A method for treating a patient diagnosed with a cardio-renal disease or disorder, the method comprising selecting a span of a renal artery having a first internal diameter, an artery wall； selecting a self-expanding stent having a cylindrical outer surface, the stent being configured to have a first external diameter in an unexpanded condition and being capable of expanding to have a second external diameter； implanting the stent in the span of the renal artery, and applying pressure to the at least one renal nerve with the stent, thereby at least partially modulating a function of the at least one renal nerve； then, reducing an elastic modulus of the stent when the stent has the second external diameter.
