Methods and systems for employing a duty cycle in electrical stimulation of patient tissue

A method of delivering electrical stimulation energy using an implantable electrical stimulation system, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of stimulation parameters comprising a selection of one or more electrodes, a stimulation amplitude, and a stimulation frequency, wherein the stimulation parameters define, at least in part, an electrical stimulation energy deliverable as a series of electrical pulses at the stimulation frequency;
• receiving a duty cycle parameter, wherein the duty cycle parameter indicates a relative number of the electrical pulses to be suppressed;
• and
• delivering the electrical stimulation energy to patient tissue through the one or more electrodes, wherein a percentage of the electrical pulses are suppressed according to the duty cycle parameter.

An electrical stimulation system, comprising:

• an electrical stimulation lead comprising a plurality of electrodes;
• a control module coupleable to the electrical stimulation lead;
• and
• a processor in communication with the control module, the processor for executing processor-readable instructions that enable actions, comprising:
• receiving a plurality of stimulation parameters comprising a selection of one or more of the plurality of electrodes of the stimulation lead, a stimulation amplitude, and a stimulation frequency, wherein the stimulation parameters define, at least in part, an electrical stimulation energy deliverable as a series of electrical pulses at the stimulation frequency;
• receiving a duty cycle parameter, wherein the duty cycle parameter indicates a relative number of the electrical pulses to be suppressed;
• and
• delivering the electrical stimulation energy to patient tissue through the plurality of electrodes of the stimulation lead, wherein a percentage of the electrical pulses are suppressed according to the duty cycle parameter.