OVERALL SYNOPSIS: I: Systematic evaluation, in supine body position, of O2 and ETCO2 monitoring at defined relevant levels of O2 supply by ID versus nasal cannula in non-sedated spontaneously breathing healthy volunteer study participants, and of respiratory function with ID versus biteblock during no, light (Ramsey levels 1-2), moderate (Ramsey level 3), and deep (Ramsey level 4) sedation with propofol in spontaneously breathing healthy volunteer study participants. Continuous supply of pure (instead of 30-35% according to SOC) O2 will at least three-fold the time until hypoxia may result from loss of airway patency during comparative evaluation of biteblock. II: Systematic evaluation, in supine body position, of MRI-derived anteroposterior transpharyngeal distances with ID versus biteblock or no device during no, light, moderate and deep sedation (as reported above) with propofol in spontaneously breathing healthy volunteer study participants. Continuous supply of pure (instead of 30-35% according to SOC) O2 will at least three-fold the time until hypoxia may result from loss of airway patency during comparative evaluation of biteblock and no device. III: Systematic evaluation in various body positions (as required by the procedural intervention) of the cumulative duration of adjuvant manual airway support (seconds), of perceived sedational comfort, sedational usability, and procedural conditions (VAS units), and of individual preference (ID or standard procedure if non-blinded; first or second intervention if blinded), with ID versus standard procedure (no device) during sedation according to SOC for scheduled colonoscopy in spontaneously breathing study patients. IV: Systematic evaluation in supine body position of the cumulative duration of adjuvant manual airway support (seconds), of perceived sedational comfort, sedational usability, and procedural conditions (VAS units), and of individual preference (ID or standard procedure if non-blinded; first or second intervention if blinded), with ID versus standard procedure (no device) during sedation according to SOC for scheduled ureteral catheterization in spontaneously breathing study patients. BACKGROUND: Procedural sedation (PS) is being increasingly used all over the world for diagnostic and therapeutic in- and out-hospital diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in various clinical settings. During PS, sedationists aim to reduce patient consciousness to levels enabling the procedure to be carried out smoothly with minimum intraprocedural discomfort, and with minimum fatigue and nausea in the early postprocedural period. However, collapse of soft tissue components in the upper airways at moderate and deep levels of sedation reduces or blocks airway flow, which may rapidly lead to hypoxia unless rapidly and appropriately managed at the bedside. According to a recent literature review, less severe respiratory adverse events during PS (bradypnoea, apnoea, mild hypoxia) often precede serious adverse respiratory events in clinical practice. However, medical devices currently used for airway patency during general anaesthesia all over the world, are not tolerated during light to moderate sedation, and hence cannot be used for airway patency during PS. By being well tolerated also in the awake state and during light sedation, the new investigational device (ID) for airway patency might hence increase patient safety, contribute to less stressful work environment, improve patient comfort, and contribute to more feasible, and hence more predictable, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The ID is expected to independently and reliably minimise the risk of partial or total airway obsruction - the main reason for sudden respiratory depression or even arrest - during PS. It may therefore enable the sedationist - inside or outside hospitals - to more readily and appropriately adapt the level of sedation to changing patient and procedural requirements without also having to take airway patency into continuous consideration. This prospective randomized paired crossover, single-centre trial in study participants will be carried out in four study parts \[I-IV\]. The two first preclinical parts \[I-II\] will include healthy female and male volunteer subjects to assess proof of concept, efficacy and safety of the ID at defined levels of sedation, and sedational comfort. The two later clinical parts \[III-IV\] will include female and male patients without serious medical comorbidity to further evaluate clinical safety in addition to sedational comfort, sedational usability, and procedural feasibility. Use of the ID will first be compared with standard procedure (biteblock \[I-II\] or no device \[II\]) with respect to maintenance of spontaneous breathing \[I\] or upper airway patency \[II\] at light, moderate and (particularly) deep levels of sedation in each study participant. