Patents by Inventor James A. Thomson

James A. Thomson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8339282
    Abstract: A vehicle detection system for detecting the presence of at least part of a vehicle in image data, the system comprising: an interface configured to receive image data; an identifier module configured to identify a plurality of linear regions in an image represented by the image data; a comparator configured to compare at least one of the number, cumulative size, and density of the linear regions with a respective threshold value; and an output configured to issue a signal indicating the detection of a vehicle based on the results of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventors: Lawson John Noble, Nico Bekooy, Frank James Thomson
  • Publication number: 20120322670
    Abstract: Methods for the determination of tissue-specific genetic variation are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods for using iPS cell-derived specific cell types for differential molecular analysis of tissue-specific genetic variation are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CELLULAR DYNAMICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: James Thomson, Nicholas Seay
  • Publication number: 20120301962
    Abstract: Vitronectin-derived cell culture substrates and methods of using the same for culturing pluripotent stem cells are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: James A. Thomson, Zhonggang Hou, Guokai Chen
  • Patent number: 8273569
    Abstract: A purified preparation of primate embryonic stem cells is disclosed. This preparation is characterized by the following cell surface markers: SSEA-1 (?); SSEA-4 (+); TRA-1-60 (+); TRA-1-81 (+); and alkaline phosphatase (+). In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the cells of the preparation are human embryonic stem cells, have normal karyotypes, and continue to proliferate in an undifferentiated state after continuous culture for eleven months. The embryonic stem cell lines also retain the ability, throughout the culture, to form trophoblast and to differentiate into all tissues derived from all three embryonic germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm). A method for isolating a primate embryonic stem cell line is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: James A. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20120234873
    Abstract: A fragrance product is disclosed including a container containing liquid fragrance and a dispenser assembly for dispensing the liquid fragrance including a transport assembly and a tube connected to the transport assembly and extending into the liquid fragrance. The tube and the liquid fragrance each have a refractive index, and the difference between the refractive index of the tube and the liquid fragrance is not greater than about 0.04.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MeadWestvaco Corp.
    Inventors: James Thomson, Julia DiCorleto Gibson, John Boyle, Kevin Gray
  • Patent number: 8268620
    Abstract: Methods for reprogramming primate somatic cells to pluripotency using an episomal vector that does not encode an infectious virus are disclosed. Pluripotent cells produced in the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: James Thomson, Junying Yu
  • Publication number: 20120221632
    Abstract: On a client computer, customer relationship management software is integrated into a messaging application that includes a user interface. Customer relationship management (CRM) information is received from a server computer. An automatic determination is made as to whether the received CRM information is to be cached on the client computer. When it is determined that the CRM information is to be cached on the client computer, the CRM information is cached in a cache on the client computer. When at least some of the CRM information is cached on the client computer, the cached CRM information is displayed as a view on the client computer. The display of the CRM information is integrated into the user interface of the messaging application program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. McCormack, Nicholas James Thomson, Dmitri Davydok, Indrojit Deb, David Robert Shutt
  • Publication number: 20120202291
    Abstract: Fully defined media that support pluripotent cell viability, proliferation, cloning, and derivation, as well as methods and compositions including these media are described. Methods for deriving iPS cells from adult individuals under defined, xeno-free conditions are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Guokai Chen, James A. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20120178161
    Abstract: Previous methods for culturing primate pluripotent stem cells have required either fibroblast feeder cells or a medium which was exposed to fibroblast feeder cells to maintain the stem cells in an undifferentiated state. It has now been found that high levels of fibroblast growth factor in a medium together with at least one of gamma aminobutyric acid, pipecolic acid, and lithium, enables pluripotent stem cells to remain undifferentiated indefinitely through multiple passages, even without feeder cells or conditioned medium. Without beta-mercaptoethanol, the medium improves cloning efficiency. Also, a matrix of human proteins can be used to culture the undifferentiated cells without exposing the cells to animal products. Further disclosed are new primate pluripotent cell lines made using the defined culture conditions, including the medium and the matrix. Such new cell lines will have never been exposed to animal cells, animal products, feeder cells or conditioned medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: James A. Thomson, Tenneille Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20120178166
    Abstract: Fully defined media that support pluripotent cell viability, proliferation, cloning, and derivation, as well as methods and compositions including these media are described. Methods for deriving iPS cells from adult individuals under defined, xeno-free conditions are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Guokai Chen, James A. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20120178160
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for culturing human embryonic stem cells by culturing the stem cells in an environment essentially free of mammalian fetal serum and in a stem cell culture medium including amino acids, vitamins, salts, minerals, transferrin, insulin, albumin, and a fibroblast growth factor that is supplied from a source other than just a feeder layer the medium. Also disclosed are compositions capable of supporting the culture and proliferation of human embryonic stem cells without the need for feeder cells or for exposure of the medium to feeder cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: WiCell Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Thomson, Mark Levenstein, Ren-He Xu
