DEVICES FOR INSERTING TRANSCUTANEOUS CANNULAS FOR PATCH PUMPS

Devices, systems, and methods are provided herein for assisting with transcutaneously implanting a cannula used for delivering medication (e.g., insulin). The implanted cannula may be used with a patch pump adhered to a wearer's body. An enhanced applicator needle is provided to cause the cannula transition from a straight configuration to a curved configuration during deployment within the skin. The applicator needle has a structural modification to cause the needle, and thereby cause the cannula having the needle positioned therein, to curve within the skin, for example, a special cut pattern at the needle tip and/or a bend at the distal region of the needle. Once transcutaneously implanted in the curved manner, the needle is fully withdrawn from the cannula so that a patch pump can be fluidly coupled to the curved cannula for transcutaneously delivering medication to a target infusion area beneath the wearer's outer skin layer.