Neurostimulation system and method for rostro-caudally steering current using longitudinal ideal multipole configurations

A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising:

• a user-controlled input device configured for generating directional control signals;
• and
• control circuitry configured for sequentially defining a plurality of different target configurations relative to the plurality of electrodes in response to the directional control signals, generating a plurality of stimulation parameter sets respectively corresponding to the plurality of different target configurations, each stimulation parameter set defining relative amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the respective target configuration, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the plurality of stimulation parameter sets,
• wherein one sequence of the different target configurations begins with one of a narrow bipole configuration and a wide bipole configuration and ends with the other of the narrow bipole configuration and the wide bipole configuration.

A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising:

• a user-controlled input device configured for generating directional control signals;
• and
• control circuitry configured for sequentially defining a plurality of different target configurations relative to the plurality of electrodes in response to the directional control signals, generating a plurality of stimulation parameter sets respectively corresponding to the plurality of target configurations, each stimulation parameter set defining relative amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the respective target configuration, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the plurality of stimulation parameter sets,
• wherein the control circuitry is configured for sequentially defining the different target configurations in the following order:
• a narrow tripole configuration, a narrow upper bipole configuration, a wide upper bipole configuration, a wide tripole configuration, a wide lower bipole configuration, a narrow lower bipole configuration, and back to the narrow tripole configuration.