Variable amplitude signals for neurological therapy, and associated systems and methods

A method for deploying a patient therapy system, comprising:

• implanting in a patient at least one signal delivery device at an epidural location proximate to the patient's spinal cord, the signal delivery device having a plurality of signal delivery contacts;
• connecting an external signal generator to the at least one signal delivery device;
• activating delivery of a first electrical therapy signal to the patient at a frequency in a frequency range between 1.5 kHz and 100 kHz, including repeatedly stepping through a first set of therapy signal amplitudes in an amplitude range between 0.5 mA and 3.5 mA, with the first electrical therapy signal delivered only once at each amplitude during a period of two minutes, and without the first electrical therapy signal generating paresthesia in the patient;
• and
• if the patient responds favorably to receiving the delivered electrical therapy signal
• implanting a signal generator in the patient, and
• after implanting the signal generator, delivering a second electrical therapy signal to the patient at multiple amplitudes of a second set of therapy signal amplitudes.

A method for treating a patient, comprising:

• activating delivery of a first electrical therapy signal to the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a frequency range between 1.5 kHz and 100 kHz via at least one signal delivery contact carried by an implanted signal delivery device, including repeatedly delivering the first electrical therapy signal at the first set of therapy signal amplitudes to the at least one signal delivery contact, without the therapy signal generating paresthesia in the patient;
• and
• if the patient responds favorably to receiving the delivered electrical therapy signal,
• implanting a signal generator in the patient, and
• after implanting the signal generator, delivering a second electrical therapy signal to the patient at multiple amplitudes of a second set of therapy signal amplitudes.

A patient therapy system, comprising:

• a signal generator coupleable to at least one implantable signal delivery device having at least one signal delivery contact, the signal generator being programmed with instructions that, when executed:
• direct a non-paresthesia-generating first electrical therapy signal to the patient via the at least one signal delivery contact at a frequency in a frequency range between 1.5 kHz and 100 kHz, including repeatedly and automatically delivering the first electrical therapy signal at a first set of therapy signal amplitudes to the same at least one signal delivery contact;
• and
• if the patient responds favorably to receiving the automatically delivered electrical therapy signal,
• implanting an implantable signal generator in the patient, and
• after implanting the signal generator, delivering a second electrical therapy signal to the patient at multiple amplitudes of a second set of therapy signal amplitudes.