PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photoacoustic imaging apparatus which can improve the S/N ratio of a detected acoustic wave signal by suppressing the generation of noise due to a current supplied to a light source part using a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LED element.SOLUTION: A photoacoustic imaging apparatus 100 comprises: a detection part 5 which includes an ultrasonic detection element 50 for detecting an acoustic wave an LED light source part 3 (4) which is arranged near the ultrasonic detection element 50, includes a plurality of LED elements 30 (40) for irradiating a subject 90 with light, and makes a subject 90 absorb light emitted thereto to generate an acoustic wave and a signal processing part 6 which processes the signal detected by the ultrasonic detection element 50 for imaging. The plurality of LED elements 30 (40) are connected and arranged so as to include a current path having a first current path section 31a and a second current path section 31b whose current directions are opposite to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT【課題】LED素子などの半導体発光素子を用いる光源部に供給される電流に起因するノイズの発生を抑制することにより、検出する音響波の信号のS/N比を向上させることが可能な光音響画像化装置を提供する。【解決手段】この光音響画像化装置100は、音響波を検出する超音波検出素子50を含む検出部5と、超音波検出素子50に近接して配置され、被検体90に光を照射する複数のLED素子30(40)を有し、被検体90に照射された光を吸収させることにより音響波を発生させるLED光源部3(4)と、超音波検出素子50により検出された信号を処理して画像化を行う信号処理部6とを備え、複数のLED素子30(40)は、互いに電流方向が逆方向となる第1電流経路部31aおよび第2電流経路部31bを有する電流経路を含むように接続および配置されている。【選択図】図3
