PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photoacoustic imaging apparatus capable of highly accurately measuring distribution of component concentrations by raising the accuracy at which the absorption coefficient of a small light absorber is determined.SOLUTION: Comprising: a pulse light source 101 for emitting pulse light a piezoelectric detection unit 102 for detecting a photoacoustic wave generated by a subject 202 which was irradiated by the pulse light, and converting the detected photoacoustic wave into a voltage signal and a signal processing unit 104 for reconfiguring an absorbance distribution image in the subject 202 from voltage signals obtained by the piezoelectric detection unit 102, a photoacoustic imaging apparatus applies a plurality of pulse light beams each of which has a different waveform to the subject.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】小さな光吸収体の吸収係数を求める精度を高めることで、高精度に生体組織内の成分濃度分布計測が可能な光音響イメージング装置を提供することを目的とする。【解決手段】光音響イメージング装置は、パルス光を照射するパルス光源101と、パルス光が照射された検体202にて生成された光音響波を検出し、検出した光音響波を電圧信号に変換する圧電検出部102と、圧電検出部102で得られた電圧信号から検体202内の吸光度分布画像を再構成する信号処理部104と、を備え、波形が異なる複数のパルス光を検体に照射する。【選択図】図1
