Patent Publication Number: US-2022226562-A1

Title: Pen needle magazine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Various exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to pen needle storage and disposal for medication delivery pens. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Medication pens are typically used to inject medication into a patient. A person who must periodically self-inject doses of medication will typically carry a medication pen, several single-use pen needles, and several cleaning swabs. A medication pen is designed for safety and sterility. However, inefficiencies and inconveniences can arise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a pen needle magazine that stores a plurality of needles configured to engage a medication pen for medication delivery. Such a magazine provides advantages in easy organization, allows for needle disposal after use and storage before use in the same magazine and improves usage with an optimized workflow to reduce setup time and space. Needle disposal after use and storage before use allows for synchronized pen needle attachment and removal, as well as pen needle detachment and disposal. Finally, the controlled movement of the pen needle attachment and removal from the magazine reduces user needle sticking and reduces accidental bending of a needle in the pen needle. 
     The pen needle magazine also reduces the likelihood of pen needle reuse in several ways. First, the pen needle magazine has a seal tab that acts as a visual indicator to indicate to a user whether the pen needle is used or new. Second, a first position of the unused pen needle is disposed near the top surface of the pen needle magazine. After the pen needle is used and subsequently discarded into the pen needle magazine, the pen needle is disposed in a second position deeper into a compartment of the pen needle magazine. This second position prevents a non-patient end of the pen needle from exposure and access after disposal, which reduces the opportunity of a needle stick. Finally, in the second position, the pen needle is locked into the compartment of the pen needle magazine to provide positive feedback of needle disposal. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a pen needle magazine comprising a plurality of compartments each carrying a pen needle, a seal disposed on a top surface of each of the plurality of compartments to enclose each of the pen needles in a corresponding compartment, and a plurality of compartment doors that each cover the corresponding compartment, wherein each seal is disposed between the top surface of one of the plurality of compartments and a corresponding compartment door. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can further be achieved by providing a pen needle magazine comprising a plurality of compartments each carrying a pen needle, and a pen needle orientate (pen needle carrier) disposed in each of the plurality of compartments, the pen needle disposed in the pen needle orientate, wherein the pen needle orientate includes a first pen needle path and a second pen needle path, the first pen needle path aids in removing the pen needle, and the second pen needle path aids in discarding a used pen needle. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can also be achieved by providing a method of using a plurality of pen needles stored in a housing, the method comprising connecting a unused pen needle to a medication delivery pen for medication delivery; removing the unused pen needle from a first position in a cavity of the housing; administering medication via the pen needle connected to the medication delivery pen; disposing of the used pen needle, after medication delivery, in a second position in the cavity of the housing; and sending the housing to a manufacturer or a waste management entity after use of all of the plurality of pen needles in the housing. 
     Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description that follows, or will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above aspects and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the description for the exemplary embodiments of the present invention taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary pen needle magazine; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a seal configured to be connected to the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a pen needle configured to be disposed in the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a pen needle orientate configured to be disposed in the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an inner shield configured to cover a needle of the pen needle of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a compartment of the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a pen needle orientate disposed in the compartment of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of the compartment in the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1  in a closed position; 
         FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of the compartment of  FIG. 8  in an open position and the pen needle in a first position; 
         FIG. 10  shows an alternate cross-sectional view of the compartment of  FIG. 8  in an open position and the pen needle in a first position; 
         FIG. 11  shows a medication delivery pen preparing to engage the compartment of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows the medication delivery pen engaged to the pen needle in the compartment of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  shows removal of the medication delivery pen, pen needle and an inner shield from the compartment of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  shows removal of the inner shield from the pen needle attached to the medication delivery pen of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional view of the compartment in the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1  with the used pen needle returned to the first position; 
         FIG. 16  shows an alternate cross-sectional view of the compartment in the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1  with the used pen needle returned to the first position; 
         FIG. 17  shows a cross-sectional view of the compartment in the pen needle magazine of  FIG. 1  with the pen needle in a second position; 
         FIG. 18  shows the used pen needle engaged to the medication delivery pen preparing to be disposed in the compartment of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 19  shows the pen needle engaged to the pen needle orientate in the compartment of  FIG. 18  in the first position; 
         FIG. 20  shows the pen needle engaged to the pen needle orientate in the compartment of  FIG. 19  moving toward the second position; and 
         FIG. 21  shows the pen needle engaged to the pen needle orientate in the compartment of  FIG. 20  in the second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     According to one embodiment,  FIG. 1  illustrates a pen needle magazine  10  configured to carry a plurality of pen needles  40 . The pen needle magazine  10  includes a magazine housing  12 , a plurality of compartments  14  and a plurality of compartment doors  20 . The magazine housing  12  is a substantially rectangular shaped linear array of adjacent compartments  14 . Each of the plurality of compartments  14  is substantially square shaped and includes a cavity to carry a pen needle  40 . Each of the plurality of compartment doors  20  is hinged on one side of the magazine housing  12  and is configured to open and close to cover and provide access to a corresponding compartment  14  of the plurality of compartments  14 . Such a configuration advantageously provides an easy organization of pen needles  40 . 
