JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Israeli defence scientists have designed a tiny device that can be attached to the ear and which could monitor the health status of an army personnel during training.

The device designed by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would alert commanders to any life-threatening distress, Xinhua reported citing the Ma'ariv daily.

The "physiological sensor" developed by the Life Beam firm, can be attached to the ear. It simultaneously monitors critical physiological parameters, including blood pressure, breathing and heart rate, while the soldier is engaged in rigorous activity.

The sensor can instantly recognize "life-threatening changes" leading to heat stroke or dehydration, and thus help in enabling early evacuation and treatment.

Life Beam was founded by two former Israeli Air Force pilots who served together and came up with the idea during their service.

"We saw incidents in which people died or nearly died, and began thinking of ways to prevent them," one of the unnamed founders was quoted as saying.

While training-related fatalities are a rare occurrence in the IDF, which routinely operates in extreme weather conditions, a handful of soldiers, mostly young trainees, have died over the past decade during desert exercises.

"The sensor would enable early detection when a soldier gets into trouble. You can halt the exercise and dispatch a medical team to assist him," a senior IDF Medical Corps officer said.

The IDF said it was planning to develop a "civilian version" that would save lives of infants, the elderly, athletes and patients with chronic illnesses.