GB2435106A

GB2435106A - A device for extracting fluid from a container

Info

Publication number: GB2435106A
Application number: GB0601937A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Duggan; Trevor O'neill; Brian Walsh; Patrick J Tobin
Original assignee: Bausch and Lomb Inc
Current assignee: Bausch and Lomb Inc
Priority date: 2006-01-31
Filing date: 2006-01-31
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Also published as: GB0601937D0

Abstract

A device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: ```a shaft 32 including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening 31 at a first end of the shaft and a second opening 35 adjacent a second end of the shaft; ```a container engagement member 37 extending outwardly from the shaft between the first and the second ends; ```a number of curved members 39 between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft; and ```wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the second opening is in the side of the shaft.

Description

I

A Device for Extracting Fluid from a Container The invention relates to a device for extracting fluid from a container, and especially, a device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, such as a contact lens or a hydrogel lens.

Soft, hydrogel contact lenses are produced by polymerising a monomeric mixture comprising a hydrophilic monomer and a cross-linking agent. The monomeric mixture can be cast directly in to lenses by static cast moulding or spin casting methods, where the liquid monomeric mixture is charged to the mould and is then cured, typically by subjecting the monomeric mixture to UV radiation, heat or both UV radiation and heat. Alternatively, the monomeric mixture can first be cured in the form of cylindrical blanks (also referred to as "buttons"). The buttons are then lathe cut into lenses. In a further alternative, the buttons can be cut from rods or sheets of cured lens material for lathe cutting into lenses.

Regardless of the manner of forming the lens, following polymerisation (or curing) of the monomeric mixture, the lenses are typically hydrated by exposure to water or an aqueous solution under appropriate conditions, so that the lens absorbs and retains water to form a hydrogel.

In addition, the lenses are typically treated to extract undesired residual materials remaining in the lens from the polymerisation process. Examples of undesirable residual materials include incompletely polymerised monomers, oligomers formed from the curing process and any diluent or solvent present in the initial monomeric mixture.

The extraction of the undesired residual materials may be performed as a process step separate from the hydration process or the two processes may be performed simultaneously.

For example, US Patent No. 5,271,875 shows two possible methods of recovering the lens from the mould and hydrating lens. First, in a "wet release" process, the lens is hydrated while retained in the mould section, the hydration process also facilitating removal of the lens from the mould section in which it is retained.

Secondly, in a "dry release" process, the lens is first disengaged from the mould section in which it is retained by a force applied by a mechanical fixture. The lens is then hydrated after removal from the mould.

US Patent No. 5,264,161 also discloses a "wet release" method of recovering a lens. In this method a contact lens and a mould in which it is retained are added to an aqueous bath including a surfactant.

US Patent No. 6,183,236 discloses a lens hydration apparatus and method in which the lens is placed in its intended final package and a shaft having a number of arms extending radially from the lower end of the shaft in a star shaped pattern is inserted in to the lens. The apparatus includes a fluid transport passage extending through the shaft that terminates in an opening on the nozzle face where the lower outer edges of the fins converge. This enables fluid to be evacuated from the lens through the nozzle opening. Fluid is repeatedly introduced in to the intended final package containing the lens and evacuated using the nozzle and this cycle is repeated as often as necessary to fully hydrate the lens and extract the undesirable residual materials from the lens.

However, one of the problems with this device is that evacuation of the liquid through the nozzle can result in the lens being sucked on to the nozzle. This can result in either the lens being damaged or the lens being accidentally removed from the intended final package when the nozzle is removed.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent a second end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first and the second ends; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the second opening is in the side of the shaft.

Preferably, the shaft fluid passageway has a number of second openings.

Typically, the second opening, or openings, are located between adjacent curved members.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and a second end of the shaft opposite the first end; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft and each curved member including a curved member fluid passageway extending between the shaft fluid passageway and a curved member opening located on an edge of the respective curved member; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members.

Preferably, the curved member openings are recessed in the edge of the respective curved member, and may be recessed in a groove in the edge of the respective curved member.

Typically, the shaft fluid passageway further comprises a second opening adjacent to the second end of the shaft.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and a second end of the shaft opposite the first end; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, and each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the second end of the shaft and the edges of the curved members extending from the second end of the shaft have an adhering reducing surface.

Preferably, the adherence reducing surface comprises one or more of roughened surfacing, a non-stick coating, such as polytetrafluorethane (PTFE), or grooves formed in the second end of the shaft and the lower edges of the curved members.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and a second end of the shaft opposite the first end; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, and each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft, wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members; and a removal device slidably mounted on the shaft for movement between a first position in which removal device does not extend beyond the second end and a second position in which the removal device does extend beyond the second end.

