Periodic radial symmetry for filter pleating

A cylindrical filter element comprising:

• a central longitudinal axis;
• filter media comprising a plurality of radially extending pleats arranged in a pattern that repeats around the central longitudinal axis, wherein:
• an outer cylindrical periphery of the filter media is defined by an outer pleat tip of each of the plurality of radially extending pleats;
• and
• each pattern of radially extending pleats comprises:
• a major pleat comprising two arms having a first length and extending radially from outer pleat tips toward the central longitudinal axis and to an inner pleat tip, wherein the inner pleat tip of the major pleat is located at least 75% of the radial distance from the outer pleat tips toward the central longitudinal axis;
• a minor pleat spaced from the major pleat, the minor pleat comprising two arms extending radially from outer pleat tips toward the central longitudinal axis and to an inner pleat tip, wherein the arms of the minor pleat comprise a second length that is less than the first length of the arms of the major pleat;
• a first series of intermediate pleats that comprises at least a first intermediate pleat positioned between the major pleat and the minor pleat, the first series of intermediate pleats descending in length from the major pleat to the minor pleat with each pleat descending to a smaller length than each previous pleat;
• and
• a second series of intermediate pleats that comprises at least a second intermediate pleat positioned between the minor pleat and the major pleat of an adjacent pattern of pleats, the second series of intermediate pleats ascending in length from the minor pleat to the major pleat of the adjacent pattern of pleats with each pleat ascending to a larger length than each previous pleat.