| CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00214 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00261 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00285 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00404 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00434 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00511 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 18/082 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1435 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1475 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1861 (2013.01); A61B 18/24 (2013.01); A61N 7/022 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A method, comprising:
intravascularly advancing an elongate shaft of a catheter within renal vasculature of a patient, the catheter comprising a neuromodulation element comprising a plurality of electrodes;
executing a first modulating step using the neuromodulation element, the first modulating step comprising modulating first nerve tissue with a first neuromodulation energy level within an anatomical region extending about a main renal artery directly connected to an aorta of the patient and extending distally toward a kidney of the patient, wherein the first modulating step comprises forming a plurality of lesions within the anatomical region extending about the main renal artery;
executing a second modulating step using the neuromodulation element, the second modulating step comprising modulating second nerve tissue with a second neuromodulation energy level within an anatomical region extending about a branch vessel of the main renal artery, wherein the second nerve tissue excludes nerve fibers that diverge at least partially toward a non-renal destination, the first neuromodulation energy level being higher than the second neuromodulation energy level; and
repositioning the neuromodulation element within the renal vasculature between the first modulating step and the second modulating step such that the first modulating step and the second modulating step are sequentially executed in either order,
wherein the first neuromodulation energy level is delivered for a longer duration than the second neuromodulation energy level.
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