PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately determine an optical characteristic distribution, particularly, an optical absorption coefficient distribution in a subject.SOLUTION: Positions of light absorbers 12a, 12b existing in the subject 11 and initial sound pressures of acoustic waves generated at the light absorbers 12a, 12b are calculated from electric signals converted from the received acoustic waves 14a, 14b generated in response to irradiation of the subject 11 with light 13, 23. An optical absorption coefficient and an optical scattering coefficient of the subject 11 are calculated using the positions of the light absorbers 12a, 12b and the initial sound pressures of the acoustic waves generated at the positions of the light absorbers 12a, 12b. A light quantity distribution in the subject 11 is calculated using the optical absorption coefficient and the optical scattering coefficient of the subject 11. The optical absorption coefficient distribution in the subject 11 is generated, as image data, using an initial sound pressure distribution in the subject obtained from the electric signal and the light quantity distribution in the subject 11.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】 被検体内の光特性値分布、特に光吸収係数分布を精度よく求めることを目的とする。【解決手段】 被検体11に光13,23を照射することにより発生する音響波14a,14bを受信して変換された電気信号から、被検体11内にある光吸収体12a,12bの位置と光吸収体12a,12bで発生した音響波の初期音圧とを算出し、被検体12a,12bの位置と光吸収体12a,12bの位置で発生した音響波の初期音圧とを用いて被検体11の光吸収係数及び光散乱係数を算出し、被検体11の光吸収係数及び光散乱係数を用いて被検体11内の光量分布を算出し、電気信号から得られる被検体内の初期音圧分布と被検体11内の光量分布とを用いて被検体内の光吸収係数分布を画像データとして生成する。【選択図】 図1