     The plurality of compartments  14  further includes a compartment-retaining element  16  and a bottom-stepped surface  18  as more clearly shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , for example. The compartment-retaining element  16  includes a chamfered flange that advantageously allows for downward movement of a pen needle orientate  60 , also known as a pen needle carrier  60 . Specifically, a top surface of the compartment-retaining element  16  is chamfered to allow for smooth movement of the pen needle orientate  60  in the compartment  14 . 
     A bottom surface of the compartment-retaining element  16  is a flat surface. Accordingly, the pen needle orientate  60  is not able to move upward beyond the flat bottom surface of the compartment-retaining element  16 . As a result, the pen needle orientate  60  is locked within the compartment  14 . The pen needle orientate  60  can advantageously be inserted in the compartment  14  but cannot be removed. Further details of the interaction between the compartment  14  and pen needle orientate  60  are described below. 
     Before the pen needles  40  are accessed from the plurality of compartments  14 , each of the plurality of compartments  14  is enclosed by a seal  30 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a plurality of seals  30  each enclosing one of the plurality of compartments  14 . Although seals  30  are shown on only some of the compartments  14 , all of the compartments  14  would typically have seals  30  prior to use.  FIG. 2  illustrates the seal  30  in more detail. 
     Specifically, the seal  30  includes a sealing portion  32  and a tab portion  34 . The sealing portion  32  is disposed directly above a top surface of the respective compartment  14  to enclose the pen needle  40  in the compartment  14 . When the compartment door  20  is secured to the magazine housing  12 , the compartment door  20  covers the sealing portion  32  to advantageously prevent accidental puncturing. Thus, the sealing portion  32  is sandwiched between the top surface of the compartment  14  and the compartment door  20  in the closed position of the compartment  14 . 
     On the other hand, the tab portion  34  is adjacent to the corresponding compartment  14 . The tab portion  34  is not disposed between the compartment door  20  and the compartment  14 . Thus, the user is able to access and use the tab portion  34  to open the compartment door  20 . Specifically, the user holds the tab portion  34  and pulls upward to open the compartment door  20  and remove the sealing portion  32  from the top surface of the compartment  14 . The tab portion  34  also acts as a visual indicator for the user outside of the closed compartment door  20  to indicate that the pen needle  40  is enclosed in the compartment  14  by the seal  30 . Accordingly, such a configuration advantageously indicates that the pen needle  40  is unused and ready for use. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the pen needle  40 . The pen needle  40  includes a hub  42 , an inner thread  44 , a follower guide element  46 , a pen needle snap lock  48  and a needle  50 . The hub  42  is the housing or base of the pen needle  40 . The inner thread  44  is configured to attach to an outer thread  4  of a medication delivery pen  2  (see  FIG. 11 ). Upon full engagement of the inner thread  44  to the outer thread  4 , a non-patient end of the needle  50  pierces a septum  6  of the medication delivery pen  2  to establish fluid communication. 
     The follower guide element  46  is a substantially dome-shaped protrusion disposed on an external circumferential surface of the pen needle  40  and at a distal end of the pen needle  40 . As described below, the follower guide element  46  advantageously guides the pen needle  40  into engagement and disengagement with the pen needle orientate  60  (see  FIG. 4 ). Preferably, two follower guide elements  46  are substantially positioned 180° apart from each other on the circumferential, distal surface of the pen needle  40 . 
     The pen needle  40  further includes a pen needle snap lock  48 . The pen needle snap lock  48  is also disposed on an external circumferential surface of the pen needle  40  and at a distal end of the pen needle  40 . The pen needle snap lock  48  is a cantilevered tab (see  FIG. 16 ) that flexes inwardly (disengaged) and expands outwardly (engage) in a resting position to engage and disengage the pen needle orientate  60 . The pen needle snap lock  48  is angularly positioned with respect to the follower guide element  46 . As further described below, this angular arrangement allows the pen needle  40  to lock to the pen needle orientate  60  after use of the pen needle  40 . 
     Finally, the pen needle  40  includes the needle  50  as conventionally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. During use, the needle  50 , specifically a patient end of the needle  50 , provides fluid communication between the medication delivery pen  2  and the patient. In addition, when the pen needle  40  is attached to the outer thread  4  of the medication delivery pen  2 , a proximal end of the needle  50  pierces the septum  6  of the medication delivery pen  2  to establish fluid communication. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the pen needle orientate  60 . The pen needle orientate  60  is a pen needle carrier that aids in orienting and supporting the pen needle  40  for removal out of the compartment  14  and placement into the compartment  14  of the magazine housing  12 . The pen needle orientate  60  is a movable hollow member having an opening extending through a proximal and distal end. The pen needle orientate  60  includes a first pen needle path  62 , a second pen needle path  64 , a path obstruction  66 , a pen needle path curvature  68 , a pen needle orientate retaining element  70  and a pen needle orientate snap lock  72 . Each of these features is described below. 
     The first pen needle path  62  is a slot disposed through an outer circumferential surface of the pen needle orientate  60  and into the opening. That is, the first pen needle path  62  also extends through the outer surface of the pen needle orientate  60 . The slot of the first needle path  62  is angled upward at an angle between approximately 15°-30°, for example, with respect to the rotational axis. The pen needle orientate  60  preferably includes two first pen needle paths  62  positioned at substantially 180° apart from each other with respect to the rotational axis of the pen needle orientate  60 . 
     The first pen needle path  62  is exclusively used to guide a new, unused pen needle  40 . Specifically, when the unused pen needle  40  is disposed in the pen needle orientate  60 , the follower guide element  46  of the pen needle  40  is positioned within the first pen needle path  62 . As the user removes the pen needle  40 , the follower guide element  46  slides up the first pen needle path  62  and the pen needle orientate  60  rotates in a controlled manner to disengage the pen needle  40  from the pen needle orientate  60 . This controlled guiding advantageously prevents accidental bending of the needle  50  in the pen needle  40 . The operational relationship between the pen needle  40  and the pen needle orientate  60  is further described below. 
     The second pen needle path  64  is a substantially vertical slot adjacent to the first pen needle path  62  and parallel to the rotational axis. Similar to the first pen needle path  62 , the second pen needle path  64  extends through the outer surface of the pen needle orientate  60 . The pen needle orientate  60  also preferably includes two second pen needle paths  64  positioned substantially 180° apart with respect to the rotational axis of the pen needle orientate  60 . 
     The pen needle path curvature  68 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , is a downwardly curved surface on a proximal end of the pen needle orientate  60 . Specifically, each of a proximal end of the second pen needle paths  64  is disposed at the end of the pen needle path curvature  68 . Accordingly, the second pen needle path  64  in cooperation with the pen needle path curvature  68  is exclusively used to guide a used pen needle  40  into the pen needle orientate  60 . When the used pen needle  40  begins to engage the pen needle orientate  60 , the follower guide element  46  travels on the pen needle path curvature  68 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the pen needle path curvature  68  guides the follower guide element  46  into the second pen needle path  64 . Subsequently, the follower guide element  46  travels downward to the distal end of the second pen needle path  64 . This controlled guiding advantageously prevents accidental bending of the needle  50  in the pen needle  40 . 
     The pen needle orientate  60  also includes a path obstruction  66 . The path obstruction  66  includes a thin, curved inner and outer surface on one side of the slot of the first pen needle path  62  for flexibility and guiding purposes. The path obstruction  66  is disposed at a proximal end of the first pen needle path  62  and advantageously acts as a one-way valve. Specifically, as the pen needle  40  is moved upward in the pen needle orientate  60 , the thin, curved inner surface of the path obstruction  66  guides the follower guide element  46  of the new pen needle  40  to exit the first pen needle path  62 . When the follower guide element  46  contacts the path obstruction  66  to exit the first pen needle path  62 , the path obstruction  66  selectively opens by elastically deflecting outward (valve opens) so that the first pen needle path  62  is unobstructed. The follower guide element  46  can then exit the first pen needle path  62 . 
