Science & Capabilities

PathoLase is the industry leader for laser treatment for Onychomycosis. Our research is focused on the discovery and development of safe, effective and environmentally-sound devices for use in such diverse areas as podiatry, dermatology, dentistry, periodontology, otolaryngology and pulmonology.

Patholase maintains microbiology, bio-optics and engineering Labs with state-of-the-art medical imaging and image analysis as well as clinical studies facilities that include waiting and treatment rooms for subjects.

Facilities and Resources

Laboratory

PathoLase Inc., the industry leader for the laser treatment for Onychomycosis, is located in the Industrial Park adjoining the Chico, CA Airport, consisting of office, engineering and administration staff.

Microbiology facility

Sam Lewis, Ph.D. is a full-time senior staff scientist and Director of Microbiology. The microbiology section includes a BSL-2 lab plus office space. The setup is typical for tissue culture / protein chemistry / molecular biology work. Equipment includes: a class 2 BSC (biological safety cabinet); autoclave; incubators; light microscopes; digital stereomicroscope with camera digital scale; spectrometer; fridges and freezer; waterbaths; ELISA setup; PCR setup; protein and agarose gel apparatus; an FPLC for protein purification; etc. The lab is stocked with typical chemicals, glassware, and disposables found in tissue culture / protein chemistry / molecular biology labs. The lab space is negative pressure with respect to the building and there are three completely enclosed tissue culture cubicles with controlled airflow.

The facility is designed to conform to BSL-2 guidelines laid out in the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), with access to the building and lab spaces by passcard-controlled automatically-locking doors.

Bio-optics facility

Jeremy Ault is a full-time staff scientist and the Director of the Bio-optics laboratory. Equipment includes several Nd:YAG, HeNe and Diode lasers w/fiber optics, safety glasses, smoke evacuators, power/energy meters, photodetectors, an Ophir-Spiricon beam profiler,Tektronix 60MHz digital oscilloscope, B&L 30X zoom video microscope, Leitz epi-phase contrast light microscope, VCR and TV monitor, frame and video grabber, a 1-micron X,Y,Z motorized stage and controller used for scanning samples, micromanipulators and several small optical benches with assorted hardware. The space includes engineering design and development laboratory space for the prototyping of optical and electro-mechanical devices.

Clinical Facility

PathoLase has the capability to conduct clinical studies in-house in strict compliance with Good Clinical Practices. The clinical research section includes a waiting room for subjects and a treatment room conforming to OSHA and ANSI Standards. The treatment room is adjacent to the bio-optics prototype lab to facilitate testing of alpha-units. In this laboratory is the current model FootLaser, smoke evacuator, a podiatrist chair and the supplies needed to do a clinical procedure. We also have a state-of-art medical imaging and image analysis capability.