Insert, photoacoustic measurement device comprising insert, and method for manufacturing insert

An insert comprising:

• an insert main body which has an opening at a tip and is formed in a hollow shape and of which at least a tip portion of the tip is configured to be inserted into a subject;
• a light guide member that is provided in a hollow portion of the insert main body along a length direction of the insert main body;
• and
• a photoacoustic wave generation unit that is provided at a light emission end of the light guide member which is disposed on a tip side of the tip of the insert main body, absorbs light emitted from the light emission end, and generates photoacoustic waves,
• wherein the photoacoustic wave generation unit is made of a black resin, a material that transmits visible light, a material that transmits visible light and absorbs near-infrared light, or a material including a pigment that transmits visible light and absorbs near-infrared light and a photocurable resin,
• the insert main body is a needle that is configured to be inserted into the subject,
• a through-hole is formed in a wall portion forming the hollow portion,
• the light emission end of the light guide member is positioned adjacent to the through-hole in a longitudinal direction of the insert main body, and
• the photoacoustic wave generation unit is fixed to the through-hole, thereby emitting photoacoustic waves which are generated by the photoacoustic wave generation unit from the opening at the tip and toward an exterior of the insert main body via the through-hole,
• wherein the photoacoustic wave generation unit is provided to cover the light emission end of the light guide member,
• the through-hole is filled with the same material as that forming the photoacoustic wave generation unit integrally with the photoacoustic wave generation unit, and
• the photoacoustic wave generation unit and a tip portion of the light guide member are fixed to the wall portion.