     On the other hand, when the used pen needle  40  engages the pen needle orientate  60 , the curved outer surface of the path obstruction  66  directs the follower guide element  46  toward the second pen needle path  64 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The path obstruction  66  does not deflect outwardly (valve closed). Thus, the follower guide element  46  of the used pen needle  40  can only engage the second pen needle path  64  and not the first pen needle path  62  to return the pen needle  40  inside of the pen needle orientate  60 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the pen needle orientate  60  also includes a pen needle orientate retaining element  70 . The pen needle orientate retaining element  70  is a protruded surface with a groove centrally disposed on the protruded surface and in a circumferential direction. The pen needle orientate retaining element  70  extends circumferentially along an outer surface of the pen needle orientate  60  and does not interfere with the first and second pen needle paths  62 ,  64 . The pen needle orientate retaining element  70  interacts with the compartment-retaining element  16  to engage and disengage as described above. Specifically, this interaction allows the pen needle orientate  60  to move from a first position (top position) to a second position (bottom position) and an audible sound or tactile feedback is provided to indicate such movement. This interaction also allows the pen needle orientate  60  to rotate in the first position of the compartment  14 . Further operation of this interaction is described below. 
     Finally, the pen needle orientate  60  includes a pen needle orientate snap lock  72  that locks the pen needle  40  to the pen needle orientate  60 . The pen needle orientate snap lock  72  is an opening disposed on a distal end of the pen needle orientate  60  that is configured to engage the pen needle snap lock  48 . The second pen needle path  64  is angularly positioned with respect to the pen needle orientate snap lock  72 . In this manner, the pen needle  40  is advantageously locked to the pen needle orientate  60  only when the follower guide element  46  travels to the distal end of the second pen needle path  64 . When the pen needle  40  is disposed in the distal end of the second pen needle path  64 , the pen needle snap lock  48  expands to engage and lock to the pen needle orientate snap lock  72 . 
     The pen needle orientate snap lock  72  does not engage the pen needle snap lock  48  when the follower guide element  46  is in the first pen needle path  62 . Instead, the pen needle snap lock  48  is flexed inwardly in the opening of the pen needle orientate  60  and misaligned from the pen needle orientate snap lock  72 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an inner shield  80 . The inner shield  80  includes an open proximal end, a closed distal end and a cavity therebetween. The inner shield  80  is used to cover the needle  50  of the pen needle  40  prior to use to prevent the needle  50  from bending and to avoid accidental needle sticking. The inner shield  80  also ensures that the pen needle orientate  60  stays in the first position and does not enter into and lock in the second position. 
     After the pen needle  40  is removed from the compartment  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the inner shield  80  is removed and discarded. When the pen needle  40  is returned to the compartment  14  after use, the inner shield  80  is no longer used. Instead, the pen needle orientate  60  is now able to move to the second position and contact the bottom-stepped surface  18  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 21 , for example. 
     Detailed operation of the pen needle magazine  10  is described as follows.  FIG. 8  illustrates one of the plurality of compartments  14  in a closed position. In this position, the compartment  14  is enclosed by the seal  30  and the compartment door  20  is advantageously disposed over the seal  30  to further cover the compartment  14  and protect the seal  30  from inadvertent puncture. 
     The pen needle orientate  60  is locked in the compartment  14  at the first position for the user to access the pen needle  40  disposed in the pen needle orientate  60 . Specifically,  FIGS. 8-10  show that the first position is characterized by the pen needle orientate retaining element  70  engaging the compartment-retaining element  16 . The inner shield  80  covers the needle  50  to protect the distal tip. The use of the inner shield  80  also prevents the pen needle orientate  60  from traveling further downward into the compartment  14 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an open position of the compartment door  20  where the tab portion  34  of the seal  30  is pulled by the user to remove the sealing portion  32  from the top surface of the compartment  14 . At the same time, the compartment door  20  is also opened. The pen needle orientate  60  is disposed in the first position where the pen needle  40  is ready for removal and use. The follower guide element  46  is disposed at a distal end of the first pen needle path  62  of the pen needle orientate  60  which also indicates that the pen needle  40  is ready for removal and use. The first position is visible to the user and advantageously acts as a visual indicator that the pen needle  40  is ready for operation. 
