Device for taking up fluid

A device for taking up a fluid present on a flexible surface, comprising:

• a support member including an opening portion having an end surface defining an abutment surface adapted to be held in abutment with the flexible surface, an exterior surface, and an opposing interior surface;
• and
• a fluid-passage member including an aperture, an exterior surface, and an opposing interior surface, said fluid passage member being disposed within said opening portion of said support member such that the exterior surface of said fluid passage member is interior to and spaced apart from the interior surface of said support member, said fluid-passage member including an opening end defining an inlet and being constructed to permit the fluid to flow thereinto by capillarity, said opening end having an end face being disposed inside with respect to said abutment surface of said support member and positioned such that, when said abutment surface of said support member is brought into abutment with the flexible surface, only the fluid present thereon is brought into contact with said end face.