-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I+L8mLKqQZvK2ZWBUYKxXIe4OGSQlViCNcQ4unUQAYAWVzGiajR6uxG3cBLe+j1Z
 u1xrbVA9ZASq/uYCP34Y7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001313617-05-000056.txt : 20051027
<SEC-HEADER>0001313617-05-000056.hdr.sgml : 20051027
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051027135640
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001313617-05-000056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051026
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051027
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051027

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000046709
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				042423640
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NINE HAMPSHIRE STREET
		CITY:			MANSFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02048
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5083375111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NINE HAMPSHIRE STREET
		CITY:			MANSFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02048

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CRYOGENIC TECHNOLOGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760707

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOOLLACOTT ALFRED III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001225004

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-06866
		FILM NUMBER:		051159567

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NINE HAMPSHIRE STREET
		CITY:			MANSFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02048
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000046709</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HELX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225004</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOOLLACOTT ALFRED III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NINE HAMPSHIRE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MANSFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02048</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.595</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement between Brooks Automation, Inc. (&quot;Brooks&quot;), Mt. Hood Corporation and Helix Technology Corporation in exchange for 2,220 shares of Brooks having a market value of $12.69 per share on the effective date of the merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option, which provided for vesting in five equal annual installments beginning 4/16/04, was assumed by Brooks in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 11,100 shares of Brooks common stock for $7.75 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Beverly L. Couturier, Attorney-In-Fact for Alfred Woollacott III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----