Patent ID: 7341110

Claim:
A packer device for use within a wellbore and comprising: a central packer mandrel; an expansion mandrel radially surrounding the central packer mandrel and radially expandable with respect to the central expansion mandrel, the expansion mandrel having a mandrel body that is moveable between a radially reduced unset position and a radially enlarged set position, the expansion mandrel having a central portion and an axial end portion; a slip mandrel radially surrounding the expansion mandrel and having a set of wickers for forming a biting engagement with a surrounding tubular within the wellbore when the expansion mandrel is in its set position, the slip mandrel having an inboard end that lies proximate the central portion of the expansion mandrel and an outboard end that lies proximate the axial end portion of the expansion mandrel; and a plurality of axial slots disposed within the slip mandrel to allow radial expansion of the slip mandrel during expansion of the expansion mandrel.