       FIG. 10  shows an alternate view of the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Specifically,  FIG. 10  shows that the pen needle snap lock  48  is flexed inwardly on an inner diameter of the opening of the pen needle orientate  60 . In other words, the pen needle  40  is not locked to the pen needle orientate  60  and is ready for removal and use. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the medication delivery pen  2  prior to engaging the pen needle  40 . The pen needle  40  is in the first position as described above with respect to  FIGS. 8-10 . Specifically, the compartment-retaining element  16  of the compartment  14  is engaged to the pen needle orientate retaining element  70  of the pen needle orientate  60 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the medication delivery pen  2  engaged to the pen needle  40 . Specifically, the external thread  4  on the medication delivery pen  2  threads into and engages the inner thread  44  of the pen needle  40 . When the medication delivery pen  2  fully engages the pen needle  40 , the proximal end of the needle  50  (non-patient end) pierces the septum  6  and provides fluid communication between the distal end (patient end) of the pen needle  40  and the medication delivery pen  2 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the user moving the medication delivery pen  2  upward to remove the attached pen needle  40 . As the pen needle  40  is removed from the compartment  14 , the follower guide element  46  of the pen needle  40  travels upward and is guided within the first pen needle path  62  of the pen needle orientate  60 . The pen needle orientate  60  simultaneously rotates in a clockwise direction in the first position to provide easy and smooth removal of the pen needle  40 . 
     As the follower guide element  46  travels upward and contacts the path obstruction  66  of the pen needle orientate  60 , the follower guide element  46  causes the path obstruction  66  to elastically deflect outward. This advantageously allows the follower guide element  46  to exit the first pen needle path  62 . The inner shield  80  is also removed from the compartment  14  and covers the distal end of the needle  50  (patient end) in the pen needle  40 .  FIG. 14  illustrates the pen needle  40  attached to the medication delivery pen  2  with the inner shield  80  removed. The medication delivery pen  2  is now ready for injection and administration of medicament. 
       FIG. 15  shows the pen needle  40  after use and disposed at the first position of the compartment  14 . However, in this first position, the follower guide element  46  of the pen needle  40  is disposed in the second pen needle path  64  of the pen needle orientate  60 . Specifically, the pen needle path curvature  68  and/or the curved outer surface of the path obstruction  66  of the pen needle orientate  60  advantageously guides the follower guide element  46  into the second pen needle path  64 . This controlled guiding advantageously prevents accidental bending of the needle  50  in the pen needle  40 . The follower guide element  46  does not enter into the first pen needle path  62  because of the path obstruction  66 . Accordingly, the path obstruction  66  advantageously acts like a one-way valve and can only be opened when the follower guide element  46  exits the first pen needle path  62  as described above. 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate the pen needle orientate retaining element  70  of the pen needle orientate  60  engaged with the compartment-retaining element  16  of the compartment  14 . This engagement keeps the pen needle orientate  60  in the first position. These figures also show the pen needle snap lock  48  of the pen needle  40  engaged to the pen needle orientate snap lock  72  of the pen needle orientate  60  in a locked position. As the pen needle  40  is placed back into the pen needle orientate  60 , the follower guide element  46  travels downward in the second pen needle path  64 . As the pen needle  40  travels downward in this manner, the pen needle snap lock  48  is compressed inwardly. When the follower guide element  46  reaches the distal end of the second pen needle path  64 , the pen needle snap lock  48  expands to its natural shape to engage the pen needle orientate snap lock  72 , as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . In this position, the pen needle  40  is locked axially and rotationally in the pen needle orientate  60 . 
       FIG. 17  shows the pen needle  40  and the pen needle orientate  60  in the second position within the compartment  14 . After the pen needle  40  is locked to the pen needle orientate  60  as described above, the user applies additional force to the medication delivery pen  2  to move the pen needle  40  downward further into the compartment  14 . Specifically, the chamfered top surface of the compartment-retaining element  16  allows for the pen needle orientate retaining element  70  to overcome the engagement in the first position and move downward into the compartment  14  toward the second position. When the pen needle orientate  60  overcomes this engagement, an audible sound or tactile feedback is advantageously provided to indicate such movement. The bottom surface of the compartment-retaining element  16  is a flat surface that prevents the pen needle  40  from moving upwards and exiting the compartment  14 . 
     The pen needle  40  is moved downward to the second position where a distal end of the pen needle orientate  60  contacts the bottom-stepped surface  18  of the compartment  14 . In this manner, the distal end of the needle  50  of the pen needle  40  is unaffected and does not make contact with a bottom surface of the compartment  14 . The second position also advantageously provides reduced access of the pen needle  40  from the top surface of the compartment  14 . This configuration advantageously prevents the non-patient end of the needle  50  of the pen needle  40  from exposure and minimizes needle stick. 
