What unusual device did Otto Wichterle use to produce his first hydrogel lenses?

Otto Wichterle, a pioneering figure in the development of soft contact lenses, famously used a children's toy building kit to create his first hydrogel lenses. This innovative approach highlights Wichterle's resourcefulness and creativity. The toy allowed him to construct a simple and effective apparatus for polymerizing the hydrogel material, which ultimately led to the development of the first successful soft contact lenses.

Using a readily available and unorthodox device such as a children's toy building kit emphasizes how groundbreaking ideas can emerge from inventive uses of common items. Wichterle's experimentation laid the foundation for modern contact lens technology, showing that innovation can come from unexpected sources.