Method and device for removing a contact lens from a container

Abstract

There is described a method for the removal of a contact lens ( 30 ) from a container ( 10 ), with a contact lens ( 30 ) being immersed in a liquid ( 20 ) which is held in a container ( 10 ), and the contact lens ( 30 ) being removed from the container ( 10 ) together with at least a portion of the liquid ( 20 ) through a removal tube ( 3 ) which is dipped into the liquid ( 20 ) within the container ( 10 ). First the container ( 10 ) containing the liquid ( 20 ) and the immersed contact lens ( 30 ) is closed pressure-tight with a lid ( 2 ), which comprises the removal tube ( 3 ) and a pressure tube ( 5 ). Both, the removal tube ( 3 ) and the pressure tube ( 5 ), are guided through the lid ( 2 ). After the closing of the container ( 10 ) with the lid ( 2 ) an overpressure is applied to the interior of the closed container ( 10 ) through the pressure tube ( 5 ). The overpressure is applied such that the contact lens ( 30 ) and the liquid ( 20 ) are pressed into the removal tube ( 3 ) and removed together therethrough. There is also described a device ( 1 ) for carrying out the method.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A device for the removal of a contact lens from a container comprising a removal tube adapted for being dipped into a liquid which is held in a container and in which a contact lens is immersed, and for receiving the contact lens together with at least a portion of the liquid, wherein the removal tube is held by and guided through a lid which is adapted for closing the container pressure-tight, and further comprising a pressure tube which is held by and guided through the lid and is adapted for being connected to a source of overpressure. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the removal tube protrudes from a lower face of the lid a longer distance than the pressure tube, such that with the lid mounted pressure-tight on the container a front end of the removal tube is located about 1 mm to about 5 mm above a bottom of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the removal tube at its front end is provided with a funnel having a diameter of about 4 mm to about 9 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the removal tube has an internal diameter of about 2 mm to about 6 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the lid is adapted to maintain an overpressure within the container which amounts to about 0.5 bar to about 5 bar above ambient pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the pressure tube is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized air. 
     
     
         16 . Use of the device according to  claim 10  for the removal of contact lenses from cuvettes for optical inspection of the lenses.