Title: Accurate Real Time Localization Tracking in A Clinical Environment using Bluetooth Low Energy and Deep Learning,
Abstract: Deep learning has started to revolutionize several different industries, and
the applications of these methods in medicine are now becoming more
commonplace. This study focuses on investigating the feasibility of tracking
patients and clinical staff wearing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags in a
radiation oncology clinic using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and
convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The performance of these networks was
compared to relative received signal strength indicator (RSSI) thresholding and
triangulation. By utilizing temporal information, a combined CNN+ANN network
was capable of correctly identifying the location of the BLE tag with an
accuracy of 99.9%. It outperformed a CNN model (accuracy = 94%), a thresholding
model employing majority voting (accuracy = 95%), and a triangulation
classifier utilizing majority voting (accuracy = 95%). Future studies will seek
to deploy this affordable real time location system in hospitals to improve
clinical workflow, efficiency, and patient safety.