In one example of the fourth aspect of the invention, the removal device comprises a mounting member slidably mounted on the shaft and a number of removal arms, each removal arm extending outwardly from the shaft and towards the second end, and each removal arm being located between an adjacent pair of curved members when the removal device is in the second position such that the ends of the removal arms opposite from the mounting member extend beyond the second end of the shaft.

Preferably, the number of removal arms is equal to the number of curved members.

In an alternative example of the fourth aspect of the invention, the removal device comprises a mounting member slidably mounted on the shaft and a removal portion depending from the mounting member, the removal portion having a recessed section in which the container engagement member and the curved members are located when the removal device is in the second position, and when the removal device is in the second position the removal portion extends beyond the second end of the shaft.

Preferably, the removal portion circumnavigates the container engagement member and curved members when the removal device is in the second position.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent to the second end of the shaft; an elastically deformable member extending outwardly from the shaft adjacent to the second end of the shaft.

Preferably, the device in accordance with the fifth aspect of the invention may also include a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and the second end of the shaft and a number of curved members, each curved member extending from the container engagement member towards the second end and extending outwardly from the shaft, each curved member extending outwardly from the shaft less than the container engagement member, and such that the curved members are located between the elastically deformable member and the container engagement member.

Typically, when the device is inserted in to an opening in a container, the elastically deformable member is elastically deformed by the edges of the opening towards the container engagement member and the curved members.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent a second end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first and the second ends; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the second opening is in the side of the shaft and the number of curved members is less than six.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of hydrating and extracting residual material from a lens, the method comprising: providing a device comprising a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent a second end of the shaft, a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and the second end of the shaft, a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft and each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft, wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the edge of each curved member extending from the second end of the shaft has a first radius of curvature; providing a container having an opening that has a dimension that is less than the extension of the container engagement member from the shaft but more than the extension of the curved members from the shaft; inserting a lens to be hydrated and have residual material extracted therefrom into the container, the lens having a second radius of curvature which is less than the first radius of curvature; inserting the device into the container so that the second end is adjacent a surface of the lens and the container engagement member engages with the edge of the opening; introducing a liquid into the container; and removing the liquid by applying suction to the first opening to extract the liquid from the container through the second opening and the fluid passageway.

Preferably, the container engagement member comprises a number of arms extending from the shaft, and typically, one arm corresponds to one curved member.

Typically, the device has at least three arms and at least three curved members but less than six arms and less than six curved members. Preferably, the device has four or less arms and four or less curved members, and most preferably the device has three arms and three curved members.

Preferably, the arms and the curved members extend radially from the shaft.

Typically, the arms and the curved members are spaced equidistantly around the shaft.

Preferably, the container engagement member includes engagement means adapted to engage with an edge of an opening in a container. If the opening has a raised lip, the engagement means could comprise a notch or recess in the side of the container engagement member that engages the container.

Typically, two or more aspects of the invention could be combined in the same device.

Typically, the lens is a contact lens and preferably, it is a soft contact lens and most preferably a soft, hydrogel contact lens.

Preferably, the lens is a hydrogel lens.

Preferably the lens has one side that is convex and the opposite side is concave.

Preferably, the device is for hydrating and extracting residual material from a lens located in a container having an opening and the end of the arms is a distance from the central axis of the shaft that is greater than half the width of the opening and the fins extend a distance from the central axis which is less than the width of the opening. Hence, the fins are located within the container when the arms rest on the edge of the opening of the container.

Typically, the container may be the intended final package for the lens. For example, the intended final package could be a blister pack, and where the lens is a contact lens, a conventional contact lens blister pack.

Examples of a device for and a method of extracting fluid from a container containing a lens will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a prior art liquid extraction device; Figure 2 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 and showing the device being used to extract fluid from a container containing a contact lens; Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a first example of an extraction device in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view from above showing the extraction device of Figure 4 inserted into a blister pack for holding a contact lens; Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of a second example of an extraction device in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view from below of the device shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view from below showing a third example of an extraction device in accordance with the invention with a first example of a lens remover mounted on it; Figure 10 is a bottom view of the extraction device and removal device shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a bottom view of the extraction device shown in Figures 9 and with a second example of a lens remover mounted on it; and Figure 12 is a side view of a fourth example of an extraction device in accordance with the invention.

