.  Explanation:The purpose of this phrase is to make it clear that when the patent was applied for, all countries where the patent would be recognized were named in the application. You might rearrange the sentence: ...application, specifying all countries affected, was submitted on...  Explanation:The purpose of this phrase is to make it clear that when the patent was applied for, all countries where the patent would be recognized were named in the application. You might rearrange the sentence: ...application, specifying all countries affected, was submitted on...  Explanation: