Ultrasonic probe, and photoacoustic-ultrasonic system and inspection object imaging apparatus including the ultrasonic probe

An ultrasonic probe, comprising:

• a first array device capable of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave;
• and
• a second array device capable of receiving a photoacoustic wave,
• wherein
• the first array device includes a plurality of electromechanical transducers arranged in a first direction;
• the second array device includes a plurality of electromechanical transducers arranged in a two-dimensional manner;
• the first array device and the second array device are provided on the same plane and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• the length of the first array device in the first direction is longer than the length of the second array device in the first direction;
• and
• in the first direction, a difference between the length of the first array device and the length of the second array device is not less than a width of an aperture for transmission and reception of a beam of the ultrasonic wave used by the first array device.

A photoacoustic-ultrasonic system, comprising:

• an optical system for introducing light emitted from a light source into an inspection object;
• and
• an ultrasonic probe, comprising:
• a first array device capable of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave;
• and
• a second array device capable of receiving a photoacoustic wave,
• wherein the first array device includes a plurality of electromechanical transducers arranged in a first direction;
• the second array device includes a plurality of electromechanical transducers arranged in a two-dimensional manner;
• and the first array device and the second array device are provided on the same plane and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• wherein the optical system is provided in an interspace between the first array device and the second array device, and
• wherein the optical system is provided so that light guided between a first probe including the first array device and a second probe including the second array device in a direction perpendicular to the plane is emitted from the interspace between the first array device and the second array device toward below the second array device.