Circulation and disposal device for multi-purpose sterilization chambers and washing chambers

A system for circulating a carrier gas containing a chemical vapor or gas, said system comprising:

• a chamber;
• a rack for holding items, said rack disposed within said chamber;
• and
• at least one circulation and disposal device disposed on said rack, said at least one circulation and disposal device comprised of:
• a housing defining a flow path therethrough, said housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;
• a fan for conveying a carrier gas containing a chemical vapor or gas along said flow path;
• a filter mounted to move within said housing, said filter including a filter element;
• and
• an actuator for moving said filter between a first position and a second position, wherein said filter element in said filter is fluidly isolated from said flow path when said filter is in said first position, and said filter element is disposed in said flow path when said filter is in said second position.

A method for circulating a carrier gas containing a vapor or gas in a system, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) locating a filter to a first position wherein a filter element in said filter is fluidly isolated from a flow path defined by said housing, when a system is in a chemical vapor or gas circulation phase;
• b) conveying a carrier gas containing a chemical vapor or gas along said flow path;
• and
• c) locating said filter to a second position, wherein said filter element is disposed in said flow path, when said system is in an aeration phase.