JP2014233532A - Subject information acquisition device, control method thereof, and subject holding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress movement of a breast to a chest wall side by movement of a holding member.SOLUTION: A subject information acquisition device includes holding means which contains a set of holding members and pinches and holds a subject which is a part of an examinee and is inserted between the holding members, a sheet-like member which envelopes at least a part of a region close to the examinee, in the subject, fixing means for fixing the sheet-like member to the holding means, a light source, a probe which receives acoustic waves generated when the subject is irradiated with light from the light source, and signal processing means which calculates characteristic information inside the subject by using the acoustic waves which the probe receives.

Description

  The present invention relates to a subject information acquisition device, a control method thereof, and a subject holding device.

Medical imaging apparatuses that hold a breast using a compression plate and perform some measurement and acquire image data from the obtained detection signals are being studied.
Patent Document 1 discloses an X-ray mammography apparatus including a breast compression mechanism that compresses a breast 1000 with two compression plates as schematically shown in FIG. A fixed first compression plate 1001 and a second compression plate 1002 that can be driven with respect to the first compression plate are provided.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a medical imaging apparatus that acquires an image by moving an ultrasonic probe from the surface of a compression plate. In Patent Document 2, the compression plate is installed in parallel to the imaging table, and the compression plate is moved downward by the compression plate moving mechanism. Then, by sandwiching the breast as the subject between the compression plate and the imaging stand, ultrasonic imaging is performed with the breast thickness being uniform.

  In addition, research on a photoacoustic measurement device that irradiates light to a living body from a light source such as a laser and images in-vivo information obtained based on incident light is being actively promoted in the medical field. As one of the photoacoustic measurement techniques, photoacoustic tomography (PAT: photoacoustic tomography) has been proposed. Photoacoustic tomography irradiates a living body with pulsed light generated from a light source, detects acoustic waves generated from living tissue that absorbs the energy of pulsed light that has propagated and diffused in the living body, and detects biological information based on the detection signal. Is a technology for imaging.

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a photoacoustic measuring apparatus developed for breast cancer testing. The apparatus compresses a subject (breast) with a glass plate and an acoustic wave probe, and irradiates the breast with illumination light using a Nd: YAG laser as a light source through the glass plate. Then, an acoustic wave generated in the subject is detected by an acoustic probe, and the detection signal is processed to obtain image data of angiogenesis in a tissue inside the subject (particularly breast cancer).

  Also in the photoacoustic measuring device, there are cases where the breast compression mechanism described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 is provided. The purpose is to acquire deep image data by thinning the breast by compression and holding.

Japanese Patent No. 2691073 JP 2009-82399 A

Srirang Manohar, et al., "The Twente photoacoustic mammoscope: system overview and performance", Physics in Medicine and Biology 50 (2005) 2543-2557.

  When a breast is compressed using the breast compression apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a part of the breast is moved out of the imaging region on the chest wall side by the movement of the second compressible plate 1002 that can be driven. There was a problem of narrowing the area. This is because, as shown in a broken line area A in FIG. 10, the end of the surface of the second compression plate 1002 that contacts the breast on the chest wall side of the subject contacts the breast surface having an inclination. .

  Further, when the breast is compressed using the medical imaging apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the breast may be deformed at the end of the compression plate, or a part of the breast may move to the chest wall side. As a result, there is a problem that the imaging area is narrowed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to suppress movement of the breast toward the chest wall due to movement of the holding member.

The present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A holding means that includes a set of holding members and holds a subject that is a part of the subject inserted between the holding members; and
Of the subject, at least a sheet-like member that wraps a part of the region closer to the subject,
Fixing means for fixing the sheet-like member to the holding means;
A light source;
A probe for receiving an acoustic wave generated by irradiating the subject with light from the light source;
Signal processing means for calculating characteristic information inside the subject using acoustic waves received by the probe;
This is a subject information acquisition apparatus having

The present invention also employs the following configuration. That is,
A holding means that includes a set of holding members and holds a subject that is a part of the subject inserted between the holding members; and
Of the subject, at least a sheet-like member that wraps a part of the region closer to the subject,
Fixing means for fixing the sheet-like member to the holding means;
This is a subject holding device.