     The inner shield  80  is not returned to the pen needle  40  after use of the pen needle  40 . Instead, the inner shield  80  is discarded prior to using the pen needle  40 . Accordingly, the extra space previously taken up by the inner shield  80  provides the necessary space for the pen needle  40  to travel downward to the second position and be inaccessible to the medication delivery pen  2 . The second position advantageously acts as a visual indicator to the user indicating that the pen needle  40  can no longer be used. This configuration advantageously prevents reuse of the pen needle  40 . 
       FIGS. 18-21  show how the used pen needle  40  is discarded into the pen needle magazine  10 .  FIG. 18  shows the used pen needle  40  engaged to the medication delivery pen  2 . The pen needle orientate  60  is in the first position via engagement of the pen needle orientate retaining element  70  and the compartment-retaining element  16  of the compartment  14  as previously described. In addition, the inner shield  80  has been discarded and no longer used. 
       FIG. 19  shows the pen needle  40  disposed in the pen needle orientate  60 . Specifically, the follower guide element  46  of the pen needle  40  travels downward into the second pen needle path  64  with the assistance of the pen needle path curvature  68  of the pen needle orientate  60 . During this downward movement, the pen needle snap lock  48  is compressed inwardly. When the follower guide element  46  reaches the distal end of the second pen needle path  64 , the pen needle snap lock  48  expands outwardly to engage and lock to the pen needle orientate snap lock  72 . This is because the pen needle orientate snap lock  72  is advantageously positioned at a predefined angle with respect to the second pen needle path  64 . 
     The follower guide element  46  is not able to travel downward into the first pen needle path  64  because of the path obstruction  66 . The path obstruction  66  acts as a one way valve and can only be opened when the follower guide element  46  is in the first pen needle path  62  and the pen needle  40  is removed from the pen needle orientate  60 . 
       FIG. 20  shows the pen needle  40  locked to the pen needle orientate  60  and moving from the first position toward the second position. Specifically, the pen needle orientate retaining element  70  moves past the compartment-retaining element  16  of the compartment  14 . A chamfer in the top surface of the compartment-retaining element  16  allows for the pen needle orientate retaining element  70  to move and overcome the engagement. During this movement, an audible sound or a tactile feedback is provided to indicate such movement. 
     Finally.  FIG. 21  illustrates the medication delivery pen  2  disengaged from the pen needle  40 . Specifically, the thread  4  of the medication delivery pen  2  is unthreaded from the inner thread  44  of the pen needle  40 . In addition, the pen needle  40  is locked to the pen needle orientate  60  and disposed in the second position. Specifically, a bottom surface of the pen needle orientate  60  contacts the bottom-stepped surface  18  of the compartment  14 . The pen needle  40  is now advantageously recessed from the top surface of the compartment  14  and inaccessible by the medication delivery pen  2 . The compartment door  20  can then be closed to enclose the compartment  14 . 
     After all the pen needles  40  are used and returned to the second position in each of the compartments  14  of the pen needle magazine  10 , the user can advantageously send the pen needle magazine  10 , via mail, for example, to a manufacturer or a waste management entity for safe and sterile disposal. Optionally, the manufacturer can advantageously recycle and reuse various components of the pen needle magazine  10 . For example, the manufacturer can sterilize and reuse some or all of the compartments  14  in the pen needle magazine  10 . Specifically, the manufacturer can replace the used pen needle  40  with the unused pen needle  40  in one or more compartments  14  and seal the respective compartment  14  with the seal  30 . The pen needle magazine  10  can then be shipped and ultimately sold for reuse. 
     The storage and use of the pen needles  40 , as well as the disposal of the pen needles  40  in the same pen needle magazine  10  provides many advantages and benefits. There is no need for separate packages for storage and disposal of pen needles  40 . This is because the pen needle magazine  10  advantageously synchronizes needle attachment and removal with needle detachment and disposal. This versatile arrangement provides better usage, optimizes workflow, minimizes setup time and optimizes space. 
     The foregoing detailed description of the certain exemplary embodiments has been provided for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. In addition, any of the embodiments, features and/or elements disclosed herein may be combined with one another to form various additional combinations not specifically disclosed, as long as the embodiments, features and/or elements being combined do not contradict each other. Accordingly, additional embodiments are possible and are intended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope of the invention. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. 
     As used in this application, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and other orientational descriptors are intended to facilitate the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the structure of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention to any particular position or orientation. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.