Figures 1 to 3 show a prior art extraction device for use in hydrating and removing residual material from a hydrogel contact lens 20 in its final blister pack packaging 22. The extraction device I includes a central shaft 2 which has a first, threaded end 3 and a second end 14. A fluid passageway 10 extends between the first and second ends 3, 14.

Extending radially from the shaft 2 are six arms 7 and a fin 8 extends from each arm 7 towards the second end 14 and radially outwardly from the shaft towards a remote end 6 of each arm 7. However, each of the fins 8 terminate short of the remote end 6 of the respective arm 7. Each of the fins 8 has a curved lower edge 9.

In addition, grooves 12 are formed on the surface of the second end 14 and extend from the opening of the fluid passageway 11 in the second end 14 to the edge of the shaft 2.

In use, the threaded end 3 of the extraction device 1 is threadedly connected to a vacuum extraction apparatus 4 and is inserted into a well 21 formed in the blister pack 22. The well 21 contains the contact lens 20, which is a soft hydrogel contact lens, in a liquid 23.

The extraction device I is inserted into the well 21 so that the remote ends 6 of the arms 7 rest on the blister pack around the edge of the well 21 and the second end 4 and the fins 8 extend into the well 21. By selecting the length of the shaft so that the distance between the second end 14 and the arms 6 is less than the depth of the well minus the thickness of the contact lens 20 helps prevent the contact lens being compressed between the inside wall of the well 21 and the second end 14.

After the extraction device I has been inserted into the well 21, the vacuum extraction apparatus 4 is operated to extract the liquid 23 from the well 21 through the fluid passageway 11 in the extraction device 1.

After liquid 23 has been removed from the well 21, more liquid 23 can be inserted into the well 21 to hydrate the lens 20 and the extraction process repeated in order to remove undesirable residual materials remaining in the lens from the polymerisation process. This hydration and extraction process can be repeated a number of times, as desired. After the final extraction process has been completed, the well 21 is typically filled with a saline solution and the opening to the well 21 is sealed so that the blister pack 22 forms the final packaging for transportation to the end user.

As indicated above, this conventional extraction device I has the disadvantage that the extraction of the liquid 23 through the fluid passageway 11 can result in the lenses being sucked onto the second end 14 and edges 9 of the fins 8. This can result in either the lens 20 being damaged and/or the lens 20 being accidentally removed from the well 21 of the blister pack 22 when the extraction device I is removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a first example of an extraction device 30 in accordance with the invention. The extraction device 30 includes a central shaft 32 having a first, threaded end 33 and a second end 34 opposite the first end 33. The shaft 32 has a central fluid passage way 31 which extends from the threaded end 33 to four openings 35 (only two shown) in the side of the shaft 32 adjacent to the second end 34. Four arms 37 extend from the shaft 32 and have remote ends 36 at the opposite ends of the arms 37 from the shaft 32.

Extending from each of the arms 37 towards the second end 34 is a fin 38 which also extends radially outwardly from the shaft 32 towards the remote end of each arm 37 but terminates short of the remote end 36. Each fin 38 has a curved lower edge 39. The openings 35 are located in the side of the shaft 32 between each pair of adjacent fins 38.

In use, the extraction device 30 is used in a similar manner to the prior art extraction device I and Figure 5 shows the extraction device 30 inserted into the well 21 in the blister pack 22. As can be seen from Figure 5, the remote ends 36 of the extraction device 30 rest on the blister pack 22 around the edge of the well 21. The threaded end 33 is threadedly coupled to the vacuum extraction device 4 in the same manner as the prior art extraction device I and the extraction device is used in a similar manner to the prior art extraction device I to hydrate a soft, hydrogel contact lens 20 located in the well 21 and to remove undesired residual materials from the lens 20.

However, the main difference between the extraction device 30 and the prior art extraction device I is that in the extraction device 30 the liquid 23 is extracted from the well 21 through the openings 35, which are in the side of the shaft 32 and located between each adjacent pair of fins 38. This has the advantage of helping to prevent the contact lens 20 being sucked onto the second end 34 of the shaft 32 and the curved edges 39 of the fins 38, as the openings 35 through which the liquid is extracted are on the side of the shaft 32, rather than the end of the shaft, as is the case in the prior art device 1. There is also the advantage that by reducing the number of arms and fins to four arms 37 and four fins 38, the surface area of the extraction device 30 that can potentially contact a lens located in the well 21 is less than the surface area of the prior art extraction device 1. This helps to minimise adherence of the lens 20 to the extraction device 30 compared with

the prior art extraction device 1.

