Hold assistance device for use with a medicament delivery device

A medicament delivery system comprising a hold assistance device and a medicament delivery device,

• wherein the hold assistance device comprises:
• a housing configured to be fixedly coupled to a medicament delivery device, the housing comprising proximal end and a distal end defining an axial direction, and an inclined surface angled relative to the axial direction;
• a blocking element moveable along the inclined surface;
• and
• an actuation element moveable relative to the housing and arrangeable in an activated position in which the actuation element applies an activation force to the blocking element in a direction towards the distal end, such that movement of the actuation element into the activated position causes the blocking element to move against the inclined surface towards the distal end and to exert a clamping force generally normal to the axial direction,
• wherein the medicament delivery device comprises:
• a main body configured to receive a medicament cartridge and comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• a needle for delivery of medicament from the medicament cartridge;
• a needle cover axially movable relative to the main body between:
• an extended position in which the needle cover extends from the distal end of the main body and covers a distal end of the needle which protrudes from the main body, and a retracted position in which the needle cover is arranged in a proximal position relative to the extended position such that the distal end of the needle protrudes from a distal end of the needle cover;
• and
• a needle cover biasing member configured to bias the needle cover axially in the distal direction towards the extended position,
• wherein the housing of the hold assistance device is configured to be coupled to the main body, and when the housing is coupled to the main body, the clamping force is configured to act on the needle cover to resist movement of the needle cover axially in the distal direction towards the extended position.

A method of operating a medicament delivery system that comprises a hold assistance device and a medicament delivery device,

• wherein the hold assistance device comprises:
• a housing configured to be fixedly coupled to a medicament delivery device, the housing comprising proximal end and a distal end defining an axial direction, and an inclined surface angled relative to the axial direction;
• a blocking element moveable along the inclined surface;
• and
• an actuation element moveable relative to the housing and arrangeable in an activated position in which the actuation element applies an activation force to the blocking element in a direction towards the distal end, such that movement of the actuation element into the activated position causes the blocking element to move against the inclined surface towards the distal end and to exert a clamping force generally normal to the axial direction,
• wherein the medicament delivery device comprises:
• a main body configured to receive a medicament cartridge and comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• a needle for delivery of medicament from the medicament cartridge;
• a needle cover axially movable relative to the main body between:
• an extended position in which the needle cover extends from the distal end of the main body and covers a distal end of the needle which protrudes from the main body, and a retracted position in which the needle cover is arranged in a proximal position relative to the extended position such that the distal end of the needle protrudes from a distal end of the needle cover;
• and
• a needle cover biasing member configured to bias the needle cover axially in a distal direction towards the extended position,
• wherein the housing of the hold assistance device is configured to be coupled to the main body, and when the housing is coupled to the main body, the clamping force is configured to act on the needle cover to resist movement of the needle cover axially in the distal direction towards the extended position,
• wherein the method comprises:
• coupling the housing to the main body;
• moving the needle cover from the extended position to the retracted position;
• moving the actuation element into the activated position such that the blocking element exerts the clamping force on the needle cover;
• and
• releasing the clamping force acting on the needle cover by moving the actuation element from the activated position into a release position in which the actuation element applies a release force to the blocking element in a direction towards the proximal end, such that movement of the actuation element from the activated position into the release position permits the blocking element to move along the inclined surface towards the proximal end, wherein when the actuation element is in the release position, a movement of the actuation element towards the proximal end causes the blocking element to move along the inclined surface towards the proximal end, thus reducing a magnitude of the clamping force.