PEN ASSEMBLY

1 . A needle storage container ( 10 ) comprising:

a first compartment ( 14 ) including

a needle magazine ( 30 ) capable of carrying a plurality of unused and used needles ( 74 ); and

an adapter ( 60 ) configured to engage a medication delivery pen ( 2 ); and

a second compartment ( 16 ) configured to carry a cleaning agent ( 18 ); wherein

the first compartment ( 14 ) is sealed from the second compartment ( 16 ).

2 . The needle storage container ( 10 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:

a main housing ( 12 ) including the first and second compartments ( 14 , 16 ); and

a wall ( 20 ) separating the first compartment ( 14 ) from the second compartment ( 16 ).

3 . The needle storage container ( 10 ) of claim 2 , further comprising compartment covers ( 22 ) enclosing each of the first and second compartments ( 14 , 16 ).

4 . The needle storage container ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the adapter ( 60 ) includes a septum ( 62 ).

5 . The needle storage container ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein

the adapter ( 60 ) includes a snap ring member ( 64 ) that is configured to engage a needle post ( 70 ) carrying the needle ( 74 ) in the needle magazine ( 30 ); and

the needle ( 74 ) remains in the needle magazine ( 30 ) during medication delivery.

6 . A needle magazine ( 30 ) comprising:

a plurality of cavities ( 38 ) each carrying a needle ( 74 ) fixed to a needle post ( 70 );

a first seal ( 46 ) disposed at a proximal end of each of the plurality of cavities ( 30 ); and

a second seal ( 48 ) disposed at a distal end of each of the plurality of cavities ( 30 ); wherein

in a first position of the needle post ( 70 ), the needle ( 74 ) is enclosed between the first and second seals ( 46 , 48 );

in a second position of the needle post ( 70 ), the first seal ( 46 ) is pierced and the needle ( 74 ) pierces and extends through the second seal ( 48 ) for medication delivery ( 2 ); and

in a third position of the needle post ( 70 ), the needle ( 74 ) no longer extends through the second seal ( 48 ) and is ready for disposal.

7 . The needle magazine ( 30 ) of claim 6 , further comprising:

a retainer plate ( 32 ) disposed on a top surface ( 34 ): wherein

the first seals ( 46 ) are disposed between the retainer plate ( 32 ) and the top surface ( 34 ).

8 . The needle magazine ( 30 ) of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of cavities ( 38 ) is tapered so that a distal end of each cavity ( 38 ) is smaller in diameter than a proximal end of each cavity ( 38 ).

9 . The needle magazine ( 30 ) of claim 6 , further comprising a cap ( 50 ) enclosing a bottom surface ( 36 ).

10 . The needle magazine ( 30 ) of claim 6 , wherein in the second position, the needle post ( 70 ) moves downward from the first position.

11 . The needle magazine ( 30 ) of claim 6 , wherein in the third position, the needle post ( 70 ) moves upward from the second position.

12 . The needle magazine ( 30 ) of claim 6 , wherein the third position is between the first position and the second position.

13 . A pen assembly ( 1 ) comprising:

the needle magazine ( 30 ) of claim 6 ;

a medication delivery pen ( 2 ); and

an adapter ( 60 ) configured to engage the medication delivery pen ( 2 ) at a proximal end and configured to engage the needle post ( 70 ) at a distal end.

14 . The pen assembly ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein the adapter ( 60 ) includes a snap ring member ( 64 ) that is configured to engage a snap ring groove ( 72 ) of the needle post ( 70 ).

15 . The pen assembly ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein the adapter ( 60 ) includes a protrusion that is configured to pierce a septum ( 6 ) of the medication delivery pen ( 2 ) to establish fluid communication.

16 . The pen assembly ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein a distal end of the adapter ( 60 ) includes a septum ( 62 ) that is configured to be pierced by the needle ( 74 ) in the needle post ( 70 ).

17 . The pen assembly ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein the adapter ( 60 ) pushes the needle post ( 74 ) from the first position to the second position causing the adapter ( 60 ) to pierce the first seal ( 46 ) and the needle ( 74 ) to pierce and extend through the second seal ( 48 ).

18 . The pen assembly ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein in the second position of the needle post ( 74 ),

the medication delivery pen ( 2 ) is connected to the adapter ( 60 ) and the adapter ( 60 ) is engaged to the needle post ( 70 );

a distal end of the needle ( 74 ) is in fluid communication with the medication delivery pen ( 2 ) and is ready for medication delivery; and

a bottom surface ( 36 ) is configured to contact a skin surface to provide a mounting surface for injection.

19 . The pen assembly ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein the adapter ( 60 ) pulls the needle post ( 70 ) upwardly from the second position to the third position to retract the needle ( 74 ) for disposal.

20 . The pen assembly ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein in the third position of the needle post ( 70 ),

the needle ( 74 ) is not in fluid communication with the medication delivery pen ( 2 ); and

the needle post ( 70 ) includes a locking member ( 76 ) that engages a protrusion ( 40 ) in the cavity ( 38 ) to lock the needle post ( 70 ) in the third position.

21 . A pen assembly ( 1 ) comprising:

a medication delivery pen ( 2 );

an adapter ( 60 ) configured to be engaged to the medication delivery pen ( 2 ); and

a needle magazine ( 30 ) having a plurality of cavities ( 38 ) that each carry a needle ( 74 ) fixed to a needle post ( 70 ); wherein

when the adapter ( 60 ) is attached to the medication delivery pen ( 2 ) and disposed in one of the plurality of cavities ( 38 ), fluid communication is established with the needle ( 74 ) in the needle post ( 70 ) and the medication delivery pen ( 2 ); and

the needle post ( 70 ) is moved from a first position to a second position in the cavity ( 38 ) so that the needle ( 74 ) extends beyond a bottom surface ( 36 ) to provide medication delivery.

22 . A method of using a plurality of needles ( 74 ) stored in a needle magazine ( 30 ), the method comprising:

connecting an adapter ( 60 ) to a medication delivery pen ( 2 );

engaging the adapter ( 60 ) to a needle post ( 70 ) carrying the needle ( 74 ) to establish fluid communication between the medication delivery pen ( 2 ) and the needle ( 74 );

moving the needle post ( 70 ) downward from a first position to a second position;

administering medication via the needle ( 74 );

moving the needle post ( 70 ) upward from the second position to a third position; and

sending the needle magazine ( 30 ) to a manufacturer or a waste management entity after use of all of the plurality of needles ( 74 ) in the needle magazine ( 30 ).

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising piercing a first seal ( 46 ) of one of the cavities ( 38 ) of the needle magazine ( 30 ) prior to the step of engaging the adapter ( 60 ) to the needle post ( 70 ).

24 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising piercing a second seal ( 48 ) of one of the cavities ( 38 ) of the magazine ( 30 ) prior to the step of administering medication.

25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising disposing a bottom surface ( 36 ) of the needle magazine ( 30 ) on an insertion site prior to the step of administering medication.

26 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising placing a cap ( 50 ) on a bottom surface ( 36 ) prior to the step of sending the needle magazine to a manufacturer.