PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce influences by flexure of a subject holding part in an acoustic wave imaging apparatus.SOLUTION: An acoustic wave imaging apparatus includes: a support part which supports a subject and is provided with an opening through which a part to be examined to be a part of the subject is inserted； a part to be examined holding part which holds the inserted part to be examined； and a probe receiving acoustic waves generated by the part to be examined and outputting an electric signal. The apparatus has: a probe array arranged at a distance from the part to be examined holding part； a load acquisition part which acquires load occurring between the support part and the part to be examined holding part in accordance with a deformation amount of the part to be examined holding part by the load of the part to be examined； a storage part which stores a first load reference value determined on the basis of a deformation amount of the part to be examined hold part when the part to be examined hold part and the probe array are in contact and a load area； a comparison determination part comparing the load with the first load reference value； and an interlock control part which performs interlock control when it is determined by the comparison determination part that the load is over the first load reference value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2018,JPO&INPIT【課題】音響波イメージング装置において、被検体保持部の撓みの影響を低減する。【解決手段】被検者を支持し、その一部である被検体を挿入する開口部が設けられた支持部と、挿入された被検体を保持する被検体保持部と、被検体から発生する音響波を受信して電気信号を出力する探触子を含み、被検体保持部と距離をおいて配置された探触子アレイと、被検体の荷重による被検体保持部の変形量に対応し、支持部と被検体保持部との間に生ずる荷重を取得する荷重取得部と、被検体保持部と探触子アレイが接触するときの被検体保持部の変形量と荷重面積とに基づいて決定される第１の荷重基準値を記憶する記憶部と、荷重と第１の荷重基準値を比較する比較判断部と、比較判断部により荷重が第１の荷重基準値を超えたと判断された場合、インターロック制御を行うインターロック制御部を有する音響波イメージング装置を用いる。【選択図】図１
