができる超音波装置を提供する。【解決手段】超音波装置は、光源１０３からの光照射により超音波を発生する吸収体１１１を有する超音波発生部材１０４と、超音波を検出して電気信号に変換する探触子１０２と、を備える。超音波発生部材１０４は、光源からの光が照射される照射領域において光の吸収率が異なる領域を有する。また、吸収体１１１が配置された領域のうち、光源１０３からの光が照射される領域を送信超音波発生領域とするとき、送信超音波発生領域は、面音源として機能する。【選択図】図１
