Distributed electrode lead configurations and associated systems and methods

A patient therapy system, comprising:

• an implantable pulse generator programmed to direct a pulsed electrical signal at a pulse width from about 10 microseconds to about 80 microseconds;
• and
• at least one implantable signal delivery device having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being configured to be coupled with the implantable pulse generator, the distal portion having multiple electrical contacts positioned to deliver the pulsed electrical signal to a target neural population of a patient when implanted,
• wherein at least three neighboring electrical contacts of the multiple electrical contacts have equal lengths of less than 3 mm, and are uniformly spaced apart by a distance from about 1 mm to about 8 mm from each other.

A method for selecting a size and spacing of a plurality of electrically connected electrical contacts of an implantable signal delivery device, for applying a pulsed electrical signal to a patient at a frequency from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz, the method comprising:

• selecting a size of at least three neighboring electrical contacts such that the at least three neighboring electrical contacts have equal lengths of less than 3 mm;
• spacing the at least three neighboring electrical contacts by a uniform distance from about 1 mm to about 8 mm;
• and
• electrically connecting the at least three neighboring electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts.