Sterilizing cabinet filter assembly
Methods and apparatus for sterilization are presented. An apparatus includes a sterilizing cabinet assembly including a cabinet having an access port and a bottom, the bottom configurable to induce a condensate to flow on the bottom to a vent port. The apparatus further includes a door connected to the cabinet, the door moveable between an open position permitting passage through the access port to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage through the access port. The apparatus also includes at least one of the cabinet and the door having the vent port, and a filter overlying the vent port and forming a sealed interface with an adjacent portion of the one of the cabinet and the door.
1 . A filter assembly for a sterilizing cabinet having a vented area, the filter assembly comprising:
(a) a first filter having a first thickness and sized to overlie the vented area;
(b) a second filter having a second thickness and sized to overlie the vented area, the second filter overlying the first filter, wherein an edge of the filter assembly has a thickness greater than a combined thickness of the first filter and the second filter; and
c) a first gasket affixed to the first filter to be one of permanently affixed or integral, wherein the second filter is permanently affixed to the first gasket opposite the first filter.
2 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first thickness equals the second thickness.
3 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first filter and the second filter are one of a paper, cellulose, and polymeric material.
4 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first gasket is one of an adhesive and a caulk between the first filter and the second filter, the one of the adhesive and the caulk forming an interface between the first filter and the second filter.
5 . A filter assembly for a sterilizing cabinet having a vented area, the filter assembly comprising:
(a) a first filter sized to overlie the vented area;
(b) a second filter sized to overlie the vented area, the second filter overlying the first filter, and wherein the first filter and the second filter are formed of a same material; and
(c) a first gasket affixed to the first filter to be one of permanently affixed or integral, wherein the second filter is permanently affixed to the first gasket opposite the first filter.
6 . The filter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first gasket seal is one of an adhesive and a caulk between the first filter and the second filter, the one of the adhesive and the caulk forming an interface between the first filter and the second filter.
7 . The filter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first filter and the second filter are one of a paper, cellulose and polymeric material.
8 . The filter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first gasket seal is configured to provide that any sterilizing agent entering the sterilizing cabinet passes through the first filter and the second filter.
9 . A filter assembly for a sterilizing cabinet having a vented area surrounded by an adjacent portion of the sterilizing cabinet, the filter assembly comprising:
(a) a first filter sized to overlie the vented area; and
(b) a second filter sized to overlie the vented area, the second filter overlying the first filter; and
(c) a first gasket affixed to the first filter to be one of permanently affixed or integral, wherein the second filter is permanently affixed to the first gasket opposite the first filter.
10 . The filter assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a second gasket between the second filter and the adjacent portion of the sterilizing cabinet.
11 . The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first gasket is configured to provide that any sterilizing agent entering the sterilizing cabinet passes through the first filter and the second filter.