Patent attributes
A downhole cleaning apparatus (10) comprising a tubular body (12). The tubular body (12) comprises comprising a plurality of openings (20) therethrough. Each opening (20) defines at least part of a helix extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the tubular body (12). The downhole cleaning apparatus (10) also includes a plurality of cleaning elements (22). Each cleaning element (22) is configured to extend through an opening (20) and to extend outwards from an outer surface of the tubular body (12). The cleaning elements (22) are distributed about the tubular body (12) and each cleaning element (22) defines at least part of a helix extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the tubular body. The openings (20) and the cleaning elements (22) are grouped to define a plurality of substantially continuous helical paths (18). Each helical path (18) extends substantially end to end of the tubular body and the helical paths (18) are distributed relative to each other to define a cleaning surface of at least 360 degrees.