Figures 6 to 8 show a second example of an extraction device 40 in accordance with the invention. The extraction device 40 has a central shaft 42 with a first, threaded end 43 and a second end 44 opposite the first end. The shaft 42 has a central fluid passageway 41 which extends through the shaft 42 from a first opening at the threaded end 43 to a second opening 45 at the second end 44 of the shaft 42. Three arms 47 extend from the shaft 42 and have remote ends 46 at the opposite ends of the arms 47 from the shaft 42. Extending from each of the arms 47 towards the second end 44 is a fin 48 which also extends radially outwardly from the shaft 42 towards the remote end 46 of each arm 47 but terminates short of the remote end 46. Each fin 48 has a curved lower edge 49.

In addition, each arm 47 has a notch 51 on the side of the arm closest to the second end 44 of the shaft 42. Three grooves 52 are formed in the end 44 and extend from the second opening 45 radially outwardly between each pair of adjacent fins 48 to the edge of the second end 44.

In use, the extraction device 40 is used in a similar manner to the prior art extraction device I and the extraction device 30. However, when the extraction device 40 is inserted into the well 21 in the blister pack 22, the notches 51 aid location of the arms 47 on the edge of the opening of the well 21. The extraction device 40 is used in an identical manner to the extraction device 30 for hydration and removal of undesirable residual materials from a lens 20 in a well 21 in the blister pack 22.

With the extraction device 40, there is also the advantage that by having only three arms 47 and three fins 48, the surface area of the extraction device 40 which the lens 20 can adhere to is reduced, thereby reducing the chance of the lens 20 adhering to the end 44 and edges 49 of the extraction device 40. In addition, the grooves 52 in the second end 44 also further help to reduce the surface area and minimize the risk of a lens being sucked onto the extraction device 40.

The notches 51 shown on the extraction device 40 could also be incorporated into the arms 37 on the extraction device 30. Similarly, the extraction device 40 could be formed with second openings on the side of the shaft 42, in a similar manner to the second openings 35 in the extraction device 30.

Figures 9 and 10 show a third example of an extraction device 60 in accordance with the invention with a lens remover 75 slidably mounted on a shaft (not shown) of the extraction device 60. The extraction device 60 is similar to the extraction devices 1, 30, 40 in that there is a central shaft (not shown) having a first, threaded end (not shown) and a fluid passageway (not shown) extending from a first opening (not shown) in the threaded end to a second opening 65 in a second end 64 of the shaft. However, the fluid passageway also extends into each fin 68 and has a third opening 73 on curved edge 69 of each fin 68. The second end 64 also has grooves 72 extending from the second opening 65, between each pair of adjacent fins 68 to the edge of the second end 64. In addition, there are grooves 74 extending from the second opening 65 along the edge 69 of each fin 68 to the third opening 73 and continuing from each third opening 73 to a notch 71 in each arm 67.

The lens remover 75 is typically formed from a plastics material, such as polytetrafluoroethane (PTFE). The lens remover 75 is formed from an annular ring 76 that extends around the shaft and four removal arms 77 that are equispaced from each other and extend from the annular ring 76 towards the second end 64 between each pair of adjacent arms 67 and fins 68. The lens remover 75 is slidable on the shaft between a first position in which ends 78 of the arms 77 are located between the arms 67 and the second end 64, and a second position, in which the ends 78 extend beyond the second end 64.

In use, the extraction device 60 is used in an identical manner to the extraction devices 30, 40 and the addition of the third openings 73 and grooves 74 assist in extracting liquid 23 from the well 21 in the blister pack 22. The grooves 74 also have the added benefit of reducing the surface area of the extraction device 60 that can contact a lens, if the lens adheres to the second end 64 and edges 69 of the fins 68 during the liquid extraction process.

In normal use, the lens remover 75 is located in its first position so that the ends 78 are located between the arms 67 and the second end 64. However, if a lens becomes adhered to the extraction device 60, the lens remover 75 can be moved from the first position to the second position (shown in Figures 9 and 10) in which the ends 78 of the arms 77 extend beyond the second end 64. The movement of the lens remover 75 from the first position to the second position has the effect of pushing a lens adhered to the extraction device 60 off the extraction device 60 so that it falls back into the well 21 in the blister pack 22.

