A catheter apparatus, comprising: an elongated tubular shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a therapeutic assembly at the distal portion of the elongated shaft being transformable between a low-profile state and an expanded state and configured to be located at a target location within a renal artery of a human patient, the therapeutic assembly comprising- a control member having a lumen therethrough and having a pre-formed helical shape; a direct heating element carried by the control member; and an occlusion element surrounding the control member and the direct heating element; wherein, when in the expanded state, the therapeutic assembly is configured such that (a) the direct heating element contacts an interior wall of the occlusion element and (b) an outer wall of the occlusion element contacts an inner wall of the renal artery at the target location for providing conduction of thermal energy from the direct heating element to the wall of the renal artery, wherein the direct heating element is disposed about the control member and wherein the direct heat element comprises a heating wire wrapped around the control member, and wherein the wire is wrapped in successive loops with a pitch selected to provide separation between the successive loops. an elongated tubular shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a therapeutic assembly at the distal portion of the elongated shaft being transformable between a low-profile state and an expanded state and configured to be located at a target location within a renal artery of a human patient, the therapeutic assembly comprising- a control member having a lumen therethrough and having a pre-formed helical shape; a direct heating element carried by the control member; and an occlusion element surrounding the control member and the direct heating element; wherein, when in the expanded state, the therapeutic assembly is configured such that (a) the direct heating element contacts an interior wall of the occlusion element and (b) an outer wall of the occlusion element contacts an inner wall of the renal artery at the target location for providing conduction of thermal energy from the direct heating element to the wall of the renal artery, wherein the direct heating element is disposed about the control member and wherein the direct heat element comprises a heating wire wrapped around the control member, and wherein the wire is wrapped in successive loops with a pitch selected to provide separation between the successive loops. a control member having a lumen therethrough and having a pre-formed helical shape; a direct heating element carried by the control member; and an occlusion element surrounding the control member and the direct heating element; wherein, when in the expanded state, the therapeutic assembly is configured such that (a) the direct heating element contacts an interior wall of the occlusion element and (b) an outer wall of the occlusion element contacts an inner wall of the renal artery at the target location for providing conduction of thermal energy from the direct heating element to the wall of the renal artery, wherein the direct heating element is disposed about the control member and wherein the direct heat element comprises a heating wire wrapped around the control member, and wherein the wire is wrapped in successive loops with a pitch selected to provide separation between the successive loops.