Systems and methods for detecting faults and/or adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes

A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:

• applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a patient via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, wherein the therapeutic electrical signal has a frequency in the range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz;
• automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, the impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device;
• detecting a change in impedance in the electrical circuit that indicates a fault;
• automatically correcting the fault before the patient senses a change in therapy resulting from the fault;
• and
• automatically providing a notification of the fault.

A patient therapy system, comprising:

• a patient-implantable portion that includes a signal generator and a signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted;
• an impedance detector carried by the implantable portion, the impedance detector being operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit;
• and
• a processor carried by the patient-implantable portion, the processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed:
• automatically monitor, on a pre-set periodic basis, the impedance of the electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device;
• and
• receives an indication from the impedance detector corresponding to a fault.