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 body comprising:
• a receiving volume for receiving the medicament delivery device;
• a proximal portion comprising a proximal end of the body;
• a distal portion comprising a distal end of the body, the proximal end and the distal end defining an axial direction;
• and
• a connecting portion arranged between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the connecting portion is configured to flex into the receiving volume in a direction generally normal to the axial direction, causing the proximal portion to move axially relative to the distal portion,
• 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 distal portion of the body of the hold assistance device is configured to be coupled to the main body of the medicament delivery device, and the proximal portion of the body of the hold assistance device is configured to be movable relative to the main body of the medicament delivery device along the axial direction, and
• wherein when the hold assistance device is coupled to the medicament delivery device and the connecting portion is in a flexed state, the connecting portion is arranged to resist axial movement of the needle cover.

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 body comprising:
• a receiving volume for receiving the medicament delivery device;
• a proximal portion comprising a proximal end of the body;
• a distal portion comprising a distal end of the body, the proximal end and the distal end defining an axial direction;
• and
• a connecting portion arranged between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the connecting portion is configured to flex into the receiving volume in a direction generally normal to the axial direction, causing the proximal portion to move axially relative to the distal portion,
• 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 distal portion of the body of the hold assistance device is configured to be coupled to the main body of the medicament delivery device, and the proximal portion of the body of the hold assistance device is configured to be movable relative to the main body of the medicament delivery device along the axial direction, and
• wherein when the hold assistance device is coupled to the medicament delivery device and the connecting portion is in a flexed state, the connecting portion is arranged to resist axial movement of the needle cover, and
• wherein the method comprises:
• coupling the distal portion of the body of the hold assistance device to the main body of the medicament delivery device;
• moving the needle cover from the extended position to the retracted position;
• moving the body of the hold assistance device from a first position in which the connecting portion is in an unflexed state into a second position in which the connecting portion is in a flexed state and is arranged to protrude into the receiving volume, such that the connecting portion is arranged to resist an axial movement of the needle cover from the retracted position to the extended position;
• and
• moving the body of the hold assistance device from the second position to the first position to cause the connecting portion to unflex such that it no longer protrudes into the receiving volume and the needle cover is free to move axially in the distal direction towards the extended position under a biasing force of the needle cover biasing member.