Methods and apparatus for renal neuromodulation

A method for renal neuromodulation, comprising:

• percutaneously advancing an electrode via the vasculature of a patient until the electrode is located proximate to a sympathetic neural path associated with renal function;
• and
• delivering an energy field via the electrode that modulates neural activity along the sympathetic path in a manner that affects a measurable physiological parameter associated with at least one of heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, renal disease, or chronic renal failure.

A method for renal neuromodulation, the method comprising:

• percutaneously advancing an energy element within a renal vasculature of a patient;
• and
• delivering an energy field via the energy element that modulates a renal nerve of the patient in a manner that affects a measurable physiological parameter associated with at least one of heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, renal disease, or chronic renal failure.