Abstract: A visual teaching aid (100) is to assist teaching stages (112,113,114) of a medical condition (111). The visual teaching aid can include a fruit stage portion (103). The fruit stage portion can include a first matrix (105) illustrating a single fruit (106) in a plurality of states (107,108,109). A medical condition portion (104) can then include a second matrix (110) illustrating the medical condition in a plurality of stages. Each state of the single fruit can correspond to a stage of the medical condition on a one-to-one basis.

Abstract: Methods and instruments for assessing bone, for example fracture risk, in a subject in which a test probe is inserted through the skin of the subject so that the test probe contacts the subject's bone and the resistance of the test bone to microscopic fracture by the test probe is determined. Macroscopic bone fracture risk is assessed by measuring the resistance of the bone to microscopic fractures caused by the test probe. The microscopic fractures are so small that they pose negligible health risks. The instrument may also be useful in characterizing other materials, especially if it is necessary to penetrate a layer to get to the material to be characterized.

Abstract: An eraser is placed on or near the end of the cover of a felt tip pen. The cover is inserted into the bottom of the pen or on the bottom of the pen itself. For a tapered cover type of pen, the eraser is placed on the flat upper end. For a raised or dimple type of cover, the eraser is placed concentrically around the end away from the dimple like a girdle or belt or flat on the bottom of the pen body. On a type of pen that resembles a fountain pen, the eraser is placed on the top cover on a flat area that may be slightly angled. The eraser can also be an annular ring on the base of the pen body. The eraser can be removable from the pen or can be attached with adhesive.

Abstract: A felt tip pen cover with an attached eraser or a felt tip pen with an eraser on its bottom. The present invention places an eraser on or near the end of the cover that is inserted into the bottom of the pen or on the bottom of pen itself. For a tapered cover type of pen, the eraser is placed on the flat upper end. For a raised or dimple type of cover, the eraser is placed concentrically around the end away from the dimple like a girdle or belt or flat on the bottom of the pen body. On a type of pen that resembles a fountain pen, the eraser is placed on top cover on a flat area that may be slightly angled. The eraser can also be an annular ring on the base of the pen body. The addition of an eraser to a felt tip pen leads to the novel ability to erase and make corrections without having to search for a large eraser.