bissell hand held steamer model 1860 filter cartridge bypass?

I have an original Bissell Steam 'n Clean hand held steamer (model 1860). It still works well but the water filter (Calcium filter I believe) is getting old even though I have always used distilled water with it. I did have a spare filter cartridge and last Oct I tested the filter to make sure it worked. It did, I shook out all the water I could and left it out to dry, then put it back into the box.

The other day I looked in the box and when I picked up the filter I found the bottom in 3 areas (the internals of the cartridge look like a maze) had cracked, broken, fell off, and a lot of the brown stand-like material had flowed out into the box. I find it strange it self disintegrated like this. Anyone else ever see this? What is the brown filter material? Can I replace it and somehow repair the cartridge? I doubt it the way it broke, unless someone can 3d print a new one for example.

Bissell's newer steamer models all have a different shape filter, this one is in a C or half moon shape and don't seem to be available. Both the 1860 and 18601 use the same model filter. Perhaps I could rig tubing and bypass the filter? Anyone ever done this? If I use distilled water (which I always have) seems like the filter wouldn't be necessary anyway.

You can a diagram here:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/16130/...

It is the filter, item 1. part 010-3504 as I said it looks like a C or half-moon shape. I will post a photo when I can.