Figure 11 also shows the extraction device 60 but with a second example of a lens remover 80 mounted on the shaft of the extraction device 60. The lens remover operates in the same manner as the lens remover 75 and is also movable on the shaft between a first and a second position. However, the configuration of the lens remover 80 is slightly modified compared to the lens remover 75. The lens remover 80 includes an annular ring 81 that is slidably mounted on the shaft of the extraction device 60. Depending from the annular ring 81 is a wall portion 82 that encloses and defines a cross-shaped recess 83 in which the arms 67 and the fins 68 can locate. The recess 83 is sufficiently deep that when the arms 67 are located as far into the recess 83 as the depth of the recess 83 will permit, the wall portion 82 extends beyond the second end 64 of the extraction device 60.

The lens remover 80 is used in a similar manner to the lens remover 75. When a lens adheres to the extraction device 60, the lens remover 80 is moved from the first position to the second position, in which the wall portion 82 extends beyond the second end 64 and the lens is pushed off the extraction device 60 and permitted to fall back into well 21 in the blister pack 22.

Figure 12 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the extractiondevice 60 with an alternative means of preventing adherence of a lens to the extraction device 60. Mounted at the second end 64 of the extraction device 60 are two sprung steel arms 85 (only one shown) that are attached to the second end 64 at or near their centre point 86 such that they extend in, or substantially in, the same planes as the respective arms 67 and the fins 68.

In use, when the extraction device 60 shown in Figure 12 is inserted into the well 21 in the blister pack 22 ends 87 of the sprung steel arms 85 are deflected upwards by the edge of the opening 21 to the position shown in phantom in Figure 12. The extraction device 60 can then be used in the same way as the extraction device 60 shown in Figures 9 to 11 and the extraction devices 30, 40 to hydrate and remove undesirable residual material from a lens in the well 21.

However, should a lens try to adhere to the extraction device 60, when the extraction device 60 is removed from the well 21, the steel sprung arms 85 revert to their non-deflected position (shown in Figure 12), thereby removing the lens from the extraction device 60.

A further advantage of the extraction device 60 is that the third openings 73 and the grooves 74 enable more liquid 23 to be extracted from the well 21, thereby leaving less residual liquid in the well 21 after the extraction process.

The grooves 74 and the third opening 73 could also be incorporated into the extraction devices 30, 40 and if desired, the extraction device 60 could be modified to incorporate openings located in the side of the shaft between adjacent fins, similar to the openings 35 in the extraction device 30.

Furthermore, it would be possible to provide any of these extraction devices 30, 40, 60 with an adherence reducing finish on the second end 34, 44, 64 respectively and/or edges 39, 49, 69 respectively to further reduce the possibility of a lens adhering to the extraction devices 30, 40, 60. Such an adherence reducing finish could be an adherence reducing coating, such as PTFE, applied to the extraction devices 30, 40, 60 and/or a mechanical finish applied to the extraction devices 30, 40, 60, such as a spark finish.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for extracting fluid from a container containing a

lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent a second end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first and the second ends; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the second opening is in the side of the shaft.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second opening is located between adjacent curved members.

3. A device according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the shaft fluid passageway has a number of second openings.

4. A device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and a second end of the shaft opposite the first end; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft and each curved member including a curved member fluid passageway extending between the shaft fluid passageway and a curved member opening located on an edge of the respective curved member; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the curved member openings are recessed in the edge of the respective curved member.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the curved member openings are recessed in a groove in the edge of the respective curved member.

7. A device according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the shaft fluid passageway further comprises a second opening adjacent to the second end of the shaft.

8. A device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and a second end of the shaft opposite the first end; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, and each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the second end of the shaft and the edges of the curved members extending from the second end of the shaft have an adhering reducing surface.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the adherence reducing surface comprises one or more of roughened surfacing, a non- stick coating and grooves formed in the second end of the shaft and the lower edges of the curved members.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the adherence reducing surfacing comprises a roughened surfacing that is provided by a spark finish.

11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the adherence reducing surfacing comprises a non-stick coating that comprises polytetrafluoroethane.

12. A device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and a second end of the shaft opposite the first end; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, and each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft, wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members; and a removal device slidably mounted on the shaft for movement between a first position in which removal device does not extend beyond the second end and a second position in which the removal device does extend beyond the second end.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the removal device comprises a mounting member slidably mounted on the shaft and a number of removal arms, each removal arm extending outwardly from the shaft and towards the second end, and each removal arm being located between an adjacent pair of curved members when the removal device is in the second position such that the ends of the removal arms opposite from the mounting member extend beyond the second end of the shaft.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the number of removal arms is equal to the number of curved members.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the removal device comprises a mounting member slidably mounted on the shaft and a removal portion depending from the mounting member, the removal portion having a recessed section in which the container engagement member and the curved members are located when the removal device is in the second position, and when the removal device is in the second position the removal portion extends beyond the second end of the shaft.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the removal portion circumnavigates the container engagement member and the curved members when the removal device is in the second position.

