A vessel filter, movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel, has a filter portion (1020) having a converging region to direct particles toward the center. The filter portion converges into a tubular portion (1018, 1118). A second region (1030) is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing in a direction away from the filter portion and includes a vessel engaging portion (1072a, 1072b, 1172a, 1172b). The first region has a spacer (1040, 1140) to keep the filter more toward a center of a vessel, wherein in the collapsed position the spacer extends axially in an elongated position cranially of the cranial end of the filter and in the expanded position the spacer forms a looped region (1044, 1143) extending radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the filter. The spacer has a first end (1042b) attached to the internal surface of the tubular portion and extends within the tubular portion and emerges cranially from the tubular region to form the looped region (1044, 1143).