The present invention also employs the following configuration. That is,
A method for controlling an object information acquiring apparatus comprising a holding means including a set of holding members, a sheet-like member, a fixing means, a light source, a probe, and a signal processing means,
Inserting a subject that is part of the subject between the holding members;
Wrapping at least a part of the subject near the subject with the sheet-like member; and
Fixing and positioning the sheet-like member on the holding means by the fixing means;
The pair of holding members of the holding means holding the object sandwiched by the sheet-like member between;
Receiving an acoustic wave generated by irradiating the subject with light from the light source by the probe; and
Calculating the characteristic information inside the subject using the acoustic wave received by the probe by the signal processing means;
Is a method for controlling a subject information acquisition apparatus having

  According to the present invention, the movement of the breast toward the chest wall due to the movement of the holding member can be suppressed.

The figure which shows the structure of a photoacoustic measuring device. The figure which shows the state which hold | maintained the test object in the photoacoustic measuring device. Another figure which shows the state which hold | maintained the test object in the photoacoustic measuring device. The figure which shows the example of a structure of a fixing means. Another figure which shows the example of a structure of a fixing means. Another figure which shows the example of a structure of a fixing means. Another figure which shows the example of a structure of a fixing means. Another figure which shows the example of a structure of a fixing means. The figure which shows the structure of the photoacoustic measuring device concerning an Example. The figure which shows the structure of the medical imaging device concerning a prior art.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described below should be changed as appropriate according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the following description.

The subject information acquisition apparatus of the present invention receives photoacoustic waves generated in a subject by irradiating the subject with light (electromagnetic waves), and acquires characteristic information as subject information as image data. Includes devices that use effects.
In this case, the acquired characteristic information includes the source distribution of acoustic waves generated by light irradiation, the initial sound pressure distribution in the subject, or the light energy absorption density distribution or absorption coefficient distribution derived from the initial sound pressure distribution, It shows the concentration distribution of the substances that make up the tissue. The concentration distribution of the substance is, for example, an oxygen saturation distribution or an oxidized / reduced hemoglobin concentration distribution.

  However, the application range of the present invention is not limited to photoacoustic measurement. The present invention can be applied to a subject holding apparatus that fixes a subject such as a breast by compression holding using a holding member. The present invention can also be applied to all apparatuses for fixing and measuring a breast by the holding mechanism of the subject holding apparatus. For example, an ultrasonic measurement apparatus that transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and acquires characteristic information based on echo waves reflected from the inside of the subject can be considered.

In the following description, a photoacoustic measurement device that acquires characteristic information of a subject by photoacoustic tomography will be described as a representative example of such subject information acquisition device.
The acoustic wave referred to in the present invention is typically an ultrasonic wave, and includes an elastic wave called a sound wave, an ultrasonic wave, or an acoustic wave. An acoustic wave generated by the photoacoustic effect in photoacoustic tomography is referred to as a photoacoustic wave or an optical ultrasonic wave.

(Device configuration)
FIG. 1 is a YZ plan view schematically showing a photoacoustic measurement apparatus. Here, the direction in which the breast is inserted between the holding plates is defined as the Y direction. The direction in which the holding plate holds (compresses) the breast is the Z direction. In addition, the front-rear direction with respect to the paper surface is the X direction. The apparatus includes a first holding plate 1, a second holding plate 2, a fixing means 3, a light source 4, a probe 5, a signal processing unit 6, an image display unit 7, and a power generation source 8.

The fixing means 3 fixes the sheet-like member arranged at the end of the second holding plate 2. The light source 4 is
Irradiate the subject with light. The probe 5 receives an acoustic wave generated from within the subject and detects it as a signal. The signal processing unit 6 performs various processes (for example, amplification, AD conversion, and calculation of characteristic information) on the detected signal. The image display unit 7 displays image data based on the processed signal. The power generation source 8 generates power for moving the first holding plate 1 in the holding direction in FIG. The first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2 correspond to a set of holding members of the present invention, and together constitute the holding means of the present invention. The signal processing unit 6 corresponds to the signal processing means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a YZ plan view when the subject 9 is pressed and held by the first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2. In FIG. 2, the components other than the subject 9 and the sheet-like member 10 are the same as those in FIG.
The subject 9 is partially covered by the sheet-like member 10. The sheet-like member 10 is disposed so that the subject 9 is in close contact with the second holding plate 2. In addition, the sheet-like member 10 is fixed to the second holding plate 2 by fixing means 3 disposed at the end of the second holding plate 2.

