Vapor hydration of a hydrophilic product in a package

A packaged ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic product, comprising:

• a gas impermeable package containing:
• a product having a hydrophilic surface,
• a vapor donating liquid, and
• a liquid sequestering element,
• wherein the vapor donating liquid is substantially retained by the liquid sequestering element to minimize a spill hazard, while releasing a vapor to produce a vapor atmosphere within the package such that the ready-to-use condition of the hydrophilic product is due at least in part to the vapor activating at least a portion of the hydrophilic surface, so as to ensure delivery of the hydrophilic product to the user in a completely ready-to-use condition.

A packaged ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic product manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas impermeable package having a cavity therein;
• placing a hydrophilic product in the cavity of the package;
• placing a vapor donating liquid in the cavity of the package;
• sealing the cavity of the package with the hydrophilic product and the vapor donating liquid therein;
• and
• delaying distribution of the package after sealing the cavity with the hydrophilic product and the vapor donating liquid therein for a period of time sufficient:
• i) for the vapor donating liquid to produce a vapor atmosphere within the cavity;
• and
• ii) for the vapor atmosphere to complete the activation of the hydrophilic product.

A packaged ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic product, comprising:

• a gas impermeable package containing:
• a hydrophilic product, and
• a vapor donating liquid,
• such that the vapor donating liquid in the package is incapable of reliably hydrating the hydrophilic coated product by direct liquid contact, and wherein the vapor donating liquid produces a vapor atmosphere within the package to activate at least a portion of the hydrophilic product, to ensure delivery of the hydrophilic product to the user in a completely ready-to-use condition.

A method of producing a packaged ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic coated product comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas impermeable package having a cavity therein;
• coating at least a portion of a product with a hydrophilic coating;
• placing the hydrophilic coated product in the cavity of the package;
• placing a vapor donating liquid in the cavity of the package;
• sealing the cavity of the package with the hydrophilic coated product and the vapor donating liquid therein;
• delaying distribution of the package after sealing the cavity with the hydrophilic coated product and the vapor donating liquid therein for a period of time sufficient:
• i) for the vapor donating liquid to produce a vapor atmosphere within the cavity;
• and
• ii) for the vapor atmosphere to complete the activation of the hydrophilic coated product.

A method for ensuring delivery of a hydrophilic product to an end user in a completely ready-to-use condition, comprising the steps of:

• providing the hydrophilic product within a gas impermeable package together with a vapor donating liquid;
• determining the times required for:
• i) the vapor donating liquid to form a vapor atmosphere in a state of equilibrium within the gas impermeable package;
• and
• ii) the vapor donating liquid to complete the activation of the hydrophilic product within the gas impermeable package;
• and
• delaying the distribution of the hydrophilic product to the end user for at least the longer of the times so determined;
• whereby the hydrophilic product is in a completely ready-to-use condition when it is delivered to the end user.