PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a subject information acquisition apparatus capable of correcting variations in transmission characteristics of a CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer) element.SOLUTION: A subject information acquisition apparatus for use includes: an output means for outputting a pulse for transmission and a pulse for characteristic acquisition a capacitive transducer which includes a plurality of elements transmitting an acoustic wave when the pulse for the transmission is input a conversion means for converting an electric current into a voltage, which current is to be output when the pulse for the acquisition of the characteristics is input into the elements a characteristic acquisition means for acquiring transmission characteristics of the elements on the basis of a signal output from the conversion means a reception means for receiving a reflected wave generated when the acoustic wave transmitted from the transmission means is reflected from a subject and a generation means for generating subject information inside the subject on the basis of the reflected wave. When making the acoustic wave transmitted from the transmission means, a control means controls the output means so as to reduce differences among the transmission characteristics of the respective elements.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】CMUTエレメントの送信特性ばらつきを補正可能な被検体情報取得装置を提供する。【解決手段】送信用パルスと特性取得用パルスとを出力する出力手段と、送信用パルスが入力されると音響波を送信する複数の素子を含む静電容量型トランスデューサと、素子に特性取得用パルスが入力されたときに出力される電流を電圧に変換する変換手段と、変換手段から出力された信号に基づき素子の送信特性を取得する特性取得手段と、送信手段から送信された音響波が被検体で反射した反射波を受信する受信手段と、反射波に基づき被検体内部の被検体情報を生成する生成手段を有し、制御手段は、送信手段から音響波を送信させる際に、送信特性の素子ごとの差異を減少させるように出力手段を制御する被検体情報取得装置を用いる。【選択図】図2A