  FIG. 3 is a ZX plan view when the subject is pressed and held by the first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2. FIG. 3 shows only the first holding plate 1, the second holding plate 2, the fixing means 3, the subject 9, and the sheet-like member 10.

(Photoacoustic measurement method)
A specific function and operation of each component and the photoacoustic measurement method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, pulse light is irradiated from the light source 4 toward the breast 9 through the first holding plate 1. When the area of the measurement target is wider than the irradiation region, it is preferable to irradiate light while moving the light irradiation end from the light source along the first holding plate 1 using a scanning mechanism (not shown).
The light source 4 is preferably a laser. However, a light emitting diode or the like can be used instead of the laser. The type of laser can be appropriately selected from a solid laser, a gas laser, a dye laser, a semiconductor laser, and the like. In addition, when the subject is a living body, considering the absorption characteristics, near infrared light (for example, a wavelength of about 650 nm to about 1100 nm) is preferable as the pulsed light emitted from the light source 4.

  As the material of the first holding plate 1, a material having high transparency and low attenuation characteristics with respect to light irradiated from the light source 4 is preferable. For example, glass, polymethylpentene, polycarbonate, acrylic and the like can be mentioned. Further, the thickness of the plate may be any thickness as long as the strength that can prevent deformation of the plate due to holding can be maintained. Typically, a plate having a thickness of about 10 mm is preferable. The size of the plate may be any size as long as the subject can be held. Typically, a plate having the same size as the subject is preferred.

The light emitted from the light source 4 propagates through the breast 9 and is absorbed. For example, when the above-mentioned near infrared rays are irradiated, the blood and blood vessels in the living body are specifically absorbed, and an acoustic wave is generated by thermal expansion. When cancer is present in a living body, light is specifically absorbed in a new blood vessel of the cancer like other blood vessels, and an acoustic wave is generated.
The acoustic wave generated in the breast 9 is detected as a signal by the probe 5 through the second holding plate 2. When the light source 4 is scanned by the scanning mechanism as described above, the probe 5 is also preferably scanned by the scanning mechanism while being synchronized with the light source 4.

The material of the second holding plate 2 is preferably a material that suppresses reflection of acoustic waves at the interface between the breast 9 and the second holding plate 2 because it is necessary to pass the acoustic waves generated in the breast 9. Specifically, a material having a small difference in acoustic impedance from the breast 9, for example, a resin material such as polymethylpentene is used. About the thickness of a board, it is desirable to make it as thin as possible from a viewpoint which prevents attenuation | damping of an acoustic wave when passing the 2nd holding board 2. FIG. However, a certain thickness is necessary from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation of the plate due to holding. A thickness of about 10 mm is typically preferable. Any size can be used as long as the object can be held. Typically, a plate having the same size as the subject is preferred.

  The signal processing unit 6 is an ADC (A / D converter) that converts an analog signal obtained from the probe 5 into a digital signal (detection signal). Note that an amplifier for amplifying a signal is preferably provided between the probe 5 and the ADC. For example, an amplifier may be built in the probe 5. The signal processing unit 6 further performs image reconstruction based on the detection signal, and calculates characteristic information inside the subject. Note that the reconstruction process may be performed by a device other than the signal processing unit. For example, a program for executing a known reconstruction method may be stored in a storage device, and the information processing circuit may perform reconstruction using the detection signal.

The image display unit 7 displays the reconstructed image generated by the signal processing unit 6. As the image display unit 7, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display, an FED, or the like can be used. The image display unit may be a part of the photoacoustic measurement device or may be provided separately from the device.
The power generation source 8 is preferably composed of a motor. For example, a DC motor, an AC motor, a stepping motor, or the like can be used.

  The sheet-like member 10 is preferably arranged to cover at least a part of the subject 9 in the Y direction of FIG. In particular, when a breast is used as the subject 9, the sheet-like member 10 is disposed in an upper region in the Y direction of the subject 9 from the viewpoint of reducing the movement of the subject toward the chest wall during compression. That is, the sheet-like member 10 wraps at least a part of the breast near the subject.

