PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of difficulty in holding subjects of various shapes so that the subjects are in a desired shape.SOLUTION: A subject information acquisition device includes: a light source； a bed which comprises a holding part for holding a subject part being part of a subject person and supports the subject person； a plurality of acoustic wave detection elements which detect acoustic waves generated by irradiating the subject part held by the holding part with light emitted from the light source and output electric signals； a support body for supporting the plurality of acoustic wave detection elements so that a direction having the highest reception sensitivity of at least one acoustic wave detection element of the plurality of acoustic wave detection elements and a direction having the highest reception sensitivity of another acoustic wave detection element differing from the at least one acoustic wave detection element of the plurality of acoustic wave detection elements are different and point to a specific region； and signal processing means for acquiring information inside the subject part on the basis of the electric signals. The shape of the holding part can be changed so as to be suitable for the shape of the subject part.【課題】 様々な形状の被検体を所望の形状に保持することが困難である。【解決手段】 光源と、被検者の一部である被検部を保持する保持部を備え、該被検者を支持する寝台と、前記光源から射出された光が前記保持部に保持された被検部に照射されることにより発生する音響波を検出して電気信号を出力する複数の音響波検出素子と、前記複数の音響波検出素子の少なくとも一部の音響波検出素子の最も受信感度の高い方向と前記少なくとも一部の音響波検出素子とは異なる音響波検出素子の最も受信感度の高い方向とが異なり且つ特定の領域に向かうように前記複数の音響波検出素子を支持する支持体と、前記電気信号に基づいて前記被検部の内部の情報を取得する信号処理手段と、を有する被検体情報取得装置であって、前記保持部は、前記被検部の形状に適応するように形状変更が可能である。【選択図】 図３