  • Publication number: 20120171771
    Abstract: Methods and composition for generation of genetically modified induced pluripotent stem cells and hematopoietic cell derived therefrom are provided. For example, in certain aspects those cells comprise a modified gene structure related to HIV cellular entry, such as CCR5 mutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: CELLULAR DYNAMICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: James Thomson, Nicholas Seay
  • Publication number: 20120159299
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the layout of a form automatically to accommodate text in the form. Under the method and apparatus, a set of parameters define the sizing and alignment of elements of the form. Sizing and positioning instructions that are separate from the sizing and alignment parameters set the sizing and positioning of elements of the form based on the sizing and alignment parameters. The instructions determine the minimum size for the form, based in part on text in the form. The difference between the minimum size for the form and a desired size for the form is then distributed across the form to size and position the elements in the form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: JOWTIFF BROS. A.B., LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas James Thomson, Dmitri Davydok, Anthony Lee, Ian Carl Legler
  • Publication number: 20120142106
    Abstract: This invention relates to the culture of dendritic cells from human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Human ES cells are first cultured into hematopoietic cells by co-culture with stromal cells. The cells now differentiated into the hematopoietic lineage are then cultured with GM-CSF to create a culture of myeloid precursor cells. Culture of the myeloid precursor cells with the cytokines GM-CSF and IL-4 causes functional dendritic cells to be generated. The dendritic cells have a unique phenotype, as indicated by their combination of cell surface markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Igor I. Slukvin, James A. Thomson, Maksym A. Vodyanyk, Maryna E. Gumenyuk
  • Patent number: 8195741
    Abstract: On a client computer, customer relationship management software is integrated into a messaging application that includes a user interface. Customer relationship management (CRM) information is received from a server computer. An automatic determination is made as to whether the received CRM information is to be cached on the client computer. When it is determined that the CRM information is to be cached on the client computer, the CRM information is cached in a cache on the client computer. When at least some of the CRM information is cached on the client computer, the cached CRM information is displayed as a view on the client computer. The display of the CRM information is integrated into the user interface of the messaging application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. McCormack, Nicholas James Thomson, Dmitri Davydok, Indrojit Deb, David Robert Shutt
  • Publication number: 20120135518
    Abstract: A method for the construction of arrays from self-assembling monolayers is described. The arrays have particular utility for the screening of peptides ligands that can foster the growth of cells in culture. This technique has been used to identify peptide ligands that foster the growth of human stem cells, which otherwise require an extracellular matrix in order to grow in an undifferentiated state. This also makes possible an assay to identify other such peptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: LAURA L. KIESSLING, Ratmir Derda, Brendan P. Orner, James A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8183038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming a somatic cell to pluripotency by administering into the somatic cell at least one or a plurality of potency-determining factors. The invention also relates to pluripotent cell populations obtained using a reprogramming method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: James A. Thomson, Junying Yu
  • Patent number: 8158422
    Abstract: Methods and compositions of erythroid cells that produce adult ?-hemoglobin, generated by culturing CD31+, CD31+/CD34+ or CD34+ cells from embryonic stem cells under serum-free culture conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Igor I. Slukvin, James A. Thomson, Maksym A. Vodyanyk, Maryna E. Gumenyuk
  • Patent number: 8158424
    Abstract: Previous methods for culturing primate pluripotent stem cells have required either fibroblast feeder cells or a medium which was exposed to fibroblast feeder cells to maintain the stem cells in an undifferentiated state. It has now been found that high levels of fibroblast growth factor in a medium together with at least one of gamma aminobutyric acid, pipecolic acid, and lithium, enables pluripotent stem cells to remain undifferentiated indefinitely through multiple passages, even without feeder cells or conditioned medium. Without beta-mercaptoethanol, the medium improves cloning efficiency. Also, a matrix of human proteins can be used to culture the undifferentiated cells without exposing the cells to animal products. Further disclosed are new primate pluripotent cell lines made using the defined culture conditions, including the medium and the matrix. Such new cell lines will have never been exposed to animal cells, animal products, feeder cells or conditioned medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: James A. Thomson, Tenneille Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20120084340
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for collecting and displaying information. A client device executes one or more application programs for providing operations with respect to entity-related data that relates to one or more entities. The application programs analyze the entity-related data to identify one or more entities associated with the entity-related data and transmit entity information relating to the entities to a server or database. Information relating to the entity is retrieved from the server or database and is presented to a user of the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. McCormack, Vineet Gupta, Ron Mondri, Christian Heydemann, Praveen Upadhyay, Nicholas James Thomson