At the time of photoacoustic measurement, the subject 9 is covered with the sheet-like member 10 and brought into close contact with the second holding plate 2 as shown in FIG. This operation can be called temporary fixation because the subject 9 is temporarily stable on the second holding plate 2. This operation can also be called positioning because it determines the location of the subject 9 on the second holding plate 2.
Thereafter, the first holding plate 1 is moved based on the power generated by the power generation source 8 to compress and hold the subject 9. This operation can be called main fixation because the subject 9 is fixed in the same state as the actual photoacoustic measurement.
In this way, by restricting the movement of the subject 9 by temporary fixation (positioning) and performing the compression and holding operation to perform permanent fixation, a part of the subject close to the subject (region on the chest wall side) Movement can be reduced.

(Fixing means and sheet-like member)
Then, the function of the fixing means 3 is demonstrated using FIGS. The fixing means 3 is disposed at the end of the second holding plate 2. The function of the fixing means 3 is to fix the end of the sheet-like member 10. The fixing means 3 can be constituted by, for example, a concave portion, a convex portion (a protruding portion), an adhesive member, or a conductive member.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing an example in which the fixing means 3 is constituted by a concave portion. The recess is formed on the end surface (on the YZ end surface) that appears in the YZ plane of the second holding plate 2. The XZ cross section of the recess can be configured as a triangle as shown in FIG. 4A, a rectangle as shown in FIG. 4B, a circle as shown in FIG. The XZ cross section may also be composed of two or more recesses as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, when the sheet-like member 10 is fixed by the fixing means 3, the end of the sheet-like member 10 is fastened to the fixing means 3 using a clip (not shown). Alternatively, a hook (not shown) is disposed at the end of the sheet-like member 10 and is locked to the fixing means 3.
As a specific fixing procedure, a method of fixing the sheet-like member 10 to the fixing means 3 disposed at both ends of the second holding plate 2 after covering the subject 9 with the sheet-like member 10 can be adopted. Alternatively, the sheet-like member 10 is fixed to the fixing means 3 disposed at one end of the second holding plate 2, the subject 9 is covered with the sheet-like member 10, and then the unfixed side of the sheet-like member 10. May be fixed to the fixing means 3 on the opposite side. These fixing procedures can also be applied to various fixing means shown below.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing an example in which the fixing means 3 is constituted by a concave portion. 4 and FIG. 5, the formation position of the recess and the shape of the recess are different. In FIG. 5A, the recess is formed on the XZ end face of the second holding plate 2. Further, in FIG. 5B, the fixing means 3 is composed of a recess (or also called a notch) formed on the second holding plate 2 across the XZ end face and the YZ end face. In FIG. 5C, the fixing means 3 is composed of two or more recesses on the XZ end surface of the second holding plate 2.

  In FIG. 5, when the sheet-like member 10 is fixed by the fixing means 3, the end of the sheet-like member 10 may be fastened to the fixing means 3 using a clip (not shown). Alternatively, a method of disposing a hook (not shown) at the end of the sheet-like member 10 and locking it to the fixing means 3 may be used.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an example in which the fixing means 3 is configured by a convex portion. In FIG. 6, the convex portion is formed as a portion protruding from the YZ end surface of the second holding plate 2, but may be formed on the XZ end surface. A key-shaped object (FIGS. 6A to 6C), a cylinder (FIG. 6D), a pointed triangular prism (FIG. 6E), or the like can be used for the shape of the convex portion.

When a key-shaped object is used as the fixing means 3, it can be locked to the fixing means 3 by disposing a hook, a string, or a rubber band (not shown) at the end of the sheet-like member 10. The fixing means 3 may be composed of two or more key-shaped objects as shown in FIG. Moreover, the key-shaped thing arrange | positioned over the whole Y direction area | region of the edge part of the 2nd holding plate 2 may be sufficient as FIG.6 (c).
When a cylinder is used as the fixing means 3, it is possible to lock the fixing means 3 by arranging a string or a rubber band (not shown) at the end of the sheet-like member 10, and the end of the sheet-like member 10. You may arrange | position the hole for latching to the fixing means 3.
Furthermore, when using a pointed triangular prism as the fixing means 3, the fixing means 3 can be locked by bringing it into contact with the sheet-like member 10 and penetrating it.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing an example in which the fixing means 3 is formed of an adhesive member. In FIG. 7, the adhesive member is formed on the YZ end face of the second holding plate 2, but may be formed on the XZ end face. As the adhesive member, an adhesive member such as a tape, a button, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like can be used.

