In this study, the development of nanotechnology is summarized and at the same time the importance of patent analysis in industry technology development is intr oduced. With the use of patent information retrieva l tools and statistical methods, the development status and ten dency of American nanotechnology is intensively pro bed into, hoping to provide reference for the development of nanotechnology at home from the perspective of tota l patent output, technology life cycle, the main technologic al areas and the distribution of patent applicant