Abstract: A highly elastic, adjustable helical coil stent (10) has a helical coil (20) which can be contracted around a small diameter catheter (12) for percutaneous insertion into a human body and then can be remotely expanded back to its original shape when positioned at the desired location within the human body. The helical coil is preferably formed of a metal alloy (25) with high elasticity, such as superelastic Nitinol, encased within an elastomer (26). The helical coil is affixed at its distal end to a catheter and affixed at its proximal end to a control tube (30). By rotating the control tube in one direction relative to the catheter (e.g., clockwise), the helical coil contracts and by rotating the control tube in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise), the helical coil expands. The adjustable helical coil stent of the present invention is particularly useful for total or partial heart assist during heart bypass procedures.