When a tape is used as the fixing means 3, it is preferable to use a double-sided tape. If it is a double-sided tape, the edge part of the sheet-like member 10 and the fixing means 3 can be directly affixed and bonded (FIG. 7A).
When a button is used as the fixing means 3, the base of the button is disposed on the second holding plate 2, and a fitting portion (not shown) that fits the base of the button is disposed at the end of the sheet-like member 10. (FIG. 7B). The sheet-like member 10 can be fixed to the fixing means 3 by fitting the base portion of the button and the fitting portion.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing an example in which the fixing means 3 is made of a conductive member. In FIG. 8, the conductive member is formed on the YZ end surface of the second holding plate 2, but may be formed on the XZ end surface. As the conductive member, a member made of a material having a volume resistivity of 10 ⁻³ Ωm or less is preferably used, and a material having a volume resistivity of 10 ⁻⁵ Ωm or less, that is, a member made of a conductor is used. More preferred. For example, Al or Cu can be used. The thickness of the conductive member may be at least about several tens of μm. When a conductive member is used as the fixing means 3, the sheet-like member 10 can be fixed to the fixing means 3 using a magnet.

  When the sheet-like member 10 is fixed to the compression plate using a magnet or a hook, the sheet-like member 10 can be automatically locked during the compression operation. Further, depending on the shape of the breast, the sheet-like member 10 can be fixed to the holding plate only during the compression operation, and the fixation can be released during imaging. By doing so, the burden on the subject can be reduced.

  In addition to those shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, there is a fixing method in which the sheet-like member 10 is wound around the second holding plate 2 without using fixing means.

  As a material of the sheet-like member 10, a material having high light transmittance and easy propagation of ultrasonic waves is desirable. For example, resins such as polymethylpentene, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyol can be used. In particular, since polymethylpentene and polyol have values suitable for the acoustic characteristics of the human body, they are suitable as materials for the sheet-like member 10. Specifically, it is preferable that the acoustic characteristics of the sheet-like member 10 have a value substantially equal to the acoustic characteristics of the subject.

  The sheet-like member 10 desirably has a strength for holding the breast, and desirably has a thickness with a small influence of acoustic attenuation. Moreover, since elasticity is calculated | required, it is desirable for a bending elastic modulus and bending strength to be low. In the case of low-rigidity polymethylpentene, the bending elastic modulus is as low as 660 MPa and the bending strength is as low as 27 MPa, which is suitable as a material for the sheet-like member 10.

<Example>
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In this example, a photoacoustic measurement device to which the subject holding device according to the present invention was applied was manufactured, and breast measurement was performed. That is, the subject 9 in FIG. 9 indicates a breast that is a part of the subject. FIG. 9A is a YZ plan view schematically showing an example of a case where the subject is pressed and held by the photoacoustic measuring device. The first holding plate 1 moves and the first of the subject is moved. Indicates the state of trying to touch the surface. FIG. 9B shows a state after the subject is pressed and held.

  An acrylic plate having a width of 250 mm, a length of 100 mm, and a thickness of 10 mm was prepared as the first holding plate 1. A resin plate made of polymethylpentene having a width of 250 mm, a length of 100 mm, and a thickness of 10 mm was prepared as the second holding plate 2. Both the first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2 were arranged along the XY plane. The first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2 were arranged so as to face each other. The longitudinal end face (YZ end face) of polymethylpentene (second holding plate 2) was coated with a magnetic material made of an amorphous metal compound.

  As the probe 5, one in which piezoelectric elements are two-dimensionally arranged is prepared and arranged on the surface of the second holding plate 2 that does not come into contact with the subject 9. As the light source 4, a titanium sapphire laser, which is a kind of solid-state laser, was prepared and disposed on the surface of the first holding plate 1 that did not contact the subject 9. The wavelength of the titanium sapphire laser was set to 750 nm.

A marker 30 is attached to the surface of the subject 9 in order to confirm the amount of movement of the subject in the holding state. In this example, a black circular seal having a diameter of 5 mm was used. For the purpose of measuring the holding load between the first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2, a force gauge 31 is arranged,
The first holding plate 1 was connected.
Further, as the sheet-like member 10, a polymethylpentene sheet having a width of 300 mm, a length of 30 mm, and a thickness of 5 mm was used.

