PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGE GENERATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGE GENERATION DEVICE

摘要

This photoacoustic image generation device and this method for operating a photoacoustic image generation device make it possible to accurately understand all of the positions of an inserted object during puncture from an image after examination. The photoacoustic image generation device is provided with: a photoacoustic image generation unit (24) for generating a photoacoustic image on the basis of a detection signal acquired by detection, by an acoustic wave detecting means, of photoacoustic waves emitted from a distal end portion of an inserted object that has been inserted into a subject; and a control unit (28) for causing a storage unit to store, in response to a predetermined trigger, location information of a distal end portion of a puncture needle (15) on the photoacoustic image during a step where cells of the subject are being collected with the distal end portion of the puncture needle (15) in cytology.