Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development Awards Funding & Management Assistance to Sapphire Technology

AURORA, Colo., Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4), is awarding $200,000 to Denver-based Sapphire Technology, LLC, for funding and management assistance in developing its proprietary dental instruments. The announcement is made by Kevin M. Smith, CID4 President & CEO.

As part of CID4's management support, Jonathan Thorne, a member of the CID4 Board for the past two years, will join Sapphire Technology's Founder Alan Wong, DDS, and CEO H. Steven Rosen on the Company's Board of Managers.

"We are extremely excited about our relationship with Sapphire Technology," Smith said. "Not only will Sapphire Technology's proprietary devices address a recognized problem in the dental instrument market, but Sapphire Technology's use of Colorado-based contract manufacturers should contribute significantly to the advancement of the State's life science industry." 

Unlike current dental filling instruments, which typically utilize metal for their tips, Sapphire Technology's SGS^® instrument line will employ highly polished and optically clear sapphire tips instead. The use of sapphire is intended to significantly reduce composite pullback as experienced with current metal instruments, which in turn is expected to provide a reduction of voids in the composite material and improve the bond between the filling material and the patient's natural tooth.

"We are very pleased that such a high quality investor as CID4 has shown confidence in our future prospects,' Dr. Wong said. Further, Sapphire Technology's CEO Rosen said: "Beyond CID4's financial resources, we are already benefitting from the guidance provided by Jonathan Thorne." 

About Sapphire Technology

Founded in 2010, Denver CO-based Sapphire Technology, LLC is a company focusing on products to improve the practice of dentistry.  Visit: http://sapphire-technology.com.

About the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development

Founded in 2009, the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization whose mission is to advance the Colorado bioscience ecosystem through company creation and job growth. Active business management and capital work in tandem to help bridge the gap between discovery and product development. Visit: http://CID4.com.

SOURCE Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4)