Patent ID: 8140170

Claim:
An apparatus for renal neuromodulation, said apparatus comprising: an expandable support member having a main body portion for engaging a wall of a blood vessel proximate a renal vasculature, said expandable support member including a lumen defined by an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, said lumen extending between oppositely disposed first and second end portions of said expandable support member; at least one electrode connected with said main body portion, said at least one electrode arranged to selectively deliver electric current to a desired location where modulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is effective to alter renal function; and an insulative material attached to at least a portion of said expandable support member, said insulative material extending the entire longitudinal length between said first and second end portions of said expandable support member, said insulative material extending circumferentially about the entirety of said inner circumferential surface of said expandable support member, said insulative material for isolating blood flow through the vessel from the electric current delivered by said at least one electrode.