Patent ID: 8353830

Claim:
A non-invasive subject-information imaging apparatus comprising: a light generating unit configured to output light at a plurality of wavelengths and to multiplex the output light on a single optical axis; a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate the light generated by the light generating unit into a subject to be examined; a waveguide including a plurality of optical fibers configured to guide the light generated by the light generating unit to the irradiation unit; electroacoustic transducer elements including a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed conversion elements, and configured to convert acoustic waves from the subject into electrical signals; transmission means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the subject by driving said plurality of electroacoustic transducer elements; reception means for generating a reception signal having reception directivity from said plurality of electrical signals converted by said plurality of electroacoustic transducer elements; an electronic switch; signal processing means for generating volume data about a living body function by processing a reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light radiated from the irradiation unit and received by a predetermined number of conversion elements, and for generating volume data about a tissue morphology by processing a reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves; and optical scanning means for sequentially selecting an end portion from said plurality of end portions of said plurality of optical fibers to irradiate the subject with light; wherein said plurality of optical fibers are two-dimensionally laid in gaps between said plurality of conversion elements such that each optical fiber is surrounded by four adjacent conversion elements, said plurality of conversion elements vertically and horizontally arrayed, the irradiation unit is formed from a plurality of end portions of said plurality of optical fibers, and the reception means generates a reception signal, corresponding to acoustic waves generated by irradiation of the light, from electrical signals from the predetermined number of conversion elements adjacent an end portion of the selected optical fiber which has radiated the light, the electronic switch selects all of the conversion elements or a subset of adjacent conversion elements to transmit the ultrasonic waves, and selects the predetermined number of conversion elements for reception of echoes of the ultrasonic waves, and the electronic switch supplies to the reception means the electrical signals generated by the predetermined number of conversion elements in response to the acoustic waves generated by irradiation of the light, the predetermined number of conversion elements used to receive the acoustic waves generated in the subject by light radiated from the irradiation unit selected by the switch in accordance with a control signal from a conversion element selection control unit.