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: I. 12 (6 female) evaluable study participants (volunteer subjects). II. 12 (6 female) evaluable study participants (volunteer subjects). III. 16 (8 female) evaluable study participants (patients). IV. 16 (8 female) evaluable study participants (patients). DURATION: I-II: 2-3 weeks (February-March 2023). III-IV: 8-12 weeks (February-April 2023). PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I: Comparison of tidal volumes assessed with modern ventilator equipment during light (Ramsey levels 1-2), moderate (Ramsey level 3) and deep (Ramsey level 4) sedation - achieved by estimated plasma levels of hypnotic drug (propofol) according to computerized infusion pump settings, and confirmed by bedside judgements according to Ramsey (levels 1-4), and by noninvasive bispectral index score (BIS) levels - during spontaneous breathing of pure oxygen in supine body position with ID versus biteblock. II: Comparison of anteroposterior transpharyngeal distances, determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), during spontaneous breathing of pure oxygen at light, moderate, and deep sedation - achieved by estimated plasma levels of propofol according to computerized infusion pump settings, and assessed at the bedside according to Ramsey - in supine body position with ID versus biteblock, and versus no device. III: Comparison (by continuous observation and systematic recording) of cumulative duration of adjuvant use of manual airway support during sedation according to SOC, according to estimated plasma levels of propofol by computerized infusion pump settings, assessed at the bedside according to Ramsey (levels 1-4), for scheduled colonoscopy during spontaneous breathing in various body positions (as required by the procedure) with ID versus standard procedure (no device). IV: Comparison (by continuous observation and systematic recording) of cumulative duration of use of adjuvant manual airway support during sedation according to SOC, achieved and assessed as reported above and also by BIS levels, for scheduled ureteral catheterization during spontaneous breathing in supine body position with ID versus standard procedure (no device). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I: Evaluation of O2 and ETCO2 monitoring at defined levels of O2 supply by the ID versus by nasal cannula in non-sedated spontaneously breathing healthy volunteer study participants, and of respiratory rate, pressure and flow, and SpO2 levels, recorded with modern equipment for clinical routine supply and monitoring of general anaesthesia, at no, light (Ramsey levels 1-2), moderate (Ramsey level 3), and deep (Ramsey level 4) steady-state levels of sedation - achieved by algorithm-based estimated plasma levels of propofol according to computerized infusion pump settings, and assessed at the bedside according to Ramsey (levels 1-4), and by BIS levels, in healthy volunteer study participants in non-sedated spontaneously breathing healthy volunteer study participants spontaneous breathing pure O2 in the supine body position with ID versus standard procedure (biteblock). Survey evaluation of sedational comfort (VAS units). II: Survey evaluation of sedational comfort (VAS units). III-IV: Comparison of incidence (number) and duration (seconds) of interrupted ETCO2 monitoring, and of duration (second) and level (%) of hypoxia (SpO2 \<95 %), during PS according to SOC, achieved and assessed as reported above, for scheduled colonoscopy \[III\] or ureteral catheterization \[IV\] during spontaneous breathing in various body positions as required by the procedural intervention \[III\] or in the supine body position \[IV\] with the ID versus standard procedure (no device). Survey evaluation of perceived sedational comfort (VAS units), and individual preference (ID or no device) by study participants (unblinded to interventional order), of perceived sedational usability (VAS units) and individual preference (ID or no device) by sedationists (unblinded to interventional order), and of perceived procedural conditions (VAS units) and individual preference (first or second study intervention) by procedural interventionists (blinded to interventional order) soon after completion of PS according to SOC with ID versus standard procedure (no device). PRIMARY STUDY ENDPOINT MEASURES: I: Absolute, and relative, differences in tidal volume (mL; mL/kg) between use of ID versus biteblock during deep (Ramsey level 4) sedation. II: Absolute, and relative, differences in anteroposterior transpharyngeal distances (mm and mm/kg, respectively) between use of ID versus biteblock or no device during deep (Ramsey level 4) sedation. III-IV: Absolute difference in cumulative duration of adjuvant manual airway support (seconds) between eight-minute use of ID versus eight-minute use of standard procedure (no device) during PS according to SOC for scheduled colonoscopy \[III\] or ureteral catheterization \[IV\]. SECONDARY STUDY ENDPOINT MEASURES: I: Endtidal concentrations of O2 and CO2 (%), and duration of interrupted tidal monitoring of O2 and CO2 (seconds), during defined relevant levels of O2 supply by the ID versus nasal cannula without sedation. Absolute, and relative, differences in tidal volume (mL; mL/kg) between ID and standard procedure (biteblock) during light (Ramsey levels 1-2) and moderate (Ramsey level 3) sedation. Differences in duration (seconds) of interrupted ETCO2 recording, in respiratory rate (min-1), in minimum and maximum airway pressures (cm H2O), in minimum and maximum absolute and relative airway flow (mL/min; mL/min/kg), and in SpO2 (%) during no, light (Ramsey levels 1-2), moderate (Ramsey level 3), and deep (Ramsey level 4) sedation. Individually perceived sedational comfort (VAS units). II: Absolute, and relative, differences in anterocrior transpharyngeal distance (mm; mm/kg) between use of ID versus standard procedure (biteblock or no device) during no, light (Ramsey levels 1-2) and moderate (Ramsey level 3) sedation. Individually perceived sedational comfort (VAS units). III-IV: Differences in cumulative duration (seconds) of interrupted ETCO2 monitoring, and of hypoxia (SpO2 \<95 %), without adjuvant manual airway support, in perceived sedational comfort (VAS units), in perceived usability (VAS units), in perceived procedural conditions (VAS units), and in individual preference (ID or no device) by patient, sedationist and procedural interventionist during PS according to SOC with ID versus standard procedure (no device) for scheduled colonoscopy \[III\] or ureteral catheterization \[IV\].
