PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photoacoustic apparatus and a probe, confining scattered light from a specimen into the specimen, and reliably preventing photoacoustic waves from being generated from a receiving element region of the probe by the scattered light.SOLUTION: The photoacoustic apparatus obtains information on the specimen by receiving photoacoustic waves which are generated from the specimen resulting from light irradiated to the specimen. The apparatus includes: a light source for irradiating light to the specimen an acoustic wave receiver for receiving the photoacoustic waves and a light reflection member for causing the light, which is radiated out of the specimen by optical diffusion after having entered an interior of the specimen from the light source. The light reflection member allows elastic waves to pass therethrough.COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT【課題】被検体からの散乱光を被検体内に閉じ込めることが可能で、且つ該散乱光によって探触子の受信素子領域から光音響波が発生するのを確実に抑制することが可能となる光音響装置、および探触子を提供する。【解決手段】被検体に照射された光に起因して該被検体から発生する光音響波を受信して、被検体の情報を得る光音響装置であって、前記被検体に光を照射するための光源と、前記光音響波を受信するための音響波受信器と、前記光源より被検体内に入射した光が光拡散によって被検体外に出射する光を、再び被検体内に入射させるための光反射部材と、を有し、前記光反射部材は弾性波を透過する構成とする。【選択図】 図1