First, when the holding distance between the first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2 was measured in the state shown in FIG. 9A, the result was 70 mm. Further, the load at this time was 0 [N].
Subsequently, using the above-described photoacoustic measurement apparatus, the subject 9 was pressed and held, and measurement was performed. At this time, the holding distance between the first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2 was 40 mm, and the load was 30N. When the position of the marker 30 was visually observed, it was confirmed that the position of the marker 30 was 15 mm from the chest wall side after compression.

  And the state which hold | maintained the test object using the sheet-like member 10 is shown in FIG.9 (b). The sheet-like member 10 was locked to the fixing means 3 by arranging a hook at the end. At this time, the holding distance between the first holding plate 1 and the second holding plate 2 was 43 mm, and the load was 35N. From this result, it is clear that even when the subject is fixed using the holding member, the load on the subject is hardly changed compared to the case where the holding member is not used. When the position of the marker 30 was visually observed in this state, it was confirmed that the position of the marker 30 was 30 mm from the chest wall side after compression. From this, it was confirmed that the sheet-like member 10 can reduce the movement of the subject (breast) toward the chest wall during compression.

Subsequently, pulsed light was irradiated from the light source 4 through the first holding plate 1 to generate an acoustic wave in the subject 9. Then, the acoustic wave was detected by the probe 5 through the second holding plate 2. At this time, the light source 4 and the probe 5 are scanned on the entire surface of the second holding plate 2 and the first holding plate 1 by using a scanning mechanism (not shown). Acoustic wave detection was performed.
Furthermore, the image signal inside the subject 9 can be displayed on the image display unit 7 by processing the detection signal by the signal processing unit 6 and performing image reconstruction.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the movement of the breast toward the chest wall during compression and imaging.
The present invention can be understood as a subject holding device or a subject information acquisition device (for example, a photoacoustic measurement device). The present invention can also be understood as a control method for acquiring the characteristic information inside the subject by controlling each component of the subject information acquiring apparatus.

  The present invention is particularly useful as a means for improving the accuracy of test results when the number of subjects is large and the subject areas differ depending on the subject, such as screening diagnosis of breast cancer.

  1: First holding plate, 2: Second holding plate, 3: Fixing means, 4: Irradiation unit, 5: Probe, 6: Signal processing unit, 10: Sheet-like member

Claims (12)

A holding means that includes a set of holding members and holds a subject that is a part of the subject inserted between the holding members; and
Of the subject, at least a sheet-like member that wraps a part of the region closer to the subject,
Fixing means for fixing the sheet-like member to the holding means;
A light source;
A probe for receiving an acoustic wave generated by irradiating the subject with light from the light source;
Signal processing means for calculating characteristic information inside the subject using acoustic waves received by the probe;
A subject information acquisition apparatus having: The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like member is made of a material that transmits the light. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like member is made of a material having substantially the same acoustic characteristics as the subject. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet-like member is made of polymethylpentene. 5. The subject information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set of holding members includes a first holding plate and a second holding plate to which the sheet-like member is fixed. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fixing unit is a recess formed on an end surface of the second holding plate or a portion protruding from an end surface of the second holding plate. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sheet-like member is locked to the fixing unit with a clip, a hook, or a string. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fixing means is an adhesive member made of an adhesive member, a button, or a hook-and-loop fastener. The subject information acquiring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fixing unit is a conductive member formed on an end surface of the second holding plate. The subject information acquisition apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sheet-like member is locked to the fixing unit with a magnet. A holding means that includes a set of holding members and holds a subject that is a part of the subject inserted between the holding members; and
Of the subject, at least a sheet-like member that wraps a part of the region closer to the subject,
Fixing means for fixing the sheet-like member to the holding means;
A subject holding apparatus having A method for controlling an object information acquiring apparatus comprising a holding means including a set of holding members, a sheet-like member, a fixing means, a light source, a probe, and a signal processing means,
Inserting a subject that is part of the subject between the holding members;
Wrapping at least a part of the subject near the subject with the sheet-like member; and
Fixing and positioning the sheet-like member on the holding means by the fixing means;
The pair of holding members of the holding means holding the object sandwiched by the sheet-like member between;
Receiving an acoustic wave generated by irradiating the subject with light from the light source by the probe; and
Calculating the characteristic information inside the subject using the acoustic wave received by the probe by the signal processing means;
A method for controlling a subject information acquiring apparatus having

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