17. A device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent to the second end of the shaft; an elastically deformable member extending outwardly from the shaft adjacent to the second end of the shaft.

18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and the second end of the shaft and a number of curved members, each curved member extending from the container engagement member towards the second end and extending outwardly from the shaft, each curved member extending outwardly from the shaft less than the container engagement member, and such that the curved members are located between the elastically deformable member and the container engagement member.

19 A device according to claim 18, wherein the elastically deformable member is adapted to be elastically deformed towards the container engagement member and the curved members when the device is inserted in to an opening in a container.

20. A device according to any of claims I to 16, 18 or 19, wherein the number of curved members is less than six.

21. A device for extracting fluid from a container containing a lens, the device comprising: a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent a second end of the shaft; a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first and the second ends; a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft, each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft; and wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the second opening is in the side of the shaft and the number of curved members is less than six.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the device comprises at least three curved members.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the device has four curved members.

24. A device according to claim 24, wherein the device has three curved members.

25. A device according to any of claims I to 16 or 18 to 24, wherein the container engagement member comprises a number of arms extending from the shaft.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein there is one arm for each curved member.

27. A device according to any of claims 25 or claim 26, wherein the arms extend radially from the shaft.

28. A device according to any of claims 25 to 27, wherein the arms are spaced equidistantly around the shaft.

29. A device according to any of claims I to 16 or 18 to 28, wherein the curved members extend radially from the shaft.

30. A device according to any of claims 1 to 16 or 18 to 29, wherein the curved members are in the form of fins.

31. A device according to any of claims Ito 16 or 18 to 30, wherein the curved members are spaced equidistantly around the shaft.

32. A device according to any of claims I to 16 or 18 to 31, wherein the container engagement member includes engagement means adapted to engage with an edge, or adjacent an edge, of an opening in a container.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the engagement means comprises a notch or recess in the side of the container engagement member closest to the second end.

34. A method of hydrating and extracting residual material from a lens, the method comprising: providing a device comprising a shaft including a shaft fluid passageway having a first opening at a first end of the shaft and a second opening adjacent a second end of the shaft, a container engagement member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first end and the second end of the shaft, a number of curved members between the container engagement member and the second end of the shaft and each curved member being located in a plane extending outwardly from the shaft, wherein the container engagement member extends outwardly from the shaft further than the curved members and the edge of each curved member extending from the second end of the shaft has a first radius of curvature; providing a container having an opening that has a dimension that is less than the extension of the container engagement member from the shaft but more than the extension of the curved members from the shaft; inserting a lens to be hydrated and have residual material extracted therefrom into the container, the lens having a second radius of curvature which is less than the first radius of curvature; inserting the device into the container so that the second end is adjacent a surface of the lens and the container engagement member engages with the edge of the opening; introducing a liquid into the container; and removing the liquid by applying suction to the first opening to extract the liquid from the container through the second opening and the fluid passageway.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the lens is a contact lens.

36. A method according to claim 34 or claim 35, wherein the lens is a hydrogel lens.

37. A method according to any of claims 34 to 36, wherein the container is the intended final package for the lens.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the intended final package is a blister pack.

39. A method according to any of claims 34 to 38, wherein the container engagement member comprises a number of arms extending from the shaft.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein there is one arm for each curved member.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the device comprises at least three arms and at least three curved members.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the device has less than six arms and less than six curved members.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the device has four or less arms and four or less curved members.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the device has three arms and three curved members.

45. A method according to any of claims 39 to 44, wherein the arms extend radially from the shaft.

46. A method according to any of claims 39 to 45, wherein the arms are spaced equidistantly around the shaft.

47. A method according to any of claims 34 to 46, wherein the curved members extend radially from the shaft.

48. A method according to any of claims 34 to 47, wherein the curved members are in the form of fins.

49. A method according to any of claims 34 to 48, wherein the curved members are spaced equidistantly around the shaft.

50. A method according to any of claims 34 to 49, wherein the container engagement member includes engagement means which engages with an edge, or adjacent an edge, of the opening in the container when the device is inserted into the container.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein the engagement means comprises a notch or recess in the side of the container engagement member closest to the second end.