Neuromodulation system and method for transitioning between programming modes

1. A neuromodulation system comprising: an external control device for programming an implantable neuromodulator coupled to an electrode array implanted within a patient, wherein the external control device comprises:

a user interface configured for receiving at least one user input;

telemetry circuitry configured for communicating with the neuromodulator; and

controller/processor circuitry configured for responding to the at least one user input by instructing the neuromodulator to deliver super-threshold modulation, including determining a super-threshold modulation parameter set for the super-threshold modulation that is effective in treating pain, determining a sub-threshold modulation parameter set for sub-threshold modulation based on the super-threshold modulation parameter set, and instructing the neuromodulator to deliver the sub-threshold modulation to treat the pain, wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set have different pulse rates,

wherein the determining the sub-threshold modulation parameter set includes computing a pulse amplitude value for the sub-threshold modulation parameter set as a percentage within a range of 30% to 70% of the pulse amplitude value of the super-threshold modulation parameter set.

2. The neuromodulation system of claim 1 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set have different pulse widths.

3. The neuromodulation system of claim 1 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set has a pulse width value greater than 200 μs.

4. The neuromodulation system of claim 1 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set defines an active recharge for the super-threshold modulation.

5. The neuromodulation system of claim 1 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set provide different electrode fractionalizations.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the implantable neuromodulator includes a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) to deliver spinal cord stimulation.

7. A method of providing therapy to a patient using a neuromodulation system that includes an external control device and an implantable neuromodulator, comprising responding to at least one user input through a user interface of the external control device to perform a process, including:

instructing the neuromodulator to deliver modulation energy to the patient including determining a super-threshold modulation parameter set for the super-threshold modulation that is effective in treating pain;

determining a sub-threshold modulation parameter set for sub-threshold modulation based on the super-threshold modulation parameter set; and

instructing the neuromodulator to deliver the sub-threshold modulation to treat the pain, wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set have different pulse rates,

wherein the determining the sub-threshold modulation parameter set includes computing a pulse amplitude value for the sub-threshold modulation parameter set as a percentage within a range of 30% to 70% of the pulse amplitude value of the super-threshold modulation parameter set.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set defines an active recharge.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set provide different electrode fractionalizations.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set have different pulse widths.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set has a pulse width value greater than 200 μs.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the implantable neuromodulator includes a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) to deliver spinal cord stimulation.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a process, comprising responding to at least one user input through a user interface to perform a process, including:

instructing a neuromodulator to deliver modulation energy to the patient including determining a super-threshold modulation parameter set for the super-threshold modulation that is effective in treating pain;

determining a sub-threshold modulation parameter set for sub-threshold modulation based on the super-threshold modulation parameter set, wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set have different pulse rates; and

instructing the neuromodulator to deliver the sub-threshold modulation to treat the pain,

wherein the determining the sub-threshold modulation parameter set includes computing a pulse amplitude value for the sub-threshold modulation parameter set as a percentage within a range of 30% to 70% of the pulse amplitude value of the super-threshold modulation parameter set.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set defines an active recharge.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set provide different electrode fractionalizations.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set and the sub-threshold modulation parameter set have different pulse widths.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the super-threshold modulation parameter set has a pulse width value greater than 200 μs.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the implantable neuromodulator includes a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) to deliver spinal cord stimulation.