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An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, including a flexible member rolled into a helix and comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member. The flexible member is selectively changeable between a compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-sect

An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, including a flexible member rolled into a helix and comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member. The flexible member is selectively changeable between a compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a first diameter, and an expanded configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter.

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1. An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, comprising: a flexible member rolled into a helix and having a longitudinal axis, the flexible member comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member, the flexible member selectively changeable betweena compresse

1. An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, comprising: a flexible member rolled into a helix and having a longitudinal axis, the flexible member comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member, the flexible member selectively changeable betweena compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a first diameter; andan expanded configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter;a pitch of the first lateral edge and a pitch of the second lateral edge changing relative to the longitudinal axis as the flexible member changes from the compressed configuration to the expanded configuration. 2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising: at plurality of radial support members attached to the flexible member to maintain the shape of the flexible member, the radial support members positioned at intervals around the inner circumference of the flexible member. 3. The tool of claim 2, further comprising: an elongate member; anda sleeve surrounding the elongate member and axially slideable relative thereto, the radial support members pivotally attached to the sleeve so that the angle of the radial support members relative to the elongate member can change as the flexible member expands and contracts. 4. The tool of claim 3, further comprising: a longitudinal support member attached to the ends of two or more radial support members adjacent an inside surface of the flexible member, the longitudinal support member having a stiffness to support the flexible member from deformation. 5. The tool of claim 2, wherein the flexible member comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, and wherein the upper edge extends between upper terminal ends of the lateral edges and the lower edge extends between lower terminal ends of the lateral edges, the upper edge and the lower edge each having substantially the same length. 6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is planar when in an unrolled configuration and has an outer periphery that defines a parallelogram. 7. The tool of claim 1, wherein when in the compressed configuration the flexible member is insertable within the well, and when in the expanded configuration the flexible member expands radially outward and anchors against the well. 8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral edges face one another, and wherein the first lateral edge of the flexible member has a pair of seal flappers, and the second lateral edge of the flexible member is configured for sealing insertion between the flappers, so that the interface between the lateral edges is sealed. 9. The tool of claim 8, further comprising a system for expanding and contracting the flexible member, the system comprising: an elongated sliding cylinder attached to the second lateral edge of the flexible member;a hollow flexible stem having a pair of extensions, one of which extends through, and is moveable relative to, the sliding cylinder, and the other which fixedly attaches to the flexible member at or adjacent to the first lateral edge thereof, the hollow flexible stem having circulation ports within the sliding cylinder;a piston fixedly attached to the extension of the hollow flexible stem inside the sliding cylinder, the piston sealingly engaged with the inner surface of the sliding cylinder so that fluid cannot pass between the piston and inner walls of the sliding cylinder; anda hydraulic pump attached to the hollow flexible stem for selectively providing hydraulic fluid to the inside of the sliding cylinder on alternate sides of the piston through the circulation ports;wherein the provision of hydraulic fluid to the inside of the sliding cylinder drives the piston and hollow flexible stem through the elongated sliding cylinder, thereby causing the lateral edges of the flexible member to slide relative to one another so that the flexible member expands or contracts. 10. The tool of claim 8, further comprising a system for expanding and contracting the flexible member, the system comprising: elongated sliding cylinders attached to the flexible member adjacent the first and second lateral edges thereof;a hollow flexible stem having a pair of extensions, one of which extends into, and is moveable relative to, the sliding cylinder of the first lateral edge, and the other which extends into, and is moveable relative to, the sliding cylinder of the second lateral edge, the extensions of the hollow flexible stem having circulation ports within the sliding cylinders;pistons fixedly attached to the extensions of the hollow flexible stem inside the sliding cylinders, the pistons sealingly engaged with the inner surface of the sliding cylinders so that fluid cannot pass between the pistons and inner walls of the sliding cylinders; anda hydraulic pump attached to the hollow flexible stem for selectively providing hydraulic fluid to the inside of one of the other sliding cylinders through the circulation ports;wherein the provision of hydraulic fluid to the inside of the sliding cylinders drives the pistons and hollow flexible stem extensions within the elongated sliding cylinders, thereby causing the lateral edges of the flexible member to slide relative to one another so that the flexible hollow body expands or contracts. 11. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a system for expanding and contracting the flexible member comprising: a toothed rack attached to and extending along the first lateral edge of the flexible member; anda toothed pinion attached to the second lateral edge of the flexible member and positioned so that the teeth of the pinion engage the teeth of the rack;wherein when the pinion is rotated, it drives the rack so that the first lateral edge slides relative to the second lateral edge, thereby causing the flexible hollow body to expand or contract. 12. A method of expanding and contracting a tool within a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of: wrapping a flexible body in a helical configuration, the flexible body having lateral edges aligned so that when the flexible body is wrapped in a helical configuration, the lateral edges slide relative to one another, thereby causing a pitch of each of the lateral edges of the helical configuration to change while expanding or contracting the flexible body;inserting the flexible body into a wellbore;sliding the lateral edges of the flexible body relative to one another so that the cross-sectional area of the flexible body expands. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: supporting the flexible body by providing at plurality of radial support members attached to the flexible body to maintain the shape of the flexible body, the radial support members positioned at intervals around the inner circumference of the flexible body. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing an elongate member extending through the flexible body when the flexible body is wrapped, the elongate member extending into the wellbore for guiding the flexible body into the wellbore. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising slidably attaching the radial support members to the elongate member so that the shape of the flexible body is maintained relative to the elongate member as the flexible body is inserted into the wellbore. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible body comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, and wherein the upper edge extends between upper terminal ends of the lateral edges and the lower edge extends between lower terminal ends of the lateral edges, the upper edge and the lower edge each having substantially the same length.