PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce artifacts superimposed on a photoacoustic image.SOLUTION: A photoacoustic apparatus according to the present invention includes: light projection means for projecting light onto a subject； signal acquisition means for acquiring a photoacoustic signal which is based on an acoustic wave generated in the subject projected with the light； reconstruction means for reconstructing an image on the basis of the photoacoustic signal； characteristic acquisition means for acquiring information about optical characteristics of a surface layer of the subject； and control means for determining a projection range of the light and a range of the reconstruction on the basis of the information about optical characteristics of a surface layer of the subject.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2019,JPO&INPIT【課題】光音響画像に重畳されるアーチファクトを低減する。【解決手段】被検体に光を照射する光照射手段と、前記光が照射された前記被検体から発生した音響波に基づいた光音響信号を取得する信号取得手段と、前記光音響信号に基づいて画像の再構成を行う再構成手段と、前記被検体表層の光学特性に関する情報を取得する特性取得手段と、前記被検体表層の光学特性に関する情報に基づいて、前記光の照射範囲および前記再構成の範囲を決定する制御手段と、を有